X58 System

[piggin23]

I have decided to take the plunge and purchase a new system.

I am going to get :-

core i7 920 D0 stepping
6GB (3x2GB) Corsair Dominator DDR3 (1600)

I am not sure which motherboard to purchase. In my short list I have :-

DFI LP UT X58-T3eH8
Asus Rampage II Extreme
Asus P6T Deluxe V2

I am looking to overclock the chip as high as it will go and place it under water.
I am no expert at overclocking but I do know my way around. I have used ASUS boards for my last few builds and their BIOS makes sense to me.
I would pick the DFI but there are split review on how easy it is to use when overclocking.

Any help would be gratefully received.

[matty-hodgson]

you're saying that ASUS's BIOS makes sense to you..
Core i7 is totally different to the Core 2s, they overclock in a totally different way and i had to read several guides and walkthroughs before understanding it fully

[piggin23]

I appreciate that this is a totally new technology and overclocking as I have known it has changed but I have tried numerous manufacturers and ASUS was my preference as it was the most user friendly (in my opinion).
I am just trying to find out are they still user friendly. ASUS seams very popular and is widely used.
Is this because they are the best? or is it they got their equipment out first and have a bigger advertising budget than anyone else?

[piggin23]

Sorry for the bump but I could do with help on this please.

[moogle]

Sorry for the bump but I could do with help on this please.

Well for the RIIE board most people say it's overpriced for what it is, but that said I'd still go for one. The only problem I heard with it was bios issues.

Check out some of the board reviews to help you make up your mind

[this_is_gav]

'The best' for overclocking are generally DFI, but for those favouring an easier approach to overclocking, there are no clear winners. Gigabyte, ASUS and probably MSI are all pretty much the same (though MSI are usually cack at everything else).

Most boards now are quite safe - if you push the limit a bit higher, they'll revert to safe settings so you don't have to reset the CMOS. My Gigabyte UD5 also keeps the settings you used previously, so you don't have to start again - just relax the settings a bit and try again - but I imagine that goes for most overclocking boards now.

The simplest overclock I've recently had was on an Abit IP35 Dark Raider. It's a shame they've gone out of business.

Nothing compares to the legendary Celeron 300A though. Change one setting the BIOS and you got a near top of the range Pentium 2 for about 34 pence.

[Badbonji]

you're saying that ASUS's BIOS makes sense to you..
Core i7 is totally different to the Core 2s, they overclock in a totally different way and i had to read several guides and walkthroughs before understanding it fully

It is pretty simple, you can imagine it as a core 2 with a high multi and lower fsb, but you have a FSB multiplier and QPI = FSB.

With overclocks, the Rampage II, Classified and Gigabyte Extreme I think are the best. You can expect 4-4.2Ghz from an overclock from any X58, with reasonable voltages. It takes my 965 1.26Vcore to get 4ghz (Very low compared to what some core 2 needed!)

For overclocking you seem to do better with an odd multiplier, I have seen this many times. So you can leave turbo on and 20x multi in BIOS for 21x multiplier, and need a lower base clock or you can turn turbo off and use a 19x multi. These tend to work best for the 920's.

The memory you want to keep at default when you overclock, and select the 1T (1N on some) command rate, 3 sticks can run that fine and gives about 1-2Gb/sec more bandwidth!

This is my 965 when it was at 4Ghz:

[piggin23]

Thanks for the replies on this.

I have spent most of Easter looking at reviews and it still does not seam any clearer

I am being pulled to the DFI LP UT X58-T3eH8 as it will do what I want at a reasonable price.
My only concern is DFI are perceived as a specialist brand and I don't know if I will be able to use the BIOS for overclocking.

[moogle]

My only concern is DFI are perceived as a specialist brand and I don't know if I will be able to use the BIOS for overclocking.

Learn then
It'll only have alot of extra tweaking options but the basics should still be there.

[piggin23]

My learning experience has been very expensive recently. It has cost me a 280GTX graphics card and a 1000W Enermax power supply.
If I carry on learning like this I will be destitute within the year.
With the price of scrap as it is I cant even get a good price for my old gear. lol

[moogle]

My learning experience has been very expensive recently. It has cost me a 280GTX graphics card and a 1000W Enermax power supply.
If I carry on learning like this I will be destitute within the year.
With the price of scrap as it is I cant even get a good price for my old gear. lol

How? Maybe you're right you shouldn't do it yourself

[piggin23]

Moved over to water cooling this year.
I am very lucky I have a strong hart with large bangs and flashes.

[Badbonji]

The gigabyte BIOS is very simple, using the Phoenix one like Asus I believe?

[moogle]

Moved over to water cooling this year.
I am very lucky I have a strong hart with large bangs and flashes.

Tsk tsk tsk always leak test

The gigabyte BIOS is very simple, using the Phoenix one like Asus I believe?

It's AMI Bios (ASUS), like all other ASUS boards. I never liked the Phoenix one's hence why I always tried to stay with ASUS boards (that get good reviews as well )

[piggin23]

I did the leak test and had no problems (I thought) but some fluid must have gone into the power supply.

Not a good day.

The graphics card had a fully face water block (first I had ever fitted). This never worked again.

I have seen the BIOS layout for different boards and the one I choose I will have to learn.
I have been able to overclock by finding some very good step by step guides.



I think this has come down to stupid people (me) having to rely on the kindness of the clever.

[moogle]

I did the leak test and had no problems (I thought) but some fluid must have gone into the power supply.

Not a good day.

The graphics card had a fully face water block (first I had ever fitted). This never worked again.

I have seen the BIOS layout for different boards and the one I choose I will have to learn.
I have been able to overclock by finding some very good step by step guides.



I think this has come down to stupid people (me) having to rely on the kindness of the clever.

Guess it's just bad luck you had.

Maybe you could get this next time