$1300 BF3 Build: Motherboard advice?

[QwertyMusicMan]

I just read that the bulldoer quad-core might not launch until Q4 2011 or Q1 2012, so I said "screw it" and decided to just go with an i5. Can you read-over this build, and offer any suggestions, price cuts, or compatibility requirements?

Also, I haven't decided on a motherboard. What's the best one for this build, at $100 or under?

CPU: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2500K-Processor-3-3GHz-LGA1155/dp/B004EBUXHQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

GPU: http://www.amazon.com/XFX-6950-MiniDP-Video-HD695XCNFC/dp/tech-data/B004ULZ7YY (NOTE: Running two of these in Xfire)

RAM: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-240-Pin-Platforms-CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9/dp/B004CRSM4I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314956113&sr=8-1

HDD: http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-7200-12-Internal-ST31000524AS/dp/B004IZN3YI

Case: http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Crafted-Tower-Steel-Chassis/dp/B003WE9WQO (I fell in love with this case... lol)

DVD: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SATA-Internal-Drive-AD-7260S-0B/dp/B003MRHOQG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1314955436&sr=1-1#productPromotions

Win 7: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Builder/dp/B004Q0PT3I/ref=sr_1_1?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1315033213&sr=1-1

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

Mobo: ???


Thanks!

 

[AdrianPerry]

The ASRock Gen3's are among the most recommended motherboards at the moment as they come with "future-proof" PCI 3.0 lanes.

The Extreme4 ($190) is a great priced mid-range board capable of Crossfire and SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=z68+gen3&x=0&y=0

The Samsung SpinPoint F3 is also the 1TB HDD of choice and apparently out performs the SeaGate Barracuda.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

PSU, CPU, GPU's, RAM all look good

Id possibly recommend buying an 850w PSU with a single 6970 - This will play all the latest games with maxed settings and will allow room to add a second 6970 in the future. Just an idea though, x2 6950's would work fine

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

The ASRock Gen3's are among the most recommended motherboards at the moment as they come with "future-proof" PCI 3.0 lanes.

The Extreme4 ($190) is a great priced mid-range board capable of Crossfire and SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=z68+gen3&x=0&y=0

The Samsung SpinPoint F3 is also the 1TB HDD of choice and apparently out performs the SeaGate Barracuda.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

PSU, CPU, GPU's, RAM all look good

Id possibly recommend buying an 850w PSU with a single 6970 - This will play all the latest games with maxed settings and will allow room to add a second 6970 in the future. Just an idea though, x2 6950's would work fine

So with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

It would still be great?

About the 6970: I can't justify spending $100 more on something which I can just OC the 6950 to do...

 

[AdrianPerry]

I don't think that motherboard supports crossfire or SLI.

You need to take a look at the EXTREME4 GEN3 ($190 one) if you wish to run multiple graphics cards.

EDIT: Ignore the above, I just missed where it was listed. That board you put a link to (EXTREME3 GEN3) does support crossfire and SLI.

And well, while that maybe true, the 6970 also can clock even higher...it works both ways. Overclocked 6950 might be the same as a stock 6970, but its certainly not the same as an overclocked 6970.

 

[Swolern]

I second the Asrock Extreme mobo. It's one of the best for the money. If your going to spend an extra $100 on GPU just remember what Battlefield 3 devs used to run the amazing previews that everyone is drooling over, a GTX 580. If running 2 cards 570 SLI. Something to think about.

Battlefield 3 is going to be AMAZING!

 

[AdrianPerry]

I second the Asrock Extreme mobo. It's one of the best for the money. If your going to spend an extra $100 on GPU just remember what Battlefield 3 devs used to run the amazing previews that everyone is drooling over, a GTX 580. If running 2 cards 570 SLI. Something to think about.

Battlefield 3 is going to be AMAZING!

SLI 560Ti's and Crossfire 6950's I believe both deliver slightly better performance than a single GTX 580

 

[Swolern]

SLI 560Ti's and Crossfire 6950's I believe both deliver slightly better performance than a single GTX 580

Yes that is correct. Building with CF or SLI will give you th best bang for your buck, but it doesn't leave you with a good upgrade option to future proof your system. Plus you have to deal with the multi GPU issues like microstutter, which is less obvious with sli.

 

[cbrunnem]

So with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

It would still be great?

About the 6970: I can't justify spending $100 more on something which I can just OC the 6950 to do...

the system would be better with those for sure.

and it is wrong to say you can overclock a 6950 into a 6970. you can potentially UNLOCK a 6950 into a 6970 but an overclock is not the difference between the two. the difference is in the amount of stream processors as the 6950 has some disabled.

 

[AdrianPerry]

the system would be better with those for sure.

and it is wrong to say you can overclock a 6950 into a 6970. you can potentially UNLOCK a 6950 into a 6970 but an overclock is not the difference between the two. the difference is in the amount of stream processors as the 6950 has some disabled.

And that's why I favour Nvidia 😀

 

[cbrunnem]

And that's why I favour Nvidia 😀

why? is it wrong for them to do it that way? why develop two chips for two different cards when you can just disable part of one to make two? thats basically all they are doing and it saves them money. it doesnt make one better then the other it just is the easier way to do it.

 

[AdrianPerry]

Because there's no guarantee'd working unlock.

At least with my Nvidia card i'm a manually cranking up the settings so it can perform as i want it to in 100% of games 100% of the times.

 

[cbrunnem]

Because there's no guarantee'd working unlock.

At least with my Nvidia card i'm a manually cranking up the settings so it can perform as i want it to in 100% of games 100% of the times.

if you buy a 6950 your buying a 6950 not a 6970. if you want a 6970 the only garenteed way is to buy a 6970. a non unlockable 6950 overclocked is working at 100%. its not underperforming because it didnt unlock cause thats just the luck of the draw and unfair.

 

[AdrianPerry]

Like i said before, that's why i favour Nvidia. Its simpler, its seemingly more effective, and it works regardless

 

[cbrunnem]

Like i said before, that's why i favour Nvidia. Its simpler, its seemingly more effective, and it works regardless

ok but i dont think you get it.

 

[QwertyMusicMan]

Best answer selected by QwertyMusicMan.