Having trouble locating and selecting a board for your i9-10290x?
Having trouble locating and selecting a board for your i9-10290x?
Hey there! I'm new around here and excited to share my current project—upgrading my machine for a more professional setup. After exploring freelance opportunities, I realized I need a workstation rather than just a gaming rig. My corporate livestreaming has been my focus so far, so I'm adding capture cards like SDI and HDMI to handle different camera feeds. That means I require a CPU with more than the standard 16 or 24 PCIe lanes. From what I've gathered, the Ryzen 10920x looks promising as it's the most affordable Threadripper option, though it’s a bit pricey. AMD options seem limited in mid-range quality, so I’m leaning toward the higher end.
For the motherboard, I’ve never built one this specific before, and PCIe lane configurations are tricky to navigate. I’m looking for boards with a variety of slots that support different devices without causing bandwidth issues. I’d appreciate any advice on reputable boards or what to avoid. Thanks ahead!
Hypo
Welcome to the discussion boards! For the i9-10920X you'll need an Intel X299 motherboard (Socket 2066) to support that chip. The chip features 48 PCI Express lanes, ensuring ample PCIe capacity. Intel's HEDT offers a balanced option between high-end Threadripper (64 lanes) and popular mainstream models like Ryzen and lower-core CPUs (i3/i5/i7 with 20-24 lanes). My own X299 board works well, though I'm uncertain about its availability for sale. Consider an ATX motherboard if you have space and require PCIe lanes. For expansion, choose an E-ATX model if it suits your needs.
Hey CommanderAlex! Thanks for the assist - yeah, that research about the CPU is basically the same conclusion I came to, Intel seem to be the only contender in this middle-ground territory. Don't get me wrong, I could go for a Threadripper, but it's two times the cost and would definitely be overkill for my build!
Looking forward, please reference my post or @CommanderAlex so I can see your response. You mentioned Threadripper is quite pricey compared to TR4 sockets—especially when considering the first-gen models versus Intel options in February 2019. It turns out their entry-level chips were actually cheaper than the newer ones they now offer. If you're interested in Threadripper, keep an eye on the next generation that uses Zen 3; we don't know when it'll be released, but it might be 6 to 12 months after the Zen 3 launch (similar to the AMD Ryzen 5000 series).