build advice

[FMod]

Between these two board the ASUS still wins. Tomshardware has the comparison on this

There isn't any such comparison on their website. They did compare a much more expensive Asus mobo versus Asrock, and it did overclock very slightly better, but a layman user who doesn't touch the bus speed (and he shouldn't) is never going to be able to get that difference.

 

You are taking this out of context. I replied to you saying all high end boards.

"He said, she said" is not a good thing to start.

But if we are to backtrack it, I said "Second, all upper-range mobos today use digital VRM controllers".

To that you replied "Please point out a 1155 mobo that uses analog to me. So your comment, "all uper-range mobos", is mute".

After which I pointed out a large spectrum of 1155 mobos that do use analog PWM.

 

From an engineering stand point the better the VRM the less the VRM has to work.

This has nothing to do with peripherals, which are not serviced by motherboard VRM.

And the VRM on Asrock Extreme models is better than on Asus LE and LX models.

[WabbajackWS]

I agree with the guys above me. Think twice about it. Now, here's mine opinion.

 

The CPU is definitely the best money can buy ~$210. The GPU is not the best, to be honest, the 6700 and 6800 series of AMD GPUs is a real pile of crap, tested them myself. I would go for if you're an AMD fanboy, though you haven't got $400 for the GPU itself, the good old 5870 HD. It kicks ass. Anyhow, I'm switching the topic accidentally. So yeah, um, I would change that 6870 to a GTX 550 Ti ( if I'm not wrong, the GTX 550 is around the same price as the 6870HD ). Since they're both 1GB GD5 graphics cards, both run DX 11, the GTX 550 Ti is a better OCing device and supports PhysX and 3DVision, while the only advantage on the 6870 is that you're able to go with more monitors. The PSU is okay, 650W is enough if going with a GTX 550 as I suggested. Now the RAM is kinda worrying me. Yeah, 8 GB, that's cool, though Kingston RAM isn't what it used to be, it's not really the best RAM for OCing. Since you're going to OC the CPU, you'll automatically OC the RAM, which as said before, isn't really meant to. I, myself have got G.Skill RipJaws 4 GB and I've got them from 1600 MHz to 1896 MHz and they're running perfectly on an AMD X2 260 @ 4.0 GHz. ( Fail configuration, but well, I bought it myself, I'm not like the rest of you guys getting your parents buy you stuff which you didn't deserve. Not to mention that Croatia is extremely expansive, where I had to give cash $1100 for a mid-range build ) Just take any Corsair, Patriot, G.Skill, you won't make a mistake. Now, the most important part for OCing, the motherboard. ASrock motherboards in my experience aren't really recommended for OCing more then 450-500 MHz. It turns into an unstable, overheating pile of turd. I was looking for my future build, similar to yours. I went for a Asus Sabertooth P67 (REV 3.0), yeah, it is $199, which is noticeably more expansive, though it is the deal for OCing with one really good aircooler or simply watercooling. That'd be it from my side, feel free to ask me anything related to that.

 

Cheers <3

[us11csalyer]

If you don't plan on buying a new GPU anytime soon after this one and you game at 720p with max settings and AA get a GPU with 2GB of ram.

[hoofhearted4]

Fail configuration, but well, I bought it myself, I'm not like the rest of you guys getting your parents buy you stuff which you didn't deserve.

 

hey man, low blow. i personally buy everything i own (even though i still live with my parents) TV, Games, $1600 for a PC, college, car, etc....most of the people on here dump their own money into their builds.

 

not cool :down:

[us11csalyer]

lol sounds like he is butt hurt over his crappy build. Just because others can afford better than you doesn't mean they sponge off their parents. I live with my wife and child and make a living off of day time trading and my monthly VA checks muwawawa. Eat it douche.

[FMod]

If you don't plan on buying a new GPU anytime soon after this one and you game at 720p with max settings and AA get a GPU with 2GB of ram.

720p?? There is no reason to, at all. You only need more than 1GB at 1080p and very high settings.

GTX580 only has 1.5GB, for that matter.

 

2GB and 3GB are needed for resolutions as high as 2560x1440. And a very, very powerful GPU to do the math.

