[Unethical]

I am looking into get into overclocking and thought that the X79 chipset would be a good starting point for me. I got a little ahead of myself and debated putting together an Sr-2 build, but after more thought and added advice on the concept I decided against it. I primarily do a lot of CAD drafting and 3-D renderings so I wanted to atleast get a hexacore setup going with either a 4-way configuration or a professional graphics card not sure which is the best option at this point in time. I'm also looking to completely water cool the whole setup so that may play a part in the board i choose as well. I'm willing to accept all different suggestion. Thanks for reading this!

 

[adridu59]

The Gigabyte X79-UP4 is a great board and is sold for a very good price too.

There's a detailed review here:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18477560

The only issue would be negative vdroop but it has been fixed on the newer BIOSes.

That's not the absolute best board for sure but it's my top pick because it gives all the features you want along with IR PowIRstages at a very good price.

 

[Alatar]

The best overclocking X79 board hands down is the Rampage IV Extreme. Best and most numerous features, best BIOS, holds pretty much all the record OCs on X79, easy to watercool etc.

Sounds like it's going to be an expensive build so there's really no point in trying to save a hundred bucks by going with a cheaper mobo.

 

[driftingforlife]

RIVE. It is the best X79 board.

 

[connectwise]

It would matter dependent on sub zero, liquid or air cooling right? Some mobos excel at sub zero but is only par for the course for liquid and air.

 

[tsm106]

Quote:

Originally Posted by connectwise

It would matter dependent on sub zero, liquid or air cooling right? Some mobos excel at sub zero but is only par for the course for liquid and air.

Do you think someone asking for advice on a board for overclocking needs advice on which boards for LN2???

Quote:

Originally Posted by adridu59

The Gigabyte X79-UP4 is a great board and is sold for a very good price too.

There's a detailed review here:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18477560

The only issue would be negative vdroop but it has been fixed on the newer BIOSes.

That's not the absolute best board for sure but it's my top pick because it gives all the features you want along with IR PowIRstages at a very good price.

Gigafail and x79 is a bad bad recipe. It took like four months to get a working bios on the up5, awesome. X79 ud3 vtt bugs... been there. Looks like the up4 had the vtt bug too lol.

 

[Unethical]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alatar

The best overclocking X79 board hands down is the Rampage IV Extreme. Best and most numerous features, best BIOS, holds pretty much all the record OCs on X79, easy to watercool etc.

Sounds like it's going to be an expensive build so there's really no point in trying to save a hundred bucks by going with a cheaper mobo.

You're right lol I don't mind price I just want to get a good board. I just read an older thread similar to this one and everyone seemed to be leaning towards RIVE, where's the best place to get it from? I was also thinking about using a 3930K and see how far I'd be able to overclock it, as far as GPUs which ones would you guys recommend? 7970s or 680s? Or should I wait until Q4 for the 8000/700 series?

Thanks everyone for your input I look forward to putting this system together!

 

[tsm106]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unethical

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alatar

The best overclocking X79 board hands down is the Rampage IV Extreme. Best and most numerous features, best BIOS, holds pretty much all the record OCs on X79, easy to watercool etc.

Sounds like it's going to be an expensive build so there's really no point in trying to save a hundred bucks by going with a cheaper mobo.

You're right lol I don't mind price I just want to get a good board. I just read an older thread similar to this one and everyone seemed to be leaning towards RIVE, where's the best place to get it from? I was also thinking about using a 3930K and see how far I'd be able to overclock it, as far as GPUs which ones would you guys recommend? 7970s or 680s? Or should I wait until Q4 for the 8000/700 series?

Thanks everyone for your input I look forward to putting this system together!

RIVE is the best all-around and the 2nd best is the RIVF especially if you're on a tighter budget. The pcie switch block is to die for.

 

[connectwise]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsm106

Do you think someone asking for advice on a board for overclocking needs advice on which boards for LN2???.

Why are you screaming at me.

I would think people in any position are or should be open to advice and suggestions. Plus I was just asking a question cus I don't know. I'm also looking to upgrade over my current z68.

 

[driftingforlife]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsm106

RIVE is the best all-around and the 2nd best is the RIVF especially if you're on a tighter budget. The pcie switch block is to die for.

