The top choice for an i7 2600K is a motherboard with robust support and stability features.
The top choice for an i7 2600K is a motherboard with robust support and stability features.
Hey everyone! It seems no 2nd gen i7 models are being produced anymore, so what do you think is the top choice for motherboards? I'm mainly using it for rendering, gaming, and overclocking. Right now I'm running it with an Asus P8Z68-V LE and these components: MSI GTX 980 4G GAMING 4x4 16gb Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz CM 212 EVO CM Extreme Power Plus 600w x3 1tb WD Black x1 Kingston SSD Sentey Arvina Thanks!
Right now it doesn’t make sense to buy a 5-year-old CPU. Stick with your existing graphics card and save up instead. Even a Z97 board with an I7 CPU might be a smarter option. Plus, I’ve never heard of someone needing $1,400 for that setup.
This model offers significant upgrades compared to older setups. Regardless of your board choice, you'll still be missing out on features common to most Z170/H170 boards. The Z68 chipset was designed for the 25/2600k, while the Z77 followed it for the 25/2600k upgrade path. For around $400, you can run a 6500 and a H170 board. In contrast, finding a reliable used Z77 board might cost about $200. Even with a newer Skylake chip on a lower-end board, you'd get comparable performance but with updated BIOS/UEFI and better features. @GogiRB Are you really needing the 6700k? If not, the 6500 is a solid value choice. You can find 16GB DDR4 memory for roughly $70, a decent motherboard for $125-150, and the CPU for around $200.
An i5 would be a step back, particularly if it's secured, and for tasks like rendering and modern games, eight threads perform better because they're actually utilized. http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Int.../621vs3513 Not every region offers the same prices—exchange rates, taxes, and inflation can turn a $20 product into $100 elsewhere.
It's clear you're considering upgrading your setup. You might want to keep the current CPU for another year or explore a better cooler, perhaps an AIO. Also, be aware that Windows 10 Boot Drive could face driver problems.
Looking for a Z77 motherboard compatible with a 2600k processor?