x58 mobo recommendations?

mac_angel · Jan 11, 2011, 08:40 PM

I've been a huge fan of EVGA products. They are more expensive usually, but they have the very best customer service and warranty.
I'm looking at a new build soon. I have a Core i7 930 that I was able to O/C to just under 4GHz on my EXGA x58 classified board, and a Core i7 950 that I was able to get to 4.24GHz. Thing is, I can't get the memory to be stable at it's given clock speeds. If I try to adjust the timings to what it is suppose to do then it won't even post. So I just leave it on auto.
I built a new Core i3 550 system for a friend over the holidays. It's on an Asus Rampage III Gene mobo. I couldn't believe how easy and far that overclocked. I got it up to 4.57GHz without having to turn off the speed stepping or anything. Nor did I have to even give it any more voltage. I just increased the QPI and away it went (yes, I did stress testing too - it's stable).
So, it got me wondering about a new Asus x58 mobo for my gaming rig. Anyone have any recommendations? I'm semi-against Gigabyte. I bought a board off of them and it didn't work right out of the box. I couldn't find a number to call at all, and I emailed tech support 3 times and never got a response, but they were nice enough to add me to their spam list.

forgot to add. Need SLI

blibbax · Jan 11, 2011, 08:52 PM

Overclocking potential like that is more about the processor itself, and being lucky enough to get a decent chip.

Are you saying that you want to replace your current motherboard to make your memory stable? I'd have thought that replacing the memory would be a better move in this case.

iPlayer · Jan 11, 2011, 09:09 PM

Did you contact whoever you bought that Gigabyte mobo from?
I think that's the first place you should go to.

Were you trying those mems at the voltage specifications given by the manufacturer?
Might want to check their forums, if they have one. There's the possiblity you got some that weren't capable of reaching the reference numbers.

Those i3's are very easy to get to high clocks.

mac_angel · Jan 11, 2011, 09:27 PM

I sent the gigabyte back and got the EVGA classified a year ago. I was thinking about a mobo with more phase power might help keep voltages lower and might give me a bit more stability. Both the 930 and the 950 required a lot of voltage to get up that high. Yes, I know they are quad cores with hyperthreading, etc, and will require more power. I got them to those speeds though a lot of work - like 12 hours of tweaking each. Yes, I also know that not all CPUs overclock the same. I was just wondering if anyone else had an opinion on mobos for overclocking though.

**synthesis204** · Jan 11, 2011, 10:33 PM

Anyway, in terms of motherboards, I'd recommend the ASUS 1366 Sabertooth, the P6X58D-E, or the P6X58D Deluxe (all support triSLI at 16/8/8 or 16/16/1).

The ASRock EXTREME6 X58 board is also quite good and also has 16/8/8 or 16/16/1, but they give more airing between the ASUS's slots. (ASRock is a subbrand/owned partially by ASUS, or something like that.)

Also. ASUS has okay support, better than Gigabyte, but they fail in comparison to EVGA (<3 EVGA).

Takaharu · Jan 11, 2011, 11:51 PM

I didn't know you could get X58 motherboards that don't support SLI.

You can find a decent review on the Extreme 6 on this site and you'll be able to find at least one step-by-step overclocking guide for an i7 930 from here.

mac_angel · Jan 12, 2011, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takaharu

I didn't know you could get X58 motherboards that don't support SLI.

You can find a decent review on the Extreme 6 on this site and you'll be able to find at least one step-by-step overclocking guide for an i7 930 from here.

yes. all are multi PCI-e, but not all support SLI from NVIDIA

**synthesis204** · Jan 12, 2011, 01:50 AM

And so the petty SLI vs Crossfire debate rages on. I know the P6X58D's support both SLI and Crossfire and not Hydra.

And my vote would be for the P6X58D or Extreme6 (I think the latter may be a better value).

OldBuzzard · Jan 12, 2011, 10:28 AM

Newegg.com - ASRock X58 EXTREME6 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Quote:

... 3 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (PCIE1: x16 mode; PCIE4/PCIE5: single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode) (Double-wide slot spacing between each PCI-E slot)
...

... Supports ATI Quad CrossFireX, 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossFireX ...

