i7 2600k and MB Recommendations?

[JoeinLA]

Looking to upgrade to an i7 2600k (whichever one offers best bang for buck). Newegg shows the 3.4 for $220, and the 3.5 for $240 or so - is the difference worth the $20? I'm guessing so...?

Also, any recommendations for motherboard? Too many choices! Would like eSATA (that's the new one?) and USB 3.0. Will have separate graphics card (NVidia 280GTX or something (I bought it years ago) and sound card, so don't need those built in. Would like a SOLID MB.

Would like to run as much RAM as reasonably usable under Win7. I'm currently using 8GB, and was told that there's almost no way I'd need more; but I'd be willing to go to 16GB if it made a performance difference.

Primary uses are Photoshop/Lightroom and SWTOR :P D3 and GW2 on the horizon!

Thanks for any recommendations. There are too many choices, and it's too hard to really get educated on all the nuances of the various options, so expert opinions greatly welcomed.

[ibanezfoo]

Gigabyte board with at least the z68 chipset.

I used to swear by ASUS and Abit products but I've gotten some DOA lemons as of late. Gigabyte hasn't failed me since I switched to them.

Cram as much RAM as you can into that thing. Its flippin cheap these days.

[Peter.Steele]

I've got the Xeon version of that chip in my workstation at the office, in the 3.5gHz flavor.

Get the 3.5.


And if you're working with Photoshop a lot, then there's absolutely zero reason not to get 16 gigs of RAM.

[kidrice]

i7-2600k = me drooling.

+1 on any mobo what is Z68.
16gb of RAM would be my goal, but its better with fewer chips.

GTX280....GTX550 can be had for like $150.


also, are you able to keep everything cool?

[JoeinLA]

also, are you able to keep everything cool?

Someone told me I'll need some sort of fancy cooling. I'm only using a fan right now... My rig's been around for 3+ years, and one of my HD's just died, so I'm feeling the urge to upgrade.

[kidrice]

well since depending on how/what you'll be doing, you may want to invest a few bucks into a better heatsink/fan for the cpu and maybe a couple extra intake and exhaust fans.

i personally use the zalmann 120mm ball bearing heatsink/fan for the cpu alone. i can keep pretty good temps under a full load.

[Merc1138]

Unless you absolutely have to upgrade right now, this is horrible timing. Intel is about to launch the Ivybridge CPU line within a few weeks. Ivybridge will be the next best thing to upgrade to, or sandybridge(current i7-2600k) will drop for a while as retailers look to clear out inventory.

[JoeinLA]

Unless you absolutely have to upgrade right now, this is horrible timing. Intel is about to launch the Ivybridge CPU line within a few weeks. Ivybridge will be the next best thing to upgrade to, or sandybridge(current i7-2600k) will drop for a while as retailers look to clear out inventory.

Woah, thanks a ton for the info. Yeah, I don't need to upgrade, just thinking about. I'll upgrade to a 2700k when the newer chip comes out to save a few bucks.

[32dEgReEs]

To be honest it isnt worth the money unless you are using applications that are heavy on multi threading. If you play video games and want the best bang for your buck I recommend the i5 2500k. Its 3.3ghz out of the box, unlocked multiplier, and is $170 right now on newegg. Hyperthreading in video games can actually hinder your performance because you are taking resources away from the physical thread and dedicating them to a logical thread that isnt being used to its fullest ability. I personally just upgraded to it from my Q6700 build from 5yrs ago and it is amazing. Overclocked out of the box to 4.5ghz with no issue at all. I would recommend getting an aftermarket heatsink though no matter if you go with the i5 or i7.

Now if you are doing things like heavy 3D design, graphics design, and video editing i would say go with the i7 that is clocked at 3.4, that extra $20 isnt worth .1ghz when you can easily OC. As for motherboard for either chip i recommend Gigibyte, AsRock, or MSI. Those are the only 3 motherboard companies I have never had to RMA in my 12yrs of building and repairing computers.

[Bryansix]

Two things:

1) Look at the i5 - 2550k
You have a graphics card and this is essentially an i5 2500k but without the graphics and clocked to match the i7 - 2600k.

2) eSATA is for external connections. It runs power over the same cable. Almost nobody uses it. What you want is SATA 6 GB/s. That's the new one.

[JoeinLA]

Update: I've recently discovered that Mechwarrior Online will be released this year. Between that, SWTOR, D3, and GW2, this year may be a big game year.

So, I'm pretty sure I'll just upgrade my entire right with an Ivy Bridge, new MB, and new video card.

Probably will do this all in a couple months, since Ivy Bridge will come out in April and Nvidia will release a new card soon, also - so that should drive down prices of either the 580 or the 7950.

Pretty sure I want to get a 3D setup, so been researching those alot.

[Dubious_Beans]

Would like to run as much RAM as reasonably usable under Win7.

A lot of mobo's will support 32GB.

But if you think you might want to run more than 16GB then be carefull which version of win7 you get:

The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows 7.

Version Limit on X64 :

Windows 7 Ultimate - 192 GB
Windows 7 Enterprise - 192 GB
Windows 7 Professional - 192 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium - 16 GB
Windows 7 Home Basic - 8 GB


.

[trojanwar2]

Unless you absolutely have to upgrade right now, this is horrible timing. Intel is about to launch the Ivybridge CPU line within a few weeks. Ivybridge will be the next best thing to upgrade to, or sandybridge(current i7-2600k) will drop for a while as retailers look to clear out inventory.

Thanks so much for that info..

[Merc1138]

BTW, regarding ivybridge launch dates and pricing:

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=743

[Hoop]

GTX280....GTX550 can be had for like $150.

I wouldn't get the 550.

560's are just under 200 online and 460's (some games there is only 2-3 FPS difference between a 460 and a 560) are now 140 or so. Alternatively the ATI 6870 is in that same price range.