p.1 #1 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Looking to build a computer, and I have no experience whatsoever. I'm trying to understand compatibility between processors and motherboards. So, my question, do I pick out a processor, and then find a compatible motherboard, or should I pick out a motherboard and find a compatible processor?
p.1 #2 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
One question is future upgrading. If you think you might, at some stage in the future, swap out the CPU for a more powerful one then go with a motherboard with the latest socket: LGA 1151.
But two things...
1) I don't recommend swapping CPU's*.
2) LGA 1151 will be superceded.
*I'd rather build it once and leave it.
Now, budget. Decide which processor you want first. Then carefully shop for a motherboard with the specifications you want.
There are myriad motherboards - CPU first. Just make sure to match sockets - an LGA 1151 CPU with an LGA 1151 motherboard! Also, consider other things such as mSata or a PCIE SSD, and USB 3.1 ports.
Keep in mind that it's best to know exactly what you want to use your computer for (make a list and rough how much time might be spent doing each task), your wants vs. needs (make a list, be objective), and what sort of budget you have available before beginning a build. Also understand that today's hardware is tomorrow's Edsel from the perspective of your typical builder (though not all), and that hardware development and release are occurring at very rapid rates today (search for info about Intel's Tick-Tock model).
There's quite a bit to understand--from threads and core counts, through CUDAS and clock speeds, to PCI-E lanes and ram speed/type--but once you grasp the basics somewhat, you'll be asking better targeted questions.
p.1 #4 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
If you know about CPUs, pick a few you like according to your criteria. Repeat for the mainboard if applicable. Then see if your choices fit together. If nothing fits, rejiggering your choices. At times, I have failed to achieved a CPU/chipset match, and have to compromise on features, or abandon the purchase. A historical example was Pentium III Tualatin and Asus m/b with ECC: I needed the latter feaure, not 133MHz SDRAM.
p.1 #5 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
I built a PC a year or so ago using the website www.pcpartpicker.com. It will help you pick all the parts and accessories you need based on whether that part will work with the other parts you're intersted in. It was very helpful for me.
p.1 #6 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Personally i pick the CPU first, then the motherboard. For me the CPU choice is easy though - i just buy the fastest overclockable (K-series) Intel CPU i can afford. The motherboard choice can be more tricky, as there is a balance between form factor, cost and features that isn't all that easy to satisfy sometimes.
p.1 #7 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Not sure what was in the links posted, but you need to figure out what your needs are. Figure you are going to use an aftermarket video card. So that will be one thing you don't really need in a motherboard. Ideally I like to have 4 memory slots but 2 will do as long as they can both support up to 16 gigs of ram each. Make sure you get one with enough USB 3 ports.
Typically motherboards that cost $100+ are going to be the latest chipset/socket design. You match the motherboard with the size of computer case you have/need and then buy the selected processor. The people at the store can help and it's really rather easy. You do want to buy both together though because as new processors come out, the actual socket type does change. Last thing to look for usually is the memory speed required. i think they are up to DDR3 and DDR4 now while graphics cards are DDR5 memory speeds. You want a faster speed if at all possible for throughput.
p.1 #9 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Mainboard CPU and RAM are best purchased and tested together within the return period.
Under some circumstances a very new model of CPU may not function in a board that does not have a supporting BIOS. In that case an older CPU may be needed to flash the BIOS.
p.1 #10 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Like GTXTOM stated, use pcpartpicker.com, it has compatibility features that lead you through picking every part or just some of them, while maintaining compatibility. (if you like Intel processors it will only show you motherboards with compatible sockets, etc). There are also some pc builds that people using the website have done, as this might be a place to get some ideas.
There are a lot of DIY guides but I found the video guide to build a pc from Newegg to be the most comprehensive for me. Part 1 is here,
IMO, Watch the "how to" video before you buy parts and I think it gives you better comprehension on what you're buying.
