Which is best for seti and other apps, the i7 860 or the 930 ? And also, i've noticed x58 boards with 6 ram slots and others with 3 and 1 coloured differently, making 4 slots. What's the difference and which is better? Purchasing on internet within a few days and no idea really what's what with the boards.

Thanks in advance.

The X58 MoBo's are expensive, (former Skultrail), more choise now.

This CPU looks OK for anykind of crunching purposes ;-)
Intel® Core™ i7-980X processor Extreme Edition

* 3.33 GHz core speed
* Up to 3.6 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
* 6 cores and 12 processing threads with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
* 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache
* 3 Channels DDR3 1066 MHz memory
* 32nm manufacturing process technology

930

930 CPU

930 CPU

930 CPU

X58 chipset MoBo's
X58 is just a chipset, like the P55 which is (far)more used lately and cheaper.

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Triple channel memory on a i7-930 system will give you 1,5-2% overall crunching speed increase.
If u plan to overclock, 860 is far more hot.
There aren't any other significant differences.
As for X58 motherboards - the only one I've seen with extra one slot beside other three is Intel DX58SO SmackOver. If you use this extra slot, system will not run in triple channel mode.
Just take a board with 3 or 6 slots, there are so many choices. I feel perfect with 3-slot BloodRage GTI.

Neither Skulltrail, nor Skulltrail 2, has anything to deal with X58. :)

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GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R is the motherboard with the 4 slots. Thanks for the advice, haven't played upgrades for many years. Out of the loop.

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R is the motherboard with the 4 slots. Thanks for the advice, haven't played upgrades for many years. Out of the loop.

Asrock X58 Deluxe

1366, X58, ATX, DDR3, 3x PCI, 4x PCI-e
SKU: X58 Deluxe, EAN: 4711140873053, T.net ID: 232181, Prijs: € 169,-
is another one.
Don't know which socket you're looking for?

Asrock
X58 Deluxe

About the 860 CPU
More . . .

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Are u planning to overclock and how much(e.g 4 GHz my be miracle with UD3R and this AsRock)? And perhaps using more videocards?
Keep in mind also - P55 chipset for 860 does not have 2 full running at x16 slots. Physically, they are x16, but they will run x8 if there are two graphics card installed. X58(most MoBos) will run x16 x16, and with three cards - x8 x8 x8(exceptions are those motherboards equipped with extra PCIe supplying logic, like NF200 or PLX chips).

860 processor has higher Turbo multiplier, upto 3,46 GHz, but it won't bring u any good, if u crunch with processor - it will just not kick in, the Turbo. This processor still remains more hot, bcs of integrated PCIe controller.

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The 800 series are LGA1156 chip. They have a dual channel memory controller.

The 900 series are LGA1366 chips. They have a triple channel memory controller. The new 980x is a hex core chip with HT, so you get 12 cores. You could start with say a 930 and later upgrade to a 980x when the prices drop and still use the same motherboard. I think the LGA1366 may be more future-proof.

I have seen it suggested that there won't be a 800 series version of the 980x as there is too much memory contention on the LGA1156 socket when that many cores are running.

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BOINC blog

The 800 series are LGA1156 chip. They have a dual channel memory controller.

The 900 series are LGA1366 chips. They have a triple channel memory controller. The new 980x is a hex core chip with HT, so you get 12 cores. You could start with say a 930 and later upgrade to a 980x when the prices drop and still use the same motherboard. I think the LGA1366 may be more future-proof.

I have seen it suggested that there won't be a 800 series version of the 980x as there is too much memory contention on the LGA1156 socket when that many cores are running.

Also the 700 series(there's only one so far) is also 1156 and It's like a cut down version of the 800 series, It just has 4 cores and no virtual cores like the 800's and the 900's both have.

I'm getting an i5 750 in Jan 2011, It's the soonest I can do such a thing(long story) But at least I'll get It then. :D

Sorry If It's a little off topic.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Made the purchase. Another question. I have an LG sata DVD drive + sata2 500gb HD. On the gigabyte udr3 board there are 2 gsata connectors and 6 intel ones. Which do i use and why?

Thanks again.

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I vote i7 980x.

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Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Made the purchase. Another question. I have an LG sata DVD drive + sata2 500gb HD. On the gigabyte udr3 board there are 2 gsata connectors and 6 intel ones. Which do i use and why?

Thanks again.

I really don't think it makes a difference, does it?
Just be sure you use the data SATA cables and not the power SATA cables like I mistakenly did.

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- Luke.

It's just 2 different SATA controllers. Doesn't make much difference, but with only 2 devices I would be sure to put both of them on the same controller.