 

 

( Fail configuration, but well, I bought it myself, I'm not like the rest of you guys getting your parents buy you stuff which you didn't deserve.

I'm 30, just in case you were wondering.

[Septfox]

Disclaimer: most of my computer knowledge is a decade old, I'm currently relearning everything. Sorry in advance if I say anything stupid, I do have my try-hard pants on and am working them as hard as I can (???), but failure is a distinct possibility :\

 

Now the RAM is kinda worrying me. Yeah, 8 GB, that's cool, though Kingston RAM isn't what it used to be, it's not really the best RAM for OCing. Since you're going to OC the CPU, you'll automatically OC the RAM, which as said before, isn't really meant to. I, myself have got G.Skill RipJaws 4 GB and I've got them from 1600 MHz to 1896 MHz and they're running perfectly on an AMD X2 260 @ 4.0 GHz....

...Just take any Corsair, Patriot, G.Skill, you won't make a mistake.

Eh, what about Samsung RAM? There's people who've taken some of Samsung's low-power 4gb DIMMs (4gbx2 for $45) and taken them from stock 1600 all the way to 2133+ with no heat or stability issues. And lets not forget Crucial's low-power 4gb offering (4gbx2 for $35), which can reach 1800~1900mhz (from a stock speed of 1333) and from what I've read is some of the longer-lasting RAM on the market. Both without using the hideous-looking potentially-obstructive "heatsinks" that are stuck to say, G.Skill Ripjaws. Now, your mileage will certainly vary, as is common in overclocking, I'm just saying that these particular DIMMs are known to not suck.

 

Additionally, while I'm not by any means experienced with modern overclocking, I was under the impression that the RAM multiplier could be bumped down, so if you didn't have well-overclocking RAM (or had hit your RAM's limits but still had headroom on the CPU), you could bump the multiplier down a notch. As it seems these days that memory bandwidth is no longer nearly as important as it once was, clearly this would be the desirable course of action for someone wanting raw performance rather than bandwidth that might never actually be needed.

 

'course, you could just get a high-end AMD and not have to worry about Intel's multiplier-locking BS :v

Though you probably shouldn't if you want your board to have an upgrade path CPU-wise, what with AMD's extremely confused statements lately there's a fair chance of there being no future desktop processors from them. Word on the streets is that any AMD is weaker than the i7 in most tasks anyway, so eh.

 

lol sounds like he is butt hurt over his crappy build.

My very first thought :\

 

I'm about to build something better than that, using my own money; researching parts, asking around for advice, searching for the best possible prices, and finally (and probably most importantly) patience can get you pretty gosh darn far.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Septfox

[hoofhearted4]

G.Skill arent as bad as they look. they wont bother most heat sinks. i have a pair, and they are a lot lower then i thought they were going to be. the pictures dont do them justice

[Septfox]

The point is, they're unnecessary. They add to the price, they probably don't actually do much of anything (double-sided aluminum tape? adhesive is a terrible conductor...), and well...

 

...bright...red. :psyduck:

 

Guess it'd match if you were sporting a Biostar motherboard, but who in their right mind would do that?

 

 

Edit: ok, I'm probably being a little overly harsh on'em. It just seems silly to pay extra for something that probably doesn't actually do anything. But, every one to their own.

 

Y'know, if those RAMsinks are solid aluminum and a decent grade, ripping out the double-sided tape and replacing it with non-conductive (in case it manages to squeeze out onto any pins) thermal grease might be something to try...

Edited February 7, 2012 by Septfox

[hoofhearted4]

The point is, they're unnecessary. They add to the price, they probably don't actually do much of anything (double-sided aluminum tape? adhesive is a terrible conductor...), and well...

 

...bright...red. :psyduck:

 

Guess it'd match if you were sporting a Biostar motherboard, but who in their right mind would do that?

 

nah. the ripjaws is the same as the normal g.skill RAM....and they arent bright red. they are actually a dark blood red color. as i said, the pictures dont do it justice!

 

 

look at that video around the 10:00 mark. thats the ripjaw. dark red. not that high or flashy of heat spreaders. i think they look nice. but i also like the g.skill sniper series.