New motherboard recommendation thread

[Kingtal0n]

I am assembling a computer and I would like your recommendation.

Stability and reliability are the two pre-reqs, I am looking for the most common predictable board, with no extras, no overclocking, nothing fancy just good old fashioned day to day service life.

The computer will be mainly used to download and store videos, but no video editing. I intend to have at least 1TB of storage capability, but I would love to try something new, So I was thinking that the raid or SSD might be for the OS and the storage could just be empty secondary drives.

I'd also like the processor and memory configuration and HDD recommendations also- with the same pre-reqs of reliability and stability if you would.

[vbironchef]

Your asking a lot. Why don't you pick out a cpu and we can go from there. How about this cpu Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116492 Can we start from there?

[Kingtal0n]

Your asking a lot. Why don't you pick out a cpu and we can go from there. How about this cpu Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116492 Can we start from there?

I forgot to mention its not going to be a high performance machine. I'd like to spend about $150-$200 on the motherboard- unless the reliability aspect goes up dramatically if I increase the cost of course, cost is no issue if it means true reliability.

I like how you started with the CPU, I think thats a good idea, but I am overwhelmed with all of the different choices there are today. what happened to pentium slot 1? back then, it was so simple.

[vbironchef]

I would go with this cpu. Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115073 How does that sound? If that's good we can find a LGA 1155 motherboard for you. I would go Asus.

[Kingtal0n]

I would go with this cpu. Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115073 How does that sound?

the price is good, and I appreciate the suggestion, I am curious what about this particular CPU is reliable and makes it stand out as an obvious choice?

I went ahead and found a combination to try and save some trouble, what do you think
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... mbo.679878

I'd throw a real HDD secondary on it and boot from the SSD

Edit: here, ASUS as suggested; what do you think ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBund ... mbo.752601

[vbironchef]

Intel makes a great cpu. I like your choice for the motherboard. I would go with a Intel SSD instead.

[DaddyRabbit]

When you say copying videos does that mean ripping from DVD etc or just storing videos or is it a video recording system?

[Kingtal0n]

When you say copying videos does that mean ripping from DVD etc or just storing videos or is it a video recording system?

She will be downloading videos from the internet, HD quality (.ts) files, storing them to various external drives, and using "convertX" and "Tipard" to burn.

I have the situation narrowed down to a choice among these based on the recommendation posted for board/cpu
Asus MB (w/ I5-2500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.762982
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763310
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763035
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763036
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.762981


Non Asus MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.762969
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.762983
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763034

basically I am reading reviews all day and trying to decide what the most stable, reliable model might be based on that, and the layout. I like the idea of a larger MB (non mini) and a cookie cutter set of components, I will probably attempt to copy someone else's build that is known to be successful.

[vbironchef]

I would buy your second pick. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763310

[Kingtal0n]

I would buy your second pick. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763310

I've been reading ALOT about that board, and it seems many people find it's performance and overclocking ability to be the major attractive quality.
Do you really feel its worth the additional dollars to buy this board despite my intention of running everything stock?

And if so, what memory would you recommend. again I stress the fact that this system is mainly concerned with reliability, not performance.

The board is also missing a DVI output, how can they bundle the Intel 3000 HD graphics chip with a board that has no output? I would need a PCI-express video card if I got this board from what I can tell.

[vbironchef]

I only buy Corsair memory. I think this should do the trick. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820233143 As far as a DVI out just buy a EVGA Graphic Card something like this. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130661 What makes the motherboard my choice is that it as the latest bios and has more copper for reliability. I also only buy Corsair power supplies such as the HX-750. You may not need all that power though. Just something in the Corsair HX line.

[Kingtal0n]

Case (girl build):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811144204

500GB HDD storage: HITACHI 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822145299

Intel SSD boot: Intel 320 Series 2.5" 40GB SATA II MLC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820167044

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 DELUXE (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.763310

PCI-E Video Card: ASUS EAH6570/DI/1GD3(LP) Radeon HD 6570 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814121441

Corsair Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820233147

PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139028
OR:
CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (CMPSU-650HX) 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139012

Aftermarket fan:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835103065

Notes:
1. I selected a much cheaper video card as this machine will probably never see a game. Although, it should still do well should i choose to install such a thing as starcraft 2, I would think
2. The Motherboard/CPU/Memory seem directed at overclocking- I am not fond of stability issues, and I am wondering if this is a good idea, buying a motherboard with a built in auto-overclocking feature that might become "accidentally activated" at some point without the girl's knowledge.
3. Wondering about the oem cpu cooler, as I mentioned probably want to go with an aftermarket solution, got a low profile graphics card to fit any size cooler...
4. I am wondering if I need windows 7 64-bit or 32-bit for this build, as it does not say anywhere on any page any reference to that?

[vbironchef]

I would buy this case instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811139010 As far as power supplies go, I would buy this one instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139012 Just to let you know these CPU's are made for overclocking. You don't have to go crazy but a mild overclock without changing voltage is not a issue with stability or reliability. Trust me on this.

[Kingtal0n]

I would buy this case instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811139010 As far as power supplies go, I would buy this one instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139012 Just to let you know these CPU's are made for overclocking. You don't have to go crazy but a mild overclock without changing voltage is not a issue with stability or reliability. Trust me on this.

She wants a blue case, it has nothing to do with the size or shape or anything; just the color
Any blue case recommendations?

And I am worried about fitting that aftermarket fan in a mid-tower (anything but a full tower)
also still curious about the operating system

Im going out for a bit be back in a few hours, thank you for the attention hopefully this will all be over soon

[vbironchef]

The cpu cooler will fit fine in that case. Are you serious, a blue case Just paint the case any color she wants. Have you thought about buying a computer from dell or apple? Maybe all she needs is a laptop?

[DaddyRabbit]

I have the Z68 Extreme 4 and like it but some folks have had some stability issues. I would go with a Z68 board and a 2500k (I beleive it has the Intel GMA 3000). If she is doing video transcoding and such the Intel graphics will do better than a discrete card and save you $80. With that you could buy a Corsair H60 or H70 that will outperform just about any air cooling and be quieter to boot.

I have shied away from MSI and ASUS lately as they don't seem to be any better than the newer companies. I now stick with Asrock and Gigabyte, have had NO issues with either.

My two pennies