... Supports NVIDIA Quad SLI, 3-Way SLI and SLI ...

isaak · Jan 12, 2011, 01:01 PM

I've got the P6X58D-E and it's been great so far, got my 930 stable at 4ghz with HT no problems (I run it lower because it's summer here now)

But otherwise I've heard good things about the ASrock Extreme6 (HH uses it for their testing rig). I'd do some more fiddling with the RAM before committing to a new mobo though

Jan 11, 2011, 08:40 PM	#1
mac_angel HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 229 Rep Power: 46	x58 mobo recommendations? I've been a huge fan of EVGA products. They are more expensive usually, but they have the very best customer service and warranty. I'm looking at a new build soon. I have a Core i7 930 that I was able to O/C to just under 4GHz on my EXGA x58 classified board, and a Core i7 950 that I was able to get to 4.24GHz. Thing is, I can't get the memory to be stable at it's given clock speeds. If I try to adjust the timings to what it is suppose to do then it won't even post. So I just leave it on auto. I built a new Core i3 550 system for a friend over the holidays. It's on an Asus Rampage III Gene mobo. I couldn't believe how easy and far that overclocked. I got it up to 4.57GHz without having to turn off the speed stepping or anything. Nor did I have to even give it any more voltage. I just increased the QPI and away it went (yes, I did stress testing too - it's stable). So, it got me wondering about a new Asus x58 mobo for my gaming rig. Anyone have any recommendations? I'm semi-against Gigabyte. I bought a board off of them and it didn't work right out of the box. I couldn't find a number to call at all, and I emailed tech support 3 times and never got a response, but they were nice enough to add me to their spam list. forgot to add. Need SLI

Jan 11, 2011, 08:52 PM	#2
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? Overclocking potential like that is more about the processor itself, and being lucky enough to get a decent chip. Are you saying that you want to replace your current motherboard to make your memory stable? I'd have thought that replacing the memory would be a better move in this case. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 11, 2011, 09:09 PM	#3
iPlayer Filled with noobsauce Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: between the buns Posts: 1,450 Rep Power: 59	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? Did you contact whoever you bought that Gigabyte mobo from? I think that's the first place you should go to. Were you trying those mems at the voltage specifications given by the manufacturer? Might want to check their forums, if they have one. There's the possiblity you got some that weren't capable of reaching the reference numbers. Those i3's are very easy to get to high clocks.

Jan 11, 2011, 09:27 PM	Thread Starter #4
mac_angel HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 229 Rep Power: 46	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? I sent the gigabyte back and got the EVGA classified a year ago. I was thinking about a mobo with more phase power might help keep voltages lower and might give me a bit more stability. Both the 930 and the 950 required a lot of voltage to get up that high. Yes, I know they are quad cores with hyperthreading, etc, and will require more power. I got them to those speeds though a lot of work - like 12 hours of tweaking each. Yes, I also know that not all CPUs overclock the same. I was just wondering if anyone else had an opinion on mobos for overclocking though.

Jan 11, 2011, 10:33 PM	#5
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? Anyway, in terms of motherboards, I'd recommend the ASUS 1366 Sabertooth, the P6X58D-E, or the P6X58D Deluxe (all support triSLI at 16/8/8 or 16/16/1). The ASRock EXTREME6 X58 board is also quite good and also has 16/8/8 or 16/16/1, but they give more airing between the ASUS's slots. (ASRock is a subbrand/owned partially by ASUS, or something like that.) Also. ASUS has okay support, better than Gigabyte, but they fail in comparison to EVGA (<3 EVGA).

Jan 11, 2011, 11:51 PM	#6
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,847 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? I didn't know you could get X58 motherboards that don't support SLI. You can find a decent review on the Extreme 6 on this site and you'll be able to find at least one step-by-step overclocking guide for an i7 930 from here. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Jan 12, 2011, 01:50 AM	#8
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,175 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? And so the petty SLI vs Crossfire debate rages on. I know the P6X58D's support both SLI and Crossfire and not Hydra. And my vote would be for the P6X58D or Extreme6 (I think the latter may be a better value).

Jan 12, 2011, 01:01 PM	#10
isaak HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,286 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Re: x58 mobo recommendations? I've got the P6X58D-E and it's been great so far, got my 930 stable at 4ghz with HT no problems (I run it lower because it's summer here now) But otherwise I've heard good things about the ASrock Extreme6 (HH uses it for their testing rig). I'd do some more fiddling with the RAM before committing to a new mobo though __________________ The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell