Bulldozer Motherboard/Ram recommendations please! Options

[ellipse]

First post, glad to be a part of these forums now!

Anyway, straight into it! Ahah.

I'm currently in the process of upgrading my system and I'm looking for an AM3+ compatible motherboard.
I'd like a motherboard for overclocking the soon to be released bulldozer 8 core cpus, so I want something which is strong & capable for that.

So currently, I'm looking between the four major manufacturers being:
MSI 990FX GD80
ASUS Crosshair V Formula
ASRock 990FX Pro
Gigabyte 990FX UD7

I was more leaning against the gigabyte for the cheaper price but I'm not too sure about the OCing capabilities, esspecially how it has less power connectors compared to the ASUS.
Also, if I did go down the ASUS path would it be worth it to pay extra for the package with the thunderbolt audio/lan card included? Or is that just a waste?

Also, apart from the motherboards, I'm interested in what RAM to go with alongside it. Probably 8 or 16gb.
I haven't really researched much about the RAM so it would be great if you could give me some suggestions in what you think would be the most suitable.
I'd like dual channel in excess of 1600mhz, something which will also be able to OC with the CPU.

Anybody had experience with any of the above? Criticism? Feel free to correct me so in the end I make the right choice, regrets free!

Thanks so much :)

[dinos22]

Pretty self explanatory :) hope it helps

http://gigabytedaily.blogspot.com/2011/08/...option-for.html

http://gigabytedaily.blogspot.com/2011/08/...d7-says-pc.html

[james91]

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_p...oducts_id=16459

i have this ram running on a 890fx-Ud5 and have it overclocked from 1600 to 1800mhz stable for 24/7 running.

[UberPenguin]

I just bought the 990fxa-ud5 and it's great! Why such have you gone with such high end mobo's? Are you planning on dry-ice overclocking? Quad sli/xfire?

Either way I can't fault my motherboard it's a very solid platform and has plenty of oc'ing room according to all the reviews (my current chip is a little power hungry and I'm nervous of high volts and air cooling). In fact it has the same potential as it's older sibling the 890fx-ud5 which was considered one of the best overclocking boards for amd CPUs.

Im also bought some ripjaws x 2133mhz 9-11-10-28 and i'm extreemely happy with it. Currently running at 1500 cas 7 but I've run them stabley at 1800 cas 8. http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_p...oducts_id=17938

On a slightly shallow note they don't look like that they are actually quite a nice colour that matches the mobo you can see it here in my build log: http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=44317

The Crosshair V is really overpriced and you'd have to want the extra features the board has or be doing some very serious overclocking. That being said it is an amazing performer and a great board - just really pricey. If I were going to spend really big on a board (and I prefer good value) then I'd go the crosshair V with the add in sound/lan because it is an creative xfi and that would add another $100 to the build anyway. But there arent really that many advantages over the Gigabyte UD5/7

This post has been edited by UberPenguin: Aug 18 2011, 10:45 AM

[ellipse]

I have put a deposit down on the crosshair. Eh, compared to intel high-end motherboards $299 doesn't seem all that bad. I'm definetely getting a watercooling kit for it so I wanted something to which could handle good, stable overclocking.
I've heard nothing bad about the crosshairs, only good things. And after researching extensively on it, I couldn't fault it myself. Same with the UD5/7. I think regardless of which motherboard I went with I would of been pleased and had no regrets.

The main reasons for choosing ASUS is that 1) I currently own one, and have loved every bit of it and 2) It has that little bit more room for tweaking as compared to the UD's and 3) I really like the UEFI and ROG features. Oh and a major factor too, is that I love the red & black. As it will match my case & case lighting etc.


Also, http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_p...oducts_id=17522

Thoughts?

This post has been edited by ellipse: Aug 18 2011, 08:51 PM

[UberPenguin]

I thought about getting that ram but it is cas 11 - if you're gonna splurge on the crosshair v then why not go the whole hog and get http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_p...oducts_id=16937

Well it is a very nice board with a great look and like I said it performs fantastically - did you get the add in sound/LAN version?

[NukeJockey]

That ram is high latency, probably wouldn't be any faster than 1600mhz CAS7 ram.

[UberPenguin]

It's the problem with wanting high MHz ram - cas 9 is as good as it gets (or the best pccg seem to stock) but my kit can run at 1800 MHz cas 8 so this one being a step up probably could do it or cas 7. We still dont know what bulldozer will prefer as it's stock memory controller can do 1800mhz, so maybe 1800 cas 8/9 will be better that 1600 cas 7.

[NukeJockey]

Yeah, I was referring to the CAS11 stuff, not the CAS9.

[Morgoth]

Look up ram, find out what ICs are used on them (likely i4memory.com will know)

research said IC results.

Base timings on a sticker doesn't help you much, especially if that cas11 2133 ram happens to be Elpida BSSE which can easily do 2000MHZ cas8

[tunksy]

build your on water cooling kit :D

if you want ocing ram look for high end kits that have tight timmings and decent speeds. but really you wont need anything more than 166 cas8 ram. the rip jaws kit you selected should be fine for around 1800-1900 at tighter timings!