New PC Build (SB-E)

[Spartan18]

I'm re-writing my original thread as it doesnt seem to have loged properly on the Forum's system

So after 6 years or so I've decided to build a new PC to replace my aging dual core Athlon. Please see the configuration below and let me know what you think. Any advice regarding any potential incopatibilities with the following setup is always welcome.

1. Motherboard: MSI Big Bang Xpower2 (I'm also considering the Asus rampage 4 Extreme)
2. CPU: 3930K C2 stepping
3. Ram: quad kit 16GB corsair vengeance LP 1600Mz
4. Video Card: Nvidia GTX680 (Waiting for the Asus DCII edition), the 7970 could be an alternative
5. Storage: 256GB Vertex 4 (or intel 520) plus a 1TB WD black
6. PSU: Enermax Platimax 1200W
7. Case: Coolermaster Cosmos 2
8. Optical Driver: 1X Blue Ray writer & DVD writer
9. CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 2011 edition
10. Monitor: Havent decided yet, probably a dell 24 U2412M

I would like your view on the mobo in particular. I tend to lean towards the MSI because of the feature set and the built quality of the mobo itself. It does worry me however,as I discovered, that the c2 stepping for the 3930K is only supported from a sertain version of bios and above. What happens if the mobo I purchase comes with an earlier version, do I end up with an expensive board I can't use? (Do you think anyone from scan could help me with this before ordering?)

On the other hand I know the Asus mobo is concidered top notch, however I've read too many bad things about it on the internet, (mainly from other users, not review sites) regarding DOAs which makes me quite sceptical. I get the impression its a bit of a marketing gimick without the substance...For example how can an asus X79 deluxe have a better voltage regulation than the rampage 4 (deluxe 16+4+2+2 vs 8+3+2+2 for the rampage) if the latter is supposed to be their flagship product.

Furthermore the 1st PCI-E on the asus mobo is very close to the CPU socket meaning that the fan clips from the NH-D14 could be touching the video card (not good). Just to clarify I don't want to use watercooling

Please excuse the length of my thread, looking foward to receiving your advice.

[Spartan18]

Guys...anyone?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Is this for gaming??

If so a Core i5 will be fine or perhaps a Core i7.

[Spartan18]

The pc will be used for gaming, photo editing, autocad and general office use. My main dilemma is the mobo, trying to get some opinions on the MSI BB2 vs the Asus RIVE.

[shaithis]

Why are you going SB-E? AutoCAD is predominately single-threaded, gaming will not use 6 cores, general office use you can do on a single-core........

That leaves photo editing.

Do you use insane effects in Photoshop that will make the 6 cores worthwhile?

[Spartan18]

Well I suppose i just need soomething which is more future proof. What do you think of these two mobos any recommendations. The problem is the more i read around for x79 boards be it asus, msi and especially gigabytes there seem to be a lot of problems...These two boards are the ones i found the best reviews for etc..

Why are you going SB-E? AutoCAD is predominately single-threaded, gaming will not use 6 cores, general office use you can do on a single-core........

That leaves photo editing.

Do you use insane effects in Photoshop that will make the 6 cores worthwhile?

[MSIC]

I can't help but observe that Sandy Bridge E is already yesterday's technology. Yes, you want 6 cores, but I wouldnt argue that a 6 core SB-E system is more future-proof than an IB Core i7 system.

[Spartan18]

Hmm I see what you mean, could be so. Then again the IB reviews aren't booming with enthusiasm and the mobos are still untested. To come back to my original question any suggestions for a good X79 mobo? Anyone has any experience with the two motherboards I listed?

I can't help but observe that Sandy Bridge E is already yesterday's technology. Yes, you want 6 cores, but I wouldnt argue that a 6 core SB-E system is more future-proof than an IB Core i7 system.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You are just wasting your money. I would get a socket 1155 Core i5 or perhaps a Core i7. Anything more is just either OTT IMHO looking at the tasks you are running. The amount of money you are spending on a six core SB-E CPU and X79 motherboards makes it a poor choice TBH - its not like you are doing 3D deconvolution or something along those lines.

You are also not saving money in the long time - it is still around £600 for a X79 motherboard and a six core SB-E CPU. SB-E also tends to overclock worse last time I checked and requires more cooling too. You could upgrade a second time(if required) in the next two to three years for the same expendature IMHO going for a socket 1155 based system and still have a faster computer for your purposes than sticking with an ageing six core CPU.

By the time any game can effective use a six core CPU,the quad cores at that time will probably do better. You only have to look at the six core socket 1366 Core i7 CPUs against a socket 1155 SB Core i5 or Core i7. The SB quad cores have higher single thread performance and run even multi-threaded games better. A Core i7 has 8 threads and will be fine for yonks.

I do 35MM film Scans from a dedicated film scanner and my Core i3 and an SSD are fast enough. Image editing is most limited by disk speed and RAM quantity and more programmes are being OpenCL and CUDA accelerated.

If you are serious in any way about your image editing I would make sure you get a colour accurate monitor,a calibration device and decent software.

Adobe CS6 supports OpenCL acceleration:

http://www.techpowerup.com/164743/AM...eleration.html

[Spartan18]

Understood, many thanks for the advice! I guess I'll wait a bit more to read a few reviews and opinions of z77 mobos and examine the option of bulding a system around that....From an economic perspective it seems to make sense as well!

You are just wasting your money. I would get a socket 1155 Core i5 or perhaps a Core i7. Anything more is just either OTT IMHO looking at the tasks you are running. The amount of money you are spending on a six core SB-E CPU and X79 motherboards makes it a poor choice TBH - its not like you are doing 3D deconvolution or something along those lines.

You are also not saving money in the long time - it is still around £600 for a X79 motherboard and a six core SB-E CPU. SB-E also tends to overclock worse last time I checked and requires more cooling too. You could upgrade a second time(if required) in the next two to three years for the same expendature IMHO going for a socket 1155 based system and still have a faster computer for your purposes than sticking with an ageing six core CPU.

By the time any game can effective use a six core CPU,the quad cores at that time will probably do better. You only have to look at the six core socket 1366 Core i7 CPUs against a socket 1155 SB Core i5 or Core i7. The SB quad cores have higher single thread performance and run even multi-threaded games better. A Core i7 has 8 threads and will be fine for yonks.

I do 35MM film Scans from a dedicated film scanner and my Core i3 and an SSD are fast enough. Image editing is most limited by disk speed and RAM quantity and more programmes are being OpenCL and CUDA accelerated.

If you are serious in any way about your image editing I would make sure you get a colour accurate monitor,a calibration device and decent software.

Adobe CS6 supports OpenCL acceleration:

http://www.techpowerup.com/164743/AM...eleration.html