Prebuild question (help picking a mobo)

[ThatOneGuy]

Hello all,
I am going to be going to X79 soon, and I am looking at 2 boards.
The P9X79 WS and the RIVE, and a 3930K.
The P9X79 WS has SSD caching, which I ma VERY interested in for my platter drive, running SSD's for boot and base apps. As well as the rather nice Intel NICs (I usually add those myself anyway).

What does the RIVE offer OVER the P9X79 WS aside from a few more USB ports and PCIE Lanes. Nothing touches PCIE3 bandwidth yet, I have 580s, hoping to go to 670-680s.

I am shooting for 5.0ghz on the proc, I am VERY aware that this is dependant on the individual CPU and its voltage tollerances and memory controller, but that is the goal. I have one of the best loops you can make without going TEC/Chiller, so cooling is top notch, and I am NOT worried about that. Also, expecting to put a full cover block including MOSFET block as well.

For RAM I am looking at a couple of the G.Skill 32gb kits of 2133 (2400 if I can swing the price), would ideally like to go to 64bg, and use some VMs as well as RAMDisk software. Likely I will have to volt the ram or possibly drop it one step for that much volume and the OC, but I am hoping to keep at least 2000.

Does the RIVE offer any advantage in overclocking and long term stability over the P9X79 WS?

[Zka17]

If your main goal with your built is OC'ing, then go with the RIVE!

[chrsplmr]

In general .. as Z says above, ROG is more OC/Gamer/Enthusiast friendly... until you get to the aforementioned board.
Member/Moderator Kipper is a long time pro reviewer .. has tested and/or played with them all .. and has my highest
respect as a reviewer.. I saw him post .. that he and the 'reviewer' that He respects above his own opinion and himself
believe that that 79WS is ..and this is a quote .."The best board they have Ever tested.' which speaks volumes to me..
Now whether it has the same OC potential as a ROG I do not know... but a quick PM (Private Messege) to him should answer
that ....(and he wont say it .. just to get paid to .. thats why the respect.).. Best of Luck.c.

[ThatOneGuy]

Thanks, I sent him a PM.
Why do you recommend the RIVE. I am not being critical, just curious. better PWM? Higher grade caps? All POSCaps? Higher gold content in the socket and traces?

[chrsplmr]

Not to speak for Zka .. but I know why I would 'generally' .. hahha a... its ROG man ..
You can OC your brains out ... hehe .. like Z said ... if its OC'n .. without really knowing
the other boards ? ROG, any one of them ...

I was reporting what Kip said ... Its worth a 'find out from the source'. depending
on your 'purpose' for choosing a board in the first place..Best of Luck friend.c.

[Zka17]

ThatOneGuy wrote:
Why do you recommend the RIVE

I said, "If your main goal with your built is OC'ing" - if your really like to OC, i mean not just find the highest settings, but try new ways, push to the limits, etc... - then you need the RIVE. It will provide so many things to try, to set up, to experiment... - it will be a real joy for a heavy/enthusiast OCer...

If you just want to find the highest settings and then use the system for work - then go with P9X79 WS...

[Kipper]

Good morning guys.

Since this is the ROG forums I probably should say go with the Rampage but; I have to say that the P9X79 Deluxe or the WS should be on your short list also.

From my time with the X79 boards and yes I did review several from ASUS's competitors also, I personally would go with the Deluxe or WS as my first choice. Not putting down the Rampage extreme or the formula boards by no means. Speaking of the X79 ROG boards I would take the formula over the extreme board any day myself.

My writeup on the WS was done in a 3-way roundup review. The forum I published them on was late getting their reviews out and asked if I would do all three of the ASUS top of the line mainstream boards at the same time. Here is that review should you care to have a look:

3-way X79 review

[chrsplmr]

If I were the sort to say 'Hell Yes' I want to check it out, I would say 'Hell Yes' .. but alas I am not.. So Ill say..
Thanks Kipper, Always+

Z .. Correct-A-mundo .. But 'these' boards were hiding under the cover of 'blue'. hehehehe .

ThatOneGuy - Welcome to ROG -- That's how we do it here.
So it is settled then .. One of each .. hahhahaa
[[We would love to see 'Your' impressions]]..thnx.c.

[ThatOneGuy]

Thanks alot for the advise and the review!
Being that you hit 5ghz relatively easily, and I am planning on CPU and as much of the board as I can get water cooling, I think I am definitly going with the WS.

Has anyone noticed any significant differences between the 3960x and the 3930K in overclock stability? Performance difference is definitly small, extra cache can definitly be helpfull but in the end, a 3930K is an excellent proc.

Anyone seen any issues with tis going 5ghz?

[Kipper]

Each processor is different, kind of the luck of the draw. My 3930K was a dam nice overclocker.

Here again if it was me, I would pickup the 3930K and put the money saved into the system elsewhere.