Good luck. Once you do it, you always will and you'll wonder why you didn't before.
p.1 #12 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
I buy both together, but then I'm lucky enough to live fairly near a Micro Center store. They mail out a print flyer (it's also online) that includes CPUs and motherboards by socket.
So I decide on a CPU then look for a suitable ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte or MSI motherboard for the CPU's socket. When you buy the CPU with the motherboard you get a discount on the MB which varies around 15% and up.
p.1 #13 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
...but before you do anything, OP, again, educate yourself.
I'm in the process of determining a new build myself at the moment, and it hasn't been easy. You want something that will do what you need it to do, as well as what you want it to do--which aren't always one in the same thing, while staying within what you determine is your budget.
So, in light of the original question, I'll share my current experiences with you, driven by the sort of work I do, as well as my after curricular activities:
I'm leaning toward picking up a couple of used Xeon processors and sticking them in a dual socket board that will allow for future proofing as much as possible. That means being able to run the latest GPUs in it (two cards, one GTX, the other Quadro, both Pascal based), as well as a raid storage solution with the OS and critical apps on an M.2 PCI-Express NVMe SSD. Then there's the needed/desired USB connectivity, the ram spec'ing, an appropriate power supply, and a cooling solution.
Not a cheap build, mind you, but I've been in this game long enough to know what would satisfy my digital lust.
One last thing: try to measure all the hype you'll read about while educating yourself like a grain of salt. Lots of it is generated by "enthusiasts" who crave the latest and greatest (kinda like those here who suffer from GAS), and given the latest and greatest AND the states of the industry and market, patience can also be of great help. Q42016 and all of 2017 should see some very interesting developments come to fore as far as computing goes.
p.1 #14 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Pick the CPU first by general range. That's actually pretty easy, and it's going to probably be the latest and most powerful Intel processor you can afford.
You have to pick a motherboard to go with the CPU, but that decision--although made secondarily--requires the most thought in meeting your requirements. The range of motherboards for a given CPU is far greater than the range of CPUs. Motherboard choice dictates everything else, such as what your memory, mass storage, and GPU choices will be, as well as what externally attached peripherals you can use (USB, Thurnderbolt, et cetera).
In fact, by the time you've found the motherboard that really allows you to work the way you want...you might have to reconsider your CPU choice.
p.1 #15 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
jancohen wrote:
I'm leaning toward picking up a couple of used Xeon processors and sticking them in a dual socket board that will allow for future proofing as much as possible.
Have a look round ebay for E5-2670 CPU's: 8 cores running at 2.6Ghz (with turbo to 3.3). There seems to be a glut of them from decommissioned server clusters and you can pick them up for less than $100 a piece. They are a couple of generations out of date, being Sandy Bridge architecture, but the new Haswell chips are actually only around 25% faster than the Sandy Bridge's, so they are far from obsolete.
A suitable motherboard will cost a bit, but ECC DDR3 memory doesn't cost much more than standard DDR3 now (and some mobo's will take standard DDR3 if you still have some lying around), so you should be able to put together a 16 core box for about the same price as a brand new quad core Haswell.
Obviously such a box won't perform as well as a highly clocked quad core for a lot of desktop applications (most of which scale very poorly with increasing threads), but if you do scientific / fluid dynamic type calculations, 3D rendering or video editing / encoding, such a box is probably the performance bargain of the decade.
p.1 #16 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
Start with the motherboard and its support for the I/O needed without resorting to a special PCI card, support for RAID, number of USB 3 ports, slots for RAM modules, number of card slots, support for latest video cards, type of RAM supported, and for a simple one CPU motherboard whether it is for the i7 or Xeon processors.
You also need a cabinet that will provide air circulation and heat extraction for the CPU or CPU's. With dual Xeon processors they draw 170 Watts so heat extraction is critical. Overclocking a i7 presents similar concerns with heat.
Then you need to spec out the power supply and what it provides in power and the number and type of connectors for components as this is changing as well.
