Best Motherboards for i7 6950x – Intel has coined a new marketing term, “megatasking”, to describe situations that warrant having 10 cores and 20 threads. Not all software can take advantage of them, so Intel imagines users will do several things at once, such as playing a game, encoding video of it on the fly, and broadcasting live over the Internet. While users with such demands are exactly the kind to spend multiple lakhs on a gaming rig, the Core i7-6950X in particular serves a very, very tiny niche.
OVERVIEW
The other selling point, lots of PCIe lanes to host multiple graphics cards, is largely pointless now that Nvidia has killed off multi-way SLI. If you’re only after the best gaming performance and don’t need to “megatask”, you’re actually better off with Skylake.
ROUND UP
If you do decide to go for it, Asus’ X99 Deluxe II is a worthy match to such a high-end CPU. We loved its feature set, especially the connectivity options. An investment now will do you well over the next several years. The only real downside is that you can get X99 motherboards for a lot less if you don’t want all the bells and whistles that Asus jammed in here.
back to menu ↑1.ASUS ROG Strix X299-E
Features
- Intel x299 LGA 2066 socket: ready for the latest Intel Core X-Series processors to maximize connectivity and speed with up to three M. 2 drives, USB 3. 2 Gen 2, Intel VROC and Intel Optane Memory compatibility
- Optimal power & cooling solution: 12 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality Chokes and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors, active cooling VRM heatsink, stacked-fin heat sink, with 8mm heat pipe, Dual on-board M. 2 heatsinks, a water pump + Header and multiple fun headers
- Best in class gaming networking: 2. 5Gbps LAN and Intel Gigabit Ethernet With Asus LANGuard, Wi-Fi 6 (802. 11Ax) with MU-MIMO, and Gateway teaming via GameFirst V
- Next Gen gaming connectivity: features 3x M. 2, USB 3. 2 Gen 2 ports and USB 3. 2 Gen 2 front panel Connector, 8x SATA 6 Gb/s.
- Unmatched Personalization: OLED and ASUS-exclusive aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and addressable Gen 2 RGB headers.DIY friendly: ROG-patented pre-mounted I/O shield, Flex key, ASUS Safe Slot, ASUS Node connector and BIOS Flashback for a friendlier building experience.Industry leading gaming audio: high fidelity audio with Supreme S1220A, DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III to draw you deeper into the action.Ai overclocking: quickly optimizes your CPU performance based on the CPU and cooler, achieving results that are extremely close to manual tuning by experts
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2.Asus ROG Strix TRX40-E
Features
- Ready for the latest 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper Series processors to maximize connectivity and speed with up to three M.2 drives, USB 3.2 Gen 2.
- Unmatched Personalization: OLED and aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and addressable Gen 2 RGB headers
- Optimal power solution: 16 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality Chokes and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors
- Comprehensive cooling: active cooling VRM and Chipset heatsink, stacked-fin heatsink, with on-board Dual M.2 heatsinks and a water pump+ header
- Gaming connectivity: three M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port and Type-C front panel Connector
- Gaming networking: 2.5Gbps LAN and Intel Gigabit Ethernet With Asus LANGuard, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11Ax) with MU-MIMO, and Gateway teaming via GameFirst V
- Gaming audio: high fidelity audio with SupremeFX S1220, DTS sound unbound and Sonic Studio III to draw you deeper into the action
- Easy DIY: rog-patented pre-mounted I/O shield, flexkey, Asus safe Slot, Asus Node connector and BIOS Flashback for a friendlier building experience
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3.ASUS ROG Rampage V Extreme
Features
- USB 3.1 Add-On Card
- Intel Core i7 processors on LGA 2011-v3 socket
- Intel X99 Express chipset
- OC Socket, OC Panel, Safe Boot and Retry buttons - Powerful tuning kit for breaking records
- Extreme Engine Digi+ IV - Primo components for rock-steady power
- Direct CU, X-Socket II, multiple thermal sensors and Fan Expert 3 - Stay even cooler
- PCI Express 3.0 x4 M.2, dual SATA Express, 3T3R 802.11ac Wi-Fi - Unparalleled connectivity with blistering-fast transfer speeds
- Supreme 2014, Sonic Radar II, Intel Ethernet, LANGuard, Game First III, Key Bot, RAM Disk - Hear more, banish lag, accelerate loading and control
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4.Asus TUF X99 LGA2011-V3
Features
- Ultra-fast 10Gb/s USB 3.1 built in to the board
- Patent Pending OC Socket - Drive CPU and DDR4 performance beyond all expectations!
