Need a motherboard...

[B-dubya]

So, I plan on upgrading my main pc - handing down some old stuff to the 2nd pc... 

 

I have a plan in mind as far as what I want to do, but I'm just not set on the motherboard.  I'm not really set on a budget, I just don't want to shell to much.. And I do live within driving distance of a microcenter (though I would prefer amazon/newegg as it is a bit aways)

 

It will mainly be gaming, but I also do several things while I have a game running which is why I want to go with the Xeon, plus I like the idea of 8 threads...

 

Only one monitor, though I'm sure the 970 will be just fine when ever i bump it up to two...

Don't need any peripherals..

-Why the upgrade?- my "main pc" doesn't need the upgrade, the "little pc" does.. it has a amd phenom II x4 955 black edition which has been a champ for years.. but it just isn't cutting the mustard for what my sons do.. so I'll be passing down my i5 3570 to them.. and upgrading to the xeon.. I have the 1231 v3 listed at this time, but I could get the 1246 v3 (which is a bit faster.. and has integrated graphics on it.. toss up at this time, don't really see the need for the extra $30)

 

But, here is where I am .. a lot of what I have can be passed down.. I'm basically replacing the CPU, MB, RAM (which I just have some Gskill 2x8gb in now, so that way if it is full atx or micro atx I'll be set.. but i did want to go with 16gb)

 

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($209.00) 
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($37.88 @ OutletPC) 
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Storage: Crucial MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Power Supply: Rosewill Green 530W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  (Purchased For $0.00) 
Total: $276.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-08-24 19:39 EDT-0400

 

 

As for case - I'll be going with the corsair air 540 most likely.. but if it is a micro atx.. i may consider the 240...

Let me know what you think!

 

[Trav_X]

I'd suggest the Cryorig M9i for a CPU cooler. It cools basically the same, it's smaller, and it's $20 USD instead of the EVO's $30. It beats it in some performance tests as well. If you are fun using a stock cooler, just use it. Xeons are super easy to cool on stock cooling, but it'll be louder and not look as nice as aftermarket.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/6W38TW/gskill-memory-f31600c9s8gxll

Also I'd suggest some new RAM other than those simply because they can be a few bucks cheaper than the pair there. Honestly tho, it's only a few dollars, so get whatever color you want really as you find what you want under a reasonable price.

 

for mobo, get something H97 if you don't plan on upgrading

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZbNp99/asus-motherboard-h97mecsm

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/Jd4gXL/asus-motherboard-h97plus

 

both good choices, I'd suggest ASUS or MSI or Gigabyte for mobos

 

 

[glitchmaster0001]

just buy a cheap B85 motherboard and be done with it. the Xeon cant be overclocked so why waste extra money on a more expensive board. 

[B-dubya]

34 minutes ago, Trav_X said:

I'd suggest the Cryorig M9i for a CPU cooler. It cools basically the same, it's smaller, and it's $20 USD instead of the EVO's $30. It beats it in some performance tests as well. If you are fun using a stock cooler, just use it. Xeons are super easy to cool on stock cooling, but it'll be louder and not look as nice as aftermarket.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/6W38TW/gskill-memory-f31600c9s8gxll

Also I'd suggest some new RAM other than those simply because they can be a few bucks cheaper than the pair there. Honestly tho, it's only a few dollars, so get whatever color you want really as you find what you want under a reasonable price.

 

for mobo, get something H97 if you don't plan on upgrading

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZbNp99/asus-motherboard-h97mecsm

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/Jd4gXL/asus-motherboard-h97plus

 

both good choices, I'd suggest ASUS or MSI or Gigabyte for mobos

 

 

Checked out the Cryorig M9i, looks decent, but out of stock @ Newegg where it was $20, and then it is 30 elsewhere... So I would just stick with the Coolermaster for now.. but I'll keep my eye out on the cooler!

 

As far as the ram, I had meant to put something such as...

 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($61.88 @ OutletPC) 

 

 I wanted 2x 8gb, the I initially put was only 1x8gb

34 minutes ago, glitchmaster0001 said:

just buy a cheap B85 motherboard and be done with it. the Xeon cant be overclocked so why waste extra money on a more expensive board. 

That was pretty much my train of thought as well. I can actually get this from my local microcenter for 39.99...

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-HD2 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.99 @ Microcenter) 
 or... for $49.99 (Or $29.96 open box... I would have to look at it...)

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Microcenter)

 

With either of these i could go with the Corsair Air 240.. would save me of cash, and not take up as much room... so it is a thought too...

[Trav_X]

1 hour ago, B-dubya said:

Checked out the Cryorig M9i, looks decent, but out of stock @ Newegg where it was $20, and then it is 30 elsewhere... So I would just stick with the Coolermaster for now.. but I'll keep my eye out on the cooler!

 

As far as the ram, I had meant to put something such as...

 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($61.88 @ OutletPC) 

 

 I wanted 2x 8gb, the I initially put was only 1x8gb

That was pretty much my train of thought as well. I can actually get this from my local microcenter for 39.99...

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-HD2 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($39.99 @ Microcenter) 
 or... for $49.99 (Or $29.96 open box... I would have to look at it...)

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Microcenter)

 

With either of these i could go with the Corsair Air 240.. would save me of cash, and not take up as much room... so it is a thought too...

Yeah, get that mobo and the cooler if it comes in stock, and the ram kit, and definitely the Air 240 it's an amazing case. What color would you want? MicroCenter carries both I believe tho