Appreciate that you are paying full retail for each and every component and for it to be shipped to you. The computer manufacturers like Lenovo and HP are buying components by the hundreds of thousands and pay at most half of what your costs will be for the same items. For example I bought a Lenovo P710 dual Xeon workstation last month and the cost for the nVidia Quadro M2000 video card was an additional $330. That same card from any retailer would cost me $430. Same applies to the hard drives and I/O adapters and RAM and CPU's. The keyboard cost $9 and same for the mouse. It all adds up and with the Lenovo I get Windows 7 Pro with an anytime upgrade to Windows 10 and full bios and driver support forever and I get 3-years of onsite service for the computer.
I used to build computers for a living and that meant engineering the motherboard and all the IC's and firmware and all the I/O to be supported and writing the custom operating system. My first PC ran Linux and my first Wintel PC ran DOS 1.0, but when it comes to business computers for the various companies and for myself I have always bought off the shelf computers even if it meant going to a place like Alienware. For workstations I had to go with servers to get the chassis space and cabinets for large power supplies and lots of RAM modules for CAD purposes.
Now I can get just as powerful a box for CAD or for gaming with an off the shelf computer that is well engineered and well supported. If I valued my time at only $5 and hour I would still save money with the purchase of an off the shelf system.
p.1 #17 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
15Bit wrote:
Have a look round ebay for E5-2670 CPU's: 8 cores running at 2.6Ghz (with turbo to 3.3). There seems to be a glut of them from decommissioned server clusters and you can pick them up for less than $100 a piece.
Thanks for the heads-up! Prices have indeed crashed to very attractive levels. I see E5-2680 for $100, and even an eBay lot of 4 at 165 BIN! At that price, two can be DOA and I still make off like a bandit. These CPUs were introduced at $1700 each. I actually have two X79 servers (2x E5-2609 and 2x E5-2650) that can benefit. Sandy Bridge is rock solid, and preceeds the TIM debacle of Ivy Bridge.
p.1 #18 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
rico wrote:
Thanks for the heads-up!
You're welcome - i always like to assist geek friends spending their money
I'm actually just pricing up a dual E5-2670 myself. My home server - an old Q6600 - is getting somewhat long in the tooth, and whilst still reliable is heading towards an age where i might expect age related reliability issues to creep in. And with the concurrent Plex streams, ZFS arrays and a VM running on it, it's also feeling a bit overworked at times. I'd quite like to set up a Squid proxy with some blacklists on there too, now that junior is becoming more internet aware.
A dual E5-2670 is total overkill of course, but my usual tactic of upgrading my Deskop and shuffling the hardware to the Server won't yield me all that much speed up on the Desktop (Ivy to Skylake is only 20% or so) and will still cost about 70% of the cost of the dual Xeon. I can also make some "proper" use of a larger parallel setup for modelling and fitting diffraction data on nanomaterials. I just need to find out the RAM requirements for that before buying.
p.1 #19 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
15Bit wrote:
I didn't realise X79 could handle dual sockets.
To a true geek, the justification for dual E5-26xx is "because it's fun"! With mobo support, a dual-Xeon box of this class can support 8 channels to main memory (a ton of bandwidth), and plenty of DIMM slots (I have 16). X79 connects to just one CPU via DMI, but both Xeons can access the unified address space to I/O. The Xeons have private conections (two QPI, each full duplex), so latency is low and bandwidth is ludicrous. I say build the box!
p.1 #20 · Do you buy a processor or motherboard first?
rico wrote:
To a true geek, the justification for dual E5-26xx is "because it's fun"!
I completely agree. Looking into it in more detail, it will be a more expensive proposition than i had hoped though, as the motherboard availability up here is pretty limited, and the only ones i can get won't fit in the cases i have. I also need a new PSU to go with the new case, as all my current PSU's only have one EPS12V connector....
These CPUs were introduced at $1700 each. I actually have two X79 servers (2x E5-2609 and 2x E5-2650) that can benefit. Sandy Bridge is rock solid, and preceeds the TIM debacle of Ivy Bridge.