Switching to Intel from AMD

[ChaoticTheory]

So, just built the system listed in my signature. Struggling with it for a while now. First sent back a defective board (the Sabertooth Gen3) which I switched out with the Crosshair V, mainly because everyone was out of stock on the Sabertooth and I didn't want to wait for the RMA process. Got the Crosshair up and running, started trying to overclock, come to find out I have a bad stick of RAM. Took that out, started getting decent OC results as far as stability testing goes. Decided to try running some benchmarks, and encountered more problems. Cinebench blacked out the screen when trying to run the OpenGL test. 3DMark would black out the screen when I tried to start a test, and SiSoftware Sandra also had problems at some point, not sure where exactly, but would hazard a guess it was somewhere testing the graphics.

HiVizMan has been awesome at helping me along the way, and now suggests that I might have a bad mobo/CPU, and suggests that I might be better off with the stability of an Intel i7 4770, which would give me better overall results anyway. Anyone care to chime in and offer their thoughts? You can read through the whole process here - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33524-Fine-tuning-8350-overclock-on-Crosshair-V-Formula-Z/

Assuming Intel is the better way to go, would switching out a Maximum V Formula and Intel 4770K for my current board and processor work? Would I be advised to go with a different set of RAM, since I have to exchange it anyway?

Here is this:
Budget: I have already put quite a bit into this ($3000+) so would like to keep it down, but whatever is needed to get the best system that will last a long time
Main uses of intended build:Mostly day to day business operations, email, FTP, Quickbooks. Frequent use of Adobe applicatsions, with some resource intensive use of Illustrator.
Parts required:Hopefully only CPU/Mobo, maybe RAM

Previous build information (list details of parts):
CPU: AMD 8350 4.0 GHz
Mobo: Crosshair V Formula-Z BIOS 1403
Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) Corsair Dominator-GT 1866MHz
GPU: Sapphire Vapor-X 6GB Radeon 7970
Cooling: Dual Loop Custom Cooling
Koolance Dual Bay Resevoir with 2 Swiftec MCP655-PWM pumps in parallel
Loop 1: CPU Dedicated with Triple Rad Alphacool UT60 Push/Pull
Loop 2: Memory, NB, and VRM / MOSFETe with Dual Rad Alphacool UT60
PSU: OCZ ZX 1250 Watt
Case: Corsair Obsidian 800D

Monitor resolution: Duall - 1920x1080 and 1680x1050

Storage requirements: Existing SSD drives
Will you be overclocking: yes (hopefully)
Any motherboard requirements: Nothing specific
Extra information about desired system: See above

Thanks!

EDIT:

Realized that the Maximus VI and 1150 Intel is an option also, so any thoughts on that are appreciated as well.

[HiVizMan]

4770K is LGA1150 and will need a Maximus VI board. Or any Z87board.

3770K is Z77 they are not compatible, nor is a 4770K and a Maximus V board. 🙂 It gets pretty confusing with so many Intel platforms released in the last few years.

[chrsplmr]

Since OC'n BenchMarking is part of your fun it is hard to argue with jumping the AMD ship at this time.
The other thing I find it hard to argue against is the Maximus VI .. especially for OC'n the Extreme, at
this point it seems the sky is the limit.
You do know that benchmarking is really designed around intel .. comparing apples to oranges never works.
'We' use different 'benchmarks' to judge the stability of AMD's. [happy to discuss that as well]

If you were looking for a solid gaming platform I stand firmly with AMD and am happy to attempt to
help you work with your issues. [Which would lead me to troubleshooting questions of your system]
But if BenchMarking is your 'game' then switching makes sense.
another but would be .. I would even go so far as to state that your system is ROGsolid for
your above stated use .. running 'benchmarks however .. et.

Now that all said .. everything stated above by HiViz is spot on and I must admit the Formula VI is even
making me drool a little. [but Im willing to wait .. til hell freezes if necessary.]

I could not vote in your poll as none really apply as stated above.

• Keep components and let us help find the solution OR
  
• Maximus VI and 4770K
  

Would be 'two' I would check. Best of Luck.
If I have neglected to offer this before. Welcome to ROG.c.

