Advice on motherboard & processor

Ambarishrh

Hi guys

I have a high end custom desktop that i've been using for past 2 years for my home lab, and it has power issues. Given to the service center to check it. They came back saying the motherboard has issues and needs to be replaced. Since its an old motherboard, i was told that its best to change the board and the processor. I can keep the RAM which is DDR3 32GB.

I was given option for mother board- http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4960#ov

and processor- intel 4960k but couldn't find this online the closest is http://ark.intel.com/products/77779/Intel-Core-i7-4960X-Processor-Extreme-Edition-15M-Cache-up-to-4_00-GHz

Purpose of this machine is home lab, with xen server.

Suggestions please

Not sure if i need to look at some other brands like Asus instead of gigabyte this time

DustinB3403

Well the board is only $136 USD, the processor is over $1000 on newegg..

Which seems a bit insane.

For a home lab at that price you'd be better of buying a server from xbyte and loading it up...

scottalanmiller

I've always had great luck with Asus.

RojoLoco

@scottalanmiller said:

I've always had great luck with Asus.

Me too, I think I have 3 ASUS sustems right now, all dead solid reliable.

marcinozga

I've had horrible experience with Gigabyte mainboards in the past. All kinds of unexplained issued, that would disappear when switching to different brand.
I'm a big fan of Asus too. I have all kind of Asus gear at work, laptops, all-in-one desktops, all custom build PCs have Asus mainboards, I even have one server with Asus board in it.

scottalanmiller

I actually just bought an Asus laptop. My first laptop from them, so far so good. I assume that it is Windows 10 that is the cause of the instability issues. Crashes about eight to ten times a day. It's rebooting as we speak, actually.

Alex Sage

@scottalanmiller said:

I assume that it is Windows 10 that is the cause of the instability issues. Crashes about eight to ten times a day. It's rebooting as we speak, actually.

I highly doubt that..... They might make good motherboards, there computers suck.

scottalanmiller

Asus makes all the best HP commercial gear. Best hardware I've ever used. This machine really appears to be Windows 10. I've had lots of issues with it on lots of different hardware.

First Windows OS I've found that routinely cannot get the Task Manager to come up.

marcinozga

@scottalanmiller said:

Asus makes all the best HP commercial gear. Best hardware I've ever used. This machine really appears to be Windows 10. I've had lots of issues with it on lots of different hardware.

First Windows OS I've found that routinely cannot get the Task Manager to come up.

Not only task manager, I have super delays opening clock or start menu, if these open at all.

scottalanmiller

Oh yeah, the state menu is 50/50.

Ambarishrh

Got Asus models Z97K and Z97C, prices pretty much the same, i guess i will go with the Asus

https://www.asus.com/ae-en/Motherboards/Z97K/ (still comparing which is better betweeb z97K and Z97C)
and processor http://ark.intel.com/products/77779/Intel-Core-i7-4960X-Processor-Extreme-Edition-15M-Cache-up-to-4_00-GHz

Thank you all

Ambarishrh

Major difference is:
Z97K : 2 x PCI
Z97C: 3 x PCI

Z97K: 1 x M.2 Socket 3, , with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)*2
Z97C:1 x SATA Express port, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports and 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)*2

Z97K: 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
Z97C: 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray

Z97K: Realtek 8111GR, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s), featuring Turbo LAN
Intel I218V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s), featuring Turbo LAN
Z97C: Intel LAN- Dual interconnect between the Integrated LAN controller and Physical Layer (PHY)

I will go with Z97C i guess

Ambarishrh

Feeling lucky!
Got a call from the vendor and he mentioned that there was some confusion about my machine, apparently the mobo and processor replacement was for another customer, and for my machine, it was just adding thermal paste as it was overheating. Got the machine back spending only $40 for checking for 2 days and fixing the issue Much better than spending around $500+ for the change. Thank god, machine works fine now, will update my xen and start working on few things.

original_anvil

+1 to Asus suggestions!

scottalanmiller

@Ambarishrh said:

Feeling lucky!
Got a call from the vendor and he mentioned that there was some confusion about my machine, apparently the mobo and processor replacement was for another customer, and for my machine, it was just adding thermal paste as it was overheating. Got the machine back spending only $40 for checking for 2 days and fixing the issue Much better than spending around $500+ for the change. Thank god, machine works fine now, will update my xen and start working on few things.

Well that worked out well!

Ambarishrh

@scottalanmiller said:

Well that worked out well!

Yes, year end seems to be very good! Macbook Pro got serviced for FREE, this desktop fixed for a very cheap price and got the Surface Pro4, hope this is a sign for very good start for 2016! Touch wood!