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New $2K build, go Z68 or X58?

Solution
I know you stated that you don't plan on using dual vid cards...but with that HX 750 of yours...it would seem a shame to not leave that option open. Match up a 6950 2GB or 6970 if your set on the AMD route with this board down below. I read that AMD is coming out with those new gen vid cards first and they will be out sometime around Thanksgiving so you might want to wait until then to see some benchmarks.

This board down below comes with a nifty black front USB 3.0 panel with a 2.5" SSD bracket behind it that fits right onto the front of that Sniper case of yours like it was made for it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265 $154.99
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel...


Socket 1155 > socket 1336 (which is a dead socket now in most regards)[/b]


P67 or Z68 1155 Sandy Bridge. Socket 1155 has an upgrade path with the new 22nm Ivy Bridge cpu's due out in April/May

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z68%20Extreme7%20Gen3 <----- an example of a socket 1155 Z68 board

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/PCIe3/ <----- PCI-E 3.0 which is for the new generation cards and supported by Ivy Bridge

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4272/asrock_z68_extreme7_gen3_intel_z68_motherboard_review/index.html <----- review of that board. 5.0Ghz on air cooling


http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-990x-extreme-edition-gulftown,2874.html <----- $1,000 Intel Core i7-990X Extreme vs $330 Intel Core i7 2600K Sandy Bridge

*Sandy Bridge reviews down below

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833.html

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i5-2600k-i5-2500k-and-core-i3-2100-tested

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1501/1/

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=622&Itemid=63

http://www.guru3d.com/article/core-i5-2500k-and-core-i7-2600k-review/
 
It seems that LGA 1336 is anything but dead.
A newer version replacing LGA 1336, LGA 2011, is just around the corner.
Also, based on the pricing of LGA 1336 components, they don't appear to be dead.
 

What does LGA 2011 have to do with LGA 1336 or the price of rice in China?

Do you have google...then google socket 1336. It's as dead as Kurt Cobain. LGA 2011 is a total different chip set as in an entire different socket with it's own series of motherboards not to mention it's an enthusiast chip that will expensive. It runs hot and sucks up the voltage. Again use google, it's your friend.

 



It is dead. You can not use socket 2011 processor on a socket 1336 motherboard.
 

One of us is misinformed about the LGA 1366 and the future LGA 2011, and respectfully, I disagree with your "dead" announcement on the 1366.
Looking for a comparison between Z68 and X58, It'd be great if you could explain your preference instead of posting links to articles that cover LGA 1155/Z68.


 

We agree, from that perspective.
To better clarify my question, was looking for thoughts/feedback between buying into the high-end X58/1336 today or X79/2011 in a couple of months Vs. mainstream Z68/1155.
 
I don't know how to be more explicit. There is NO upgrade path for the socket 1336. What you see is what you get. It's not like they are making any new style boards for that socket seeing how it's being replaced by LGA 2011. Totally replaced...as in different cpu's and different motherboards. If you buy a socket 1336 today it's the equivalent of buying a VCR when everyone else is using DVD's.


http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/2 <--- choose any socket 1336 cpu on there and bench it against either the 15 2500K (non hyper threading) or the 2600K (hyper threaded).

It's pretty much the same link I posted earlier.
 

What's going to be the intended use for your build? That right there should determine what path to take. If this is a gaming build then hands down it's the socket 1155. If this is a specialty build for video encoding on a professional level then the socket 2011 might be the way to go. But without knowing what your primary use for your new build is, it's a tough call.
 

Perhaps a better/more relevant question would be 1155 or 2011 build. Thoughts?
 

Games, office, movies, web.
No need for video editing/encoding.
 


This, 1366 is definitely DOA with Ivy Bridge coming up.

If you're mainly gonna be using it for movies, internet, etc, you don't really need the i5-2500K, go with an i3-2120 and use the money for a better motherboard/video card/Blu-Ray player, etc.
 

