Question What Motherboard for aIntel Core i9-9980XE (Skylake) Processor?

king_yoshi

Reputable
May 8, 2016
3
0
4,510
My current build runs the famous Intel Gulftown i7-980x Processor.
dims


Here is a link to my current RIG.

I can still run almost every game and application on maximum settings without any problems whatsoever. (I can also run numerous VM's simultaneously, without any problems.)
However, since Windows 7 is coming to End of Life, at the end of this year, I am being forced to upgrade to Windows 10. (January 2020)

Windows 10 does not officially support Gulftown, so its time for a new build.
Therefore, I am looking for suggestions on starting a new Build.

Requirements
A.) When I build a rig, I build them to last ~10 years. My current build is from 2010!
The only things that usually get upgraded are RAM, Hardrives and Videocoards.

B.) I am willing to spend about $4000 (or a bit more if necessary)


C.) This isn't just some "overkill" gaming computer, but will be used for work to simulate networks and user environements using VmWare Workstation, test pre-production applications, and a large manner of other tasks.

D.) I will need it to support at least 32 gigs of RAM to start, and may upgrade it to 64 gigs at a later date.

E.) I also need it to support enough SATA connectors for 5-6 Hardrives and a DVD drive. (Yes, I still use these things called CDs/DVDs...)
I was also looking at using a PCI-E SSD as my primary hardrive, however I have heard that doing Data Recovery on these are a real pain, should something happen.
(And yes, I do keep backups.)

F.) I need a minimum of 6 USB ports on the I/O.


What motherboards to you suggest if I go with the Intel Core i9-9980XE (Skylake) processor?
(If there is a newerprocessor, thats better, feel free to chime in.)
 
So far I haven't seen support cut off for ANY devices that have driver support by the hardware manufacturer, by Microsoft, on Windows 10. And I doubt that we will. That is a very OLD story about them doing that.

What is MORE likely is that driver support by the hardware manufacturers will end at some point, making older hardware incompatible with newer build versions of Windows 10, not by any design of Microsoft, but because it will become unrealistic for hardware manufacturers to continue providing driver support on Windows 10 for older platforms or devices when there are few people still using them.

I don't think I'd even consider that platform for an upgrade when the soon to be released Ryzen 3000 and Threadripper offerings will outperform it, offer more cores, faster single core performance, better and faster memory support, PCIe 4.0, multiple PCIe 4.0 NVME driver support and more. At this point it makes little sense. It will also likely be potentially a lot cheaper.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TJ Hooker
So far I haven't seen support cut off for ANY devices that have driver support by the hardware manufacturer, by Microsoft, on Windows 10. And I doubt that we will. That is a very OLD story about them doing that.

What is MORE likely is that driver support by the hardware manufacturers will end at some point, making older hardware incompatible with newer build versions of Windows 10, not by any design of Microsoft, but because it will become unrealistic for hardware manufacturers to continue providing driver support on Windows 10 for older platforms or devices when there are few people still using them.

I don't think I'd even consider that platform for an upgrade when the soon to be released Ryzen 3000 and Threadripper offerings will outperform it, offer more cores, faster single core performance, better and faster memory support, PCIe 4.0, multiple PCIe 4.0 NVME driver support and more. At this point it makes little sense. It will also likely be potentially a lot cheaper.

I have personally had to deal with the "CPU Not Compatible" error on certain older computers at work.
It is a real thing. And yes, you are correct its partially due to End Of Life status of some of the equipment.
Either way, I have to upgrade as I confirmed with Microsoft, by calling them, that this series of processors is not supported by Windows 10.

I agree, the new AMD processors are slated to be amazing, however I prefer to stick with Intel, as I still ha ve nightmares when it comes to driver compatibility issues. (However more importantly, some of the software I test does not play nice with AMD is specifically geared toward Intel Processors.)