- TUF Detective - System information at your fingertips
- Thermal Armor - Total airflow-boosting heat dissipation
- TUF Fortifier - Damage Protection and Improved Cooling
- Thermal Radar 2 - Customized Fan Tuning, Complete System Cooling
- TUF Components [TUF 10K Ti-Caps, TUF Chokes & MOSFETs; Certified by Military-standard]
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5.ASUS TUF H470-PRO
Features
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Ready for 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Comprehensive cooling: VRM heatsink, M. 2 heatsink, PCH heatsink
- Made for online gaming: Intel WiFi 6 802. 11ax, Intel 1Gb Lan with TUF LANGuard and Turbo LAN technology
- Aura Sync RGB Lighting: Synchronizable LED effects across a vast portfolio of compatible PC gear, including addressable gen 2 RGB header
- Realtek S1200A codec: Pristine audio quality with unprecedented 108 dB signal-to-noise ratio for stereo line out and 103 dB SNR for line in
- Enhanced power solution: 10 power stages, military-grade TUF components, and Digi+ VRM for maximum durability
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6.ASUS TUF Z390-Plus
Features
- Designed for 9th and 8th generation Intel Core processors to maximize connectivity and speed with dual M.2, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.1 Gen2
- Military-Grade TUF Components like TUF LANGuard, TUF Chokes, TUF Capacitors, and TUF MOSFETs maximize system durability
- Gamer’s Guardian with Safe Slot and FanXpert 4 provides hardware-level safeguards for maximum performance with dynamic system cooling
- 8-channel HD Gaming Audio with TUF Gaming Headphone featuring Realtek S1200A high definition audio codec driven by Japanese capacitors for warm, immersive sound
- ASUS Optimum II improves memory stability and performance by improving trace isolation between PCB layers to maintain signal integrity even at higher frequencies
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7.ASUS TUF X570-PRO
Features
- AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4. 0: The perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Robust Power Design: 12+2 DrMOS power stages with high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power for the last AMD high-count-core CPUs
- Optimized Thermal Solution: Fanless VRM, active chipset heatsink, multiple hybrid fan headers and fan speed management with Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI Q-Fan Control utility
- TUF Gaming radiator fans with fan blade groove design for optimized airflow and reduce fan noise.
- NCVM-coating pump cover accentuates the rugged, modern aesthetics
- Styled to complement TUF Gaming motherboards, at the center stage of your build
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8.Asus TUF B365M-PLUS
Features
- Asus Optic-MEM: careful routing of traces and vias to preserve signal integrity for improved Memory stability.
- Fan Xpert 2+: flexible controls for ultimate Cooling and quietness, Plus gpu-temperature sensing for cooler gaming.
- Military-grade TUF components: TUF LANGuard, TUF Chokes, TUF Capacitors, and TUF MOSFETs for maximum durability. Aura Sync: bright up your build and sync with Asus gear
- Aura Sync: bright up your build and sync with Asus gear
- Wi-fi support: TUF B365M-PLUS GAMING (Wi-Fi) bundles a PCIe to M.2 Wi-Fi Card comes with Realtek wireless-8821ce Wi-Fi module
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9.ASUS PRIME Z270-K LGA1151
Features
- Maximize your connectivity and speed with integrated Dual M.2, Intel Optane Memory compatibility and USB 3.1 Type A/C connections
- 5X Protection III Hardware-level safeguards provide component longevity and reliability
- FanXpert 4 Core delivers advanced fan controls with an integrated AIO pump header for dynamic cooling
- Dual Patent-pending Safe Slot Core fortified PCIe slot prevents damage caused by heavyweight GPUs
- On-board 3D-printing mounts for creating unique designs on your customized build
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10.ASUS PRIME H270M-PLUS
Features
- Maximize your connectivity and speed with integrated Dual M.2 slots with Intel Optane Memory compatibility, front panel USB 3.0 and a rear USB 3.1 Type C connection
- 5X Protection III Hardware level safeguards provide component longevity and reliability
- FanXpert 4 Core delivers advanced fan control for dynamic cooling; Industry leading DDR4 memory compatibility for best flexibility and reassurance
- Dual Patent pending Safe Slot Core fortified PCIe slot prevents damage caused by heavyweight GPUs
- On board 3D printing mounts for creating unique designs on your customized build
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Best Motherboards for i7 6950x – BUYER’S GUIDE
Audio is handled by a high-end Realtec AC1150 codec which supports 192KHz/24-bit audio. Audio circuitry is isolated from the rest of the motherboard to reduce interference, with a dedicated power regulator. The Ethernet controllers are both from Intel, and bundled software lets you set priorities for different applications. There’s also Bluetooth 4.0.
back to menu ↑i7-6950X Overclocked Performance
Overclocking a 10-core processor ends up being a rather difficult task, and understandably so. The i7-6950X has a 140W TDP, just like the other LGA2011-3 enthusiast parts, but it hits that TDP by managing clock speeds. The maximum official clock of the 6950X is 3.5GHz, though Turbo Boost Max could potentially take a single core higher. Compare that to the i7-6700K’s 4.2GHz peak clock, or the i7-6850K’s 3.8GHz peak clock, and Intel is obviously lowering clocks on the 10-core part to keep power use in check.
The primary beneficiaries are the people who would be looking at buying workstations and servers with Xeon processors. But if you don’t need some of the extra features (remote management, ECC, RAS, etc.) found in such systems, and if you’d benefit more from higher clock speeds rather than pure core counts, the i7-6950X might prove an interesting alternative. It can also save on costs, though that’s not the primary consideration for most workstations.
back to menu ↑Frequently Asked Questions
how much money is your time worth?
Those who are looking to build a PC around the Core i7-6950X for whatever reason will find that the absolute minimum outlay required is around Rs. 3,00,000. The CPU, motherboard and RAM alone are going to cost over half of that amount, plus you’ll need a discrete graphics card (and there’s no point skimping there), a high-end power supply, a dedicated CPU cooler, at least one big NVMe SSD, and a solid cabinet to hold it all.
back to menu ↑WRAP UP
Performance results of Intel’s Core i7-6950X flagship processor have once again been revealed ahead of launch. XFastest is the source of the benchmarks this time who have tested the high-end desktop processor on the X99 platform which will be able to support the latest Broadwell-E family.
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