Equipping the i7-3820 (mATX) Confusion!

T

TwiceDead

New member
Hello Gents.

I am looking for advice on building a new system on the i7-3820, I am fairly betting on the longevity of the LGA2011 socket and looking forward to picking up on IB-E in the future (or atleast 6Core Xtreme). But there are some really confusing factors in the new LGA2011 systems.

The system is mainly to be used for gaming but I have decided to take the gamble on a longer lasting (Possibly) socket over the IB which to me seems is the last run on the 1155.

I plan on building the i7-3820 on the Rampage IV Gene (Need mATX for portability and system size). But there are a number of issues that are mentioned in many different sites and reviews that are extremely confusing.

1.) Some say LGA2011 mobos don't natively or fully support the 8320 straight from the box and need a bios update to have it function correctly. Does anyone have experience with the Rampage IV Gene?

2.) I heard it mentioned (don't remember where) that the i7-3820 Core voltage should not be raised over 1.2V due to high risk of heat damage?

2.) Speaking of the Rampage IV Gene, there is a very limited memory compatibility list, and none listed are even 8GB chips. Does anyone know if this will support the mainstream 1600 ram from Mushkin and G-skill.

3.) Anyone else have any thoughts on this system, I plan on using the Noctua NH-D14 (that i used on my LGA1366). I plan on running at best OC i can manage with reasonable temperatures to make the best of this cheapy processor even though i have to mess with the BCLK to get it to OC.

Alot of junk I'm asking for here, and if anyone knows anything I would welcome a reply!
 
You're better off with Ivybridge and Z77 if it's for gaming. The 3820 is a pretty redundant processor since it runs hotter and won't clock as well as the 2700k, and 3770k - and so will perform worse.

When IB-E comes out, it will bring with it new motherboards anyway, so chances are if you're spending £500(?) on a new processor you'd probably be better off with a new board with a new chipset anyway.

You're better off saving money now and buying a 3570k and a Z77 board then spend more and get better kit when you get round to it.

Btw - games don't utilise the extra threads hyperthreading brings and will only use 3 cores maximum realistically, so you will not see any difference at all between a 3570k and even a 3960X in gaming
 
jamesriley94,

Thankyou for your quick reply, I have read your advice and have indeed decided on IB 3770k, on Maximus V Gene board. I have decided to go with the best I can afford as price is no real option but I try to be at least somewhat sensible with my money instead of getting a 3960 or something insane. This setup should do me a good few years my 1366 I7 920 lasted me this long until motherboard support vanished.... :mad:

So the only factor is, what is the fastest ram that is compatible with the maximum V gene, that also fits under my NH D14... Alot of Memory skullbanging going to be going on. :rolleyes:

Thankyou for your advice, and I know I did not pick the I5 you suggested but I think hyperthreading will also assist in my future!!

EDIT: The CPU and board were on sale for incredible deal, so its only 50 dollars more over the 3570 right now for the 3770k.
 
ram speed is pretty irrelevant to performance past 2133, also i think that the msi gd65 is a better motherboard.
 
tristan said:
ram speed is pretty irrelevant to performance past 2133, also i think that the msi gd65 is a better motherboard.
Click to expand...

He's looking for a mATX solution. The Gene's still a great motherboard.

2133MHz, in recent months, has become a viable option. The prices have come right down - pretty much half of what I paid for mine.
Anything labeled 'LP' or 'Low Profile' shall be just fine. Anything made my Mushkin shall also work.

In all honesty, memory bandwidth does not give you more frames. 1600MHz 8GB kits can be bought for under £30 and are still the best price/performance options out there.
 
Josh Weston said:
He's looking for a mATX solution. The Gene's still a great motherboard.

2133MHz, in recent months, has become a viable option. The prices have come right down - pretty much half of what I paid for mine.
Anything labeled 'LP' or 'Low Profile' shall be just fine. Anything made my Mushkin shall also work.

In all honesty, memory bandwidth does not give you more frames. 1600MHz 8GB kits can be bought for under £30 and are still the best price/performance options out there.
Click to expand...

Not Ridgeback....

The frostbyte works fine, Ridgeback requires the heatsink to be taken off - and even then it's a tight fit
 
Hmm, looking at that I'm suddenly unsure :p

My frostbyte is incredibly close to the cooler - so much so that if I had 4 sticks of RAM, I wouldn't be able to have my fan with that orientation because I use the empty slot to pass though the cable - I can't see how the ridgeback would get under.

I may be wrong however - I still wouldn't put it to chance - Just go for LP.
 
I ordered some nice Mushkin Blackline( Hear more positive than negative about them), as I never had mushkin before I just got the single Dual Channel kit and also because all the really exotic ram hasn't found its way north to canada yet, mostly 1866 with low profile stuff around these parts.

Took the plunge, is it normal to be frothing at the mouth waiting?

But seriously thanks for your help guys, either way I went would have been a good system but such confusing options! I wasn't really keeping track of the technology because I thought that my 1366 system would last forever!

Peace,

- TwiceDead
 
lol - apologies for the mistake then :)

I find the front fan looks weird that high up. My fans are all at the same level as the heatsink at the top. I think it looks better that way.

Looks of the RAM don't really matter when it's under something that big though :p
I'd probably have got the ridgeback if I'd have known :(
 
Very nice, fits between the gaps provided by the fans and coolers. But on the other hand, the NHD14 does vibrate and move a little, especially if you put some higher CFM fans on it. That would drive me crazy watching the cooler oscillate with such tight ram!
 
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