Need some hardware recommendations...

[1stRaven]

Looking for some recommendations for some hardware upgrades if anyone has the time.

Current setup :

Asus P5Q Pro Motherboard
E8400 @3.6Ghz
Geil 4Gb 1066Mhz
6870 XF
HX850 PSU
Antec 1200 Case

The gpu's, psu and case are all new so planning to keep them but think its time to upgrade the core equipment.

Requirements:
PCI Slot - For HDA Soundcard.
2 x PCIe x16 slots. Dont really mind if the slots fall back to x8 speed with crossfire unless it makes a huge difference to the gpu performance.
1 x PCIe x4 slot - Required for Perc 6/i raid controller. Can use a third x16 slot if required but need it to be a x4 bandwidth.

Current ideas revolve around an Asus P8P67 Pro Motherboard, I7 2600k, Corsair Vengeance 1.5v 4Gb (LN36551) Ram and an Artic Cooling freezer 13 cooler (I have a freezer 7 and have been impressed with it). I have read a few bad things on the Asus P67 motherboards so not sure if these is a good choice.

I'm hoping for a semi decent overclock so 4.3-4.5Ghz and also plan to fold on it when I can as well.

Budget wise - £500 ish but also planning to get 3 more hard drives to build an 8 disk raid 5 array in the machine so cheap is also good.

[Terbinator]

It seems like the lowest board that will support your expansion requirements is the P8P67Pro

I would suggest going X58 but it seems pointless from a CPU point of view. OTOH you could scrap the CFX/SLI venture in which case would get you access to a PCI-e x4 (via a x16) slot on more boards across a greater price range.

[1stRaven]

It seems like the lowest board that will support your expansion requirements is the P8P67Pro

I would suggest going X58 but it seems pointless from a CPU point of view. OTOH you could scrap the CFX/SLI venture in which case would get you access to a PCI-e x4 (via a x16) slot on more boards across a greater price range.

I should explain that I use the XF setup for gaming across 3 22" monitors in games such as Ruse, total war etc. One card just wasn't up to the job hence the dual cards.

[nibbler]

i7 950 or a 2600K like you say. X58 is better for lots of drives/cards, best crossfire performance there no doubt.

[Pob255]

I'd not bother with the Antec freezer 13 cooler esp if you want to overclock esp if you fold, where the cpu can be under fairly heavy load for long periods
http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi...eezer_13/5.htm
It's an improvement over the very ageing ACf7p but still let down by the 92mm fan even though that fan looks far better and there's a good overall fin area increase.

Not much on Scan atm, how about the Scythe Mugen2 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158603

[1stRaven]

Does the Mugen2 work with the 1155 sockets?

[scaryjim]

With your expansion requirements, I have to say (despite it being older tech) i7 950 and X58 is the way to go. You'll be saving £25 on the processor, and £40 on the motherboard. £65 is a lot of moolah, even on a top end rig...

And, as always, remember to check Scan's Today Only bargains in case they're doing a bundle deal on, oooh, let's say... the i7 950, an ASUS Sabertooth TUF X58 motherboard and 6GB of Corsair XMS3

[1stRaven]

With your expansion requirements, I have to say (despite it being older tech) i7 950 and X58 is the way to go. You'll be saving £25 on the processor, and £40 on the motherboard. £65 is a lot of moolah, even on a top end rig...

And, as always, remember to check Scan's Today Only bargains in case they're doing a bundle deal on, oooh, let's say... the i7 950, an ASUS Sabertooth TUF X58 motherboard and 6GB of Corsair XMS3

That would be perfect apart from the single pci slot being blocked when a dual slot gpu is fitted.

I'll check out the x58 setups and see whats out there.

Edit : Looks like I either need a new soundcard or use the onboard stuff. None of the x58 boards have an available pci slot when using dual cards until you hit the £250+ motherboards and then then, its only by putting the second gpu at the extremes of the board. Not sure how long crossfire bridges will run.

[scaryjim]

You could always go watercooled - waterblocks only take a single slot

EDIT: or what about this MSI - if you put the graphics cards in the top two PCIe slots and the PERC in the lower one that should leave the PCI slot at the very bottom available for the soundcard...?

[1stRaven]

You could always go watercooled - waterblocks only take a single slot

EDIT: or what about this MSI - if you put the graphics cards in the top two PCIe slots and the PERC in the lower one that should leave the PCI slot at the very bottom available for the soundcard...?

That'll do it. Thanks.

Guess its time to get the debit card out tomorrow when I get paid.

[Pob255]

Socket 1156 and 1155 have the same cooler mounting, so any cooler that fits 1156 should fit 1155

[1stRaven]

Socket 1156 and 1155 have the same cooler mounting, so any cooler that fits 1156 should fit 1155

Good to know. Thanks. Been looking at the Noctua NH-D14 cooler which should keeps the temps down on the overclock and the 1200 should be a big enough case for it to fit.

Looks like the 950 is a little more complex to overclock than the E8400 or the I7 2600k but seems to get pretty decent overclocks so am hoping to hit 4ghz. Just waiting for payday tomorrow and for the perc controller to arrive.

[scaryjim]

As I understand it the principle is basically the same as Core 2 (i.e. bump up the base clock while keeping the RAM multiplier low) but they're a lot more sensitive to changes in core voltages so you have to be a lot more careful, even with good cooling.

[1stRaven]

You could always go watercooled - waterblocks only take a single slot

EDIT: or what about this MSI - if you put the graphics cards in the top two PCIe slots and the PERC in the lower one that should leave the PCI slot at the very bottom available for the soundcard...?

Just read a few reviews on that board. It doesn't appear to have been favorable reviewed, shall we say.

[nibbler]

I'd be inclined to go for X58, so a cheap board which, as Scaryjim says, saves you £65 but is still good (a gigabyte board perhaps) and a new soundcard? Not sure how much your soundcard costs though. X58 is worth it for the extra bandwidth IMO. Suits your needs better.

[Cryptik]

Asus P8P67 Pro (looses cfx performance with 16x-8x around 5% fps drop)
Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 9 (2x 4GB)
Intel Core i5 2500K oem (the i7 2600k isnt much faster and no way worth £80 more)
Corsair Hydro Series H70 (can get a much cheaper air cooler if u want)
all in stock at scan for £480

if u want to go air cooled i would advise exposed heat pipes they freaking own!
the core contact freezer by sunbeam shows how good they are (though no 1156/5 bracket)