Cheap motherboard for overclocking i5 2500k

[cptwhite_uk]

I'm building a cheap cpu/mobo/Ram bundle and have already settled on the 2500k which I found for £42.50 delivered and 8Gb RAM (2x4Gb Crucial DDR3 1600Mhz) for £25.00 delivered

Just needing the motherboard to complete the trio and I'm struggling to locate something suitable below £45 ideally.

I've got a couple of options at £30 / £40 but neither would allow overclocking to let the 2500k stretch its legs.

I've searched Ebay / Gumtree / Facebook Marketplace ....anywhere else I could look for a socket 1155 board with any of the following chipsets P67, Z68, Z75 or Z77

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This is the issue with the Intel platforms,the motherboards are the major limiting factor,as they change socket so often - if my motherboard goes,since its the same socket as the Core i5 2500K and mini-ITX,I might as well not bother replacing it(due to the cost of the better motherboards),and the higher end boards can stay quite pricey(look at X79 which has some very cheap CPUs available for it).

A cheap way to look for a decent board,might be to look at some one ditching their old PC?? Sometimes people ditch desktops with good motherboards for not much,especially if some other part has gone - its worth checking Ebay and Gumtree for those. Forums are another place,especially if someone is doing a clear out.

[cptwhite_uk]

CAT There's a motherboard for an Alienware Aurora R4 (Ivybridge E support) going for £20, and CEX have the 3930k (6c/12T/3.2 to 3.8 Turbo Ivybridge) for £72. Should be compatible, what do you think?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

That's actually quite cheap for an X79 motherboard,but its propriety so check the ATX power connectors and mounting positions. According to the Hexus review the R4 used that CPU you mentioned too:

http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/system...ora-r4/?page=2

Also,AFAIK a number of Xeon E5 CPUs will also work with the X79 motherboards(will need to check exact compatibility though),and many of these have been dumped relatively cheaply on the market. OTH,I am not sure these can be overclocked and clockspeeds are quite low.

[cptwhite_uk]

Just spotted a bargain - i7-3820 on CEX for £32....4 core / 8 thread @ 3.6Ghz - 3.8Ghz turbo. Not overclockable, but doubt that's an issue for the price....£79.50 for motherboard, processor and RAM

i7-3820 3.6Ghz SandyBridge-E
X79 based motherboard
8Gb DDR3 1600Mhz (Crucial branded)

Here's the actual motherboard for reference: It's mATX configuration, and yes the Aurora R4 could be specified with the 3820 as it's base option so should be fully compatible

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Looks like a go then - any chance you can post the build process in a thread,with even a few benchmarks please??

Its quite easy for us to look at the latest and greatest,but sometimes secondhand can give you some good bargains.

Edit!!

Have you checked this YT channel out:

https://www.youtube.com/user/RandomGaminginHD

He tests older hardware with newer games,often with surprising results!!

[cptwhite_uk]

Seems like the 3820 is overclockable aswell, semi-unlocked. People with the alienware aurora r4 seem to get 4.2/4.3 pretty easily. Some say the multiplier is locked to 43 so I'll have to do some testing.

Should hopefully hit 4.3Ghz without too much trouble....

Youtube channel looks really interesting, I've subbed.

[cptwhite_uk]

Seems the seller of the motherboard posted a picture of an R2 motherboard, stated it was an R4 motherboard in the description, and stated also it is socket 1155 (which is for R3). So who knows what I'm receiving

Hopefully it's R3 and he just posted the wrong stock image (R2 and R3 board look quite similar, R4 is very different). He's restated it's for socket 1155, and I have the i5 2500k to collect still. Might have to return the 3820 though, shame, was going to return the 2500k instead.

[cptwhite_uk]

Received the motherboard today....it's an R3, so will accept the 2500k I previously ordered (phew). Now I have to return the i7-3820 unfortunately, still it's just a trip to the local CEX for a full refund so no harm done.

[cptwhite_uk]

So quick update.

Motherboard - Alienware Aurora R3 = £20
Intel Core i5 2500k = £40
2x 4Gb RAM (8Gb) DDR3 1333Mhz = £20
Coolermaster Hyper 212 LED = £22.50
7870 Tahiti (7870 LE) = £50.00
6 pin to 8 pin PCI-E power cable = £4.65

Total cost £157.15 total

Managed to overclock the 2500k @ 4.5Ghz, and I'm happy to just leave it at that as further gains aren't worth the potential instability. CPU was running around 60-65C after stressing with Prime95 for 15 minutes, no faults.

Sorry I forgot to take pictures of the build, but it went into an Antec P180 case, and was replacing a HD6870, Q6600, Asus P5K-E mobo and 8Gb DDR2 800

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Not bad at all - I think you did well on the motherboard though!

[cptwhite_uk]

I was lucky, he'd advertised it as an R4, put a picture of an R2 and sent an R3.....and 5 or 6 socket pins were bent. Nearly gave up, but managed to bend them back in position manually using a needle point, magnifying glass and a steady hand!

[Fury559]

This is the kind of thing I like about PC, if you are on a limited budget but have the mindset you really can get a much better experience over the consoles for less money, now the games are cheaper too so more savings on that front too!