Approximate Purchase Date: when config finalized and parts selected (unless aiming for the new arrival of Ivy Bridge)
Budget Range: ~$1500+/- Before Rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Office, Web, Movies, Games
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS (reusing Win 7 64), monitor (reusing Samsung 24), case (reusing Cooler Master Sniper), PSU (reusing Corsair 750HX)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, but open to any other
Country of Origin: USA
Parts Preferences: Intel architecture (no AMD board or CPU)
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: stability comes first, 1 x AMD GPU, snappy system response (SSD?), SATA III, USB 3.0, quiet operation, not overly concerned with future-proofing if it comes at a higher cost
 
I know you stated that you don't plan on using dual vid cards...but with that HX 750 of yours...it would seem a shame to not leave that option open. Match up a 6950 2GB or 6970 if your set on the AMD route with this board down below. I read that AMD is coming out with those new gen vid cards first and they will be out sometime around Thanksgiving so you might want to wait until then to see some benchmarks.

This board down below comes with a nifty black front USB 3.0 panel with a 2.5" SSD bracket behind it that fits right onto the front of that Sniper case of yours like it was made for it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265 $154.99
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4%20Gen3 <----- You can see that black front USB 3.0 panel w/SSD bracket about halfway down on this page and it's also in the newegg pic.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 $219.99 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K


The 1155 boards require low voltage RAM as in 1.5v. Here's some good RAM to consider.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186 $52.99 FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196 $58.99 FREE SHIPPING
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9B

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 $51.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 $51.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226191 $54.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996995

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226219 $53.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Radioactive 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 997005

For an SSD take a look at the SATA 3 SSD's. Crucial seems to have the best track record so far seeing how it doesn't use that Sand Force controller. The OCZ SSD's seem to have the most bugs atm.

If you don't plan on o/c past 4.4Ghz - 4.5Ghz then this Cooler Master h/s.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 $27.99 FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7

This cpu h/s down below is due out on the market any day now and it's gotten some good reviews on professional sites and it will allow you to get close to or @ 5.0Ghz

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?category_id=1623&product_id=3049 ($49.99 est.)
Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM
 
Solution
Thanks.

1. Am I not better off with a Z68? (HDD caching on the SSD, VirtuLucid ... the video onboard, ...)
2. Is there any meaningful difference/s between the various memory modules you suggested, other than pricing? (not likely to OC)
 

If you plan on doing a lot of video editing...then a Z68 board is the way to go. TBH most peeps including myself never use half the crap these boards come with. Games, surfing the net, movies...the usual. SSD caching hasn't really panned out yet. It's more of an idea that hasn't been perfected yet, and with your budget I'm guessing your going to get a 120/128GB SSD...so the caching isn't going to make any impact. If you had a smaller SSD it might make a difference.

For a Z68 board that has those new PCI-E 3.0 slots look at the Asrock Z68 extreme3 gen3 (lacks front USB 3.0 headers but has the usual 2x3.0 USB ports on the back of the board), or the Asrock Z68 extreme4 gen3, or the big boys which is the Asrock Professional gen3, and Asrock extreme7 gen3.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%2050001944%20600093976%20600158412&IsNodeId=1&name=ASRock <---- those boards can be found on that link.

As far as those sets of RAM I posted...no difference between any of them other than the style and color of the heat spreaders.
 
Socket 1155 > socket 1336 (which is a dead socket now in most regards)

LGA1366 is not officially EOL yet. It still remains as Intel's flagship high-end socket that has not been replaced. Socket 1155 is superior, but it is Intel's medium-range socket designed to replace 1156.

Socket 2011 will be replacing 1366 very soon, but 1366 is still not dead. Technically, 1366 has wider PCI-E bandwidth when using multiple GPU's and supports hexa-cored processor to which 1155 does not, even though the processors themselves are superior on a clock per clock basis.

Overall though, if you need a computer now, then 1155 is surely the way to go. If you want high end, wait until socket 2011 coming out quite soon.