It really is, makes live soooo much esayer .

 

[Alatar]

3930K is a good idea, performs exactly like the extreme editions.

I have no clue on places where to get it since I live in the EU

as for GPUs, if what you do can utilize double precision/CUDA go with GTX Titans, if you're mainly working with openCL that prefer AMD cards then go with 7970s, etc. But the main point is that GPUs depend on the programs you're running.

 

[Unethical]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsm106

RIVE is the best all-around and the 2nd best is the RIVF especially if you're on a tighter budget. The pcie switch block is to die for.

Alright thanks for the info, and yea I won't be doing any heavy benching/overclocking just yet.
RIVE it is! by the way guys I already have an Aerocool Strike X St and EVGA SuperNOVA NEX1500w psu so which GPUs do you think I should shoot for?
and btw TSM be nice lol no need to attack the poor guy

 

[adridu59]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsm106

Gigafail and x79 is a bad bad recipe. It took like four months to get a working bios on the up5, awesome. X79 ud3 vtt bugs... been there. Looks like the up4 had the vtt bug too lol.

Yeah but the X79-UP4 is second gen. and doesn't suffer from those problems.

The only "problem" was negative vdroop (but it's not a problem if you take it into account when overclocking) and it's been fixed whatsoever.

 

[tsm106]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adridu59

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsm106

Gigafail and x79 is a bad bad recipe. It took like four months to get a working bios on the up5, awesome. X79 ud3 vtt bugs... been there. Looks like the up4 had the vtt bug too lol.

Yeah but the X79-UP4 is second gen. and doesn't suffer from those problems.

The only "problem" was negative vdroop (but it's not a problem if you take it into account when overclocking) and it's been fixed whatsoever.

Go read the up5 thread, yea 2nd gen x79 fail, and come back here with the same confidence?

 

[Unethical]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alatar

3930K is a good idea, performs exactly like the extreme editions.

I have no clue on places where to get it since I live in the EU

as for GPUs, if what you do can utilize double precision/CUDA go with GTX Titans, if you're mainly working with openCL that prefer AMD cards then go with 7970s, etc. But the main point is that GPUs depend on the programs you're running.

Sounds good I'm going to be working with openCL so AMD is it, but should i wait for the newer GPUs to come out or just go for the 7970s? Thanks for all the info Alatar

 

[driftingforlife]

7970's or Titan's. No new gpu's till Q4.

Also you will want to watercool all this. If you still have enough moneis get a caselabs or littledevil case.

 

[Alatar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unethical

Sounds good I'm going to be working with openCL so AMD is it, but should i wait for the newer GPUs to come out or just go for the 7970s? Thanks for all the info Alatar

AMD wont have anything faster than the 7970 GHz edition this year. If they're releasing anything new for the high end it's going to be in Q4 at the very earliest.

And I would still check the specific programs and find benchies for those. Just "OpenCL use" is still a bit vague and doesn't tell that much.

On the gaming side 4x GTX Titan is the fastest setup atm. (same goes for theoretical compute performance as well SP and DP)

 

[Unethical]

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftingforlife

7970's. No new gpu's till Q4.

Also you will want to watercool all this. If you still have enough moneis get a caselabs or littledevil case.

Alright, I already have an Aerocool Strike X St Case and an EVGA SuperNOVA NEX1500w PSU, I think I can make it work, what kind of rad sizes do you think I should go with? That case has a high airflow from the looks of it or the way i plan to make it work. I was thinking maybe a dual 180 uptop or a dual 200 because I was loving the Bitfenix Spectre Pro LED fans. Before when i was debating an Sr-2 I was thinking about using a phobya 1260 rad with quad 200s lol not sure how'd that work out though.

 

[KaRLiToS]

I vote for the rampage IV Extreme. With a nice block. (Or any Rampage IV, Gene, Formula)



(Second choice if you need MANY slots: Asrock x79 Extreme 11)

 

[driftingforlife]

Minimum of 480mm for the GPUs and 240mm for the CPU.

The phobya 1260 would be a good idea as it gives you plenty of RAD space. You could do one loop with that RAD and 2 D5 pumps.