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go for a 920 and overclock it :)

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go for a 920 and overclock it :)

If he's going to overclock quite a bit, the 930 has been shown to be a better overclocker than the 920.

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go for a 920 and overclock it :)

If he's going to overclock quite a bit, the 930 has been shown to be a better overclocker than the 920.

Isn't the 930 going to complement the 920, rather than replace it?
for the i7 range, I don't think a 133MHz head start (920 2.66GHz, 930 2.80GHz) will make that much difference. I really think the max you can OC Nehalem is to roughly 4.2GHz - without employing measures such as liquid nitrogen or liquid helium.

I'd like to see exactly how much of a performance increase you get over a 4GHz 920/930 compared to the 980X @ stock.

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- Luke.

go for a 920 and overclock it :)

If he's going to overclock quite a bit, the 930 has been shown to be a better overclocker than the 920.

Isn't the 930 going to complement the 920, rather than replace it?
for the i7 range, I don't think a 133MHz head start (920 2.66GHz, 930 2.80GHz) will make that much difference. I really think the max you can OC Nehalem is to roughly 4.2GHz - without employing measures such as liquid nitrogen or liquid helium.

I'd like to see exactly how much of a performance increase you get over a 4GHz 920/930 compared to the 980X @ stock.

Bit-Tech was able to get the 930 to 4.3 GHz on air and the processor actually out-performed the 975 in most, if not all, of the tests. I'm not sure how it will do against the 980X, but then again it is ~$700 less.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/03/01/intel-core-i7-930-cpu-review/2


SF3D on Xtreme Systems was able to get the 930 to 4.67 GHz on air and 5.05 GHz on liquid nitrogen. The OP probably wouldn't need to go THAT far, but it shows the OC potential of the 930.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=242323

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920/930, able to run stable on air at 4,3, are mostly exceptions. 4.2 is the exact number where things get way too complex. Its not the processor onlu, its QPI link speed also.
I had my 920(average overclocker) on 4.1 on air with Megahalems with two fans. And noise is not very pleasant with one at 2000 rpm and other at 1600(pulling), Noiseblocker XLP and XL2 respectively.

Leave XS forums alone. Its hatchery of urban legends, and bcs of great attention of this forums, there are many exceptional things, which usually, don't happen in "real life" :) I can run my 920 on 4,5 on air too, just to get SuperPI 1 MB shot, but its limits for SETI 24/7 use are far lower - around 4,1 on air(bcs temperature graduations, its get harder and harder when freq and voltage is increased. U start on low and acceptable temps, but later they reach 80+ degrees), generating high noise. E.g - u can run it with SETI at 4.2 and it looks ok - 80-82 degrees. Later on, when PWM of motherboard gets hot, voltage increases on its own, temperatura of CPU too and can reach dangerous levels of 90. Typical difference bcs of elements in case warming during long runs of constant CPU loads are 5-9 degrees. So u need to add these if u plan to crunch on particular rig, when looking at initial temperatures.
Also, keep in mind those screenshots on XS, even on long running test do not include side effects of another "nuclear reactor" inside the case - here it is GTX275. When card is crunching, it makes my water cooling to rise temps 3-4 degrees(radiator is located on top of case).
Also XS "sampling" is usually made in ideal conditions - they are bench setups - no case, high fan rpms, open windows etc.
In fact, they use 930, bcs of 22 multiplier. 920, with 21 can reach at best and only! for bench 21x(216-222 BLCK)(here QPI speed kick in). 930 just adds 200 MHz more without need to run higher BLCK. 920 itself can make it too, if it had 22 turbo multiplier. That is "why" 930 overclocks better. The point is - it overclocks better at frequencies with are literally useless.

And now 4.3 on water, keeping temps bellow 80 with SETI and virtually no noise. It can be pushed to 4.4, but power consumption rises so much at these freqs(bcs of increased voltage) making it totally pointless to pursue such high numbers. E.g difference for running my 920 on 4.1 and 4.3+ is over 100 watts, which is roughly one 8800GT power usage and 8800GT gives u same RAC as whole 920 at 4 GHz(with HT ebanled of couse. All numbers I give are with HT on).

From specimen I had observed here, three, they show from no difference with 920, to less overclockability(which is explainable, bcs etching masks get worse with time. If u want excellent overclocker, always buy from first reaching the market. Its true since I overclock, like 10 years)

As conclusion, my opinion and experience is that ANY 920/930 at 4.1-4.2 is unbearable on air, bcs of noise. If one has an option to not be exposed on this noise - okay then.

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