[ChaoticTheory]

Thanks chrsplmr. Benchmarking isn't my primary purpose, but since I am building the best system I can I would like to have some numbers to prove it 🙂

Primary purpose it to have a high end STABLE computer capable of heavy graphics design in Adobe illustrator for many years to come. I don't do a lot of graphics design, so I wouldn't be pushing it a lot. I would like it to be future ready so as Adobe comes out with updates I can upgrade for many years to come.

Mid-post update: Talked to the boss, he told me to get it up and running, cost isn't a concern, wasted time is (he has other things I need to be doing). He wants something that is peak performance out of the box with easy overclocking ability at a later time. So your recommendations are greatly appreciated, memory as well.

Thanks!

[ChaoticTheory]

How about this:

Intel 4770K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116901
Asus Maximus VI Extreme - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131974
G.Skill Trident 32GB 2666 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231602

Should I be able to use that out of the box, with minimal setting changes (probably do XMP settings to get RAM speeds) and expect good results?

EDIT: I meant to ask, is 32GB of high clock RAM going to be the best performance? I know they offer higher clock, but pretty sure that is pushing it as far as budget goes, especially since there probably wouldn't be much if any noticeable real world difference. Would I be better off sticking with 16GB for stability, or a lower clock with lower latency? From my rough understanding higher latency at higher clocks equates to about the same tCAS, but is there some reason lower latency is better than higher speed?

[jmoorez2001]

How about this:

Intel 4770K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116901seams its about 58 % faster that the 8350 is in single thead compair
Asus Maximus VI Extreme - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131974 uses dual channel memory so u can use the memory from ur amd system in the intel mobo
G.Skill Trident 32GB 2666 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231602is a lil high and its quad channel most memory will be hard to voerclost at higer speeds withy more the 3 or 4 dims installed i would say something of smaller say 2133 or ever 2400 Mghz to use and even in dual channle as per what the mobo uses

Should I be able to use that out of the box, with minimal setting changes (probably do XMP settings to get RAM speeds) and expect good results? u could if u use the xpm profile but 2666 is a lot of sleed i would say u may have to down clock the memory if u want to over clock the cpu any so in my opione higher freq isnt better then a stable lower freq

[chrsplmr]

If the coins matter not .. and rendering is the real plan .. for me AMD.
the haswell and VI .. excuse me for saying is yet not fully vetted .. the ch V is ..
[i still prefer the phenom for now .. but et .. just mho.]
32gb of memory .. although there is faster .. and some would argue better
is rock solid everytime it is tried.
would the money be better spent on new board,cpu, memory or ... another gpu ???
that thing would smoke.again imho.
keep in mind u are asking gaming gpu's to do non gaming gpu's work.
i doubt there is anything ur boss could throw at you that the current system at
default settings even couldn't handle with the configuration you Now have ..
There are some real expert render'ers here so maybe they know better than I ..
same with the haswell .. i dont know, i havn't played with one ..c.

[ChaoticTheory]

Thanks for the input jmoorez. I might look into a little bit lower speed RAM. I am returni g what i have anyway, since it is defective anyway. I probably won't be doing any overclocking right away, wasted (apparently) the time on that on the AMD setup.

Chrsplmr - from what I understand the single card I have now will more than satisfy my current requirements as far as rendering goes. I am looking for ease if use, top speeds, and good multitasking. Posting impressive benchmarks is a bonus, as long as its not counterproductive to my other goals. 🙂 due to the possible defect in the current CPU/mobo (due to failures at stock settings) recommendations can be anything. If you think the same setup I have should outperform anything else with minimal tweaking than I shall keep it under consideration. If I can get better performance from Intel outif the box, and especially if they are more OC friendly, than I am willing to gothat route, testing a newer board/processor is ok as long as expectations are reasonable (ie it's not expected to be crap) One thing I like is that it seems chipsets and sockets are more current (as opposed to the agin 990fx/am3+) and the MaxVIEx supports PCIe 3, which is what my GPU is ( though I am aware that I will probably never take advantage of Rhodes speed on that board with that chip, but... 🙂 )

[chrsplmr]

Well then my brother .. Haswell/VI it is. [op answers his own question] Get out ur money. hehe.c.

[ChaoticTheory]

Any thoughts on a Rampage IV with a core i7 3830 (3960 is pushing it Pricewise lol) ? I do heavy multi tasking, and t looks like it might be more futureproof than the Haswell. I know it will beat benchmarkwise, just wondering if it would be a good investment long term or if the Maximus VI/4770 is better.