Motherboard Suggestion

[Snipeye]

I'm specifically looking at Phobus and reflex99 for some help here (if they can spare the time to do so).

I'm looking at a new computer build. Partial refresh, partial I need a better gaming machine.

Current Specs:
Intel Core2Duo E6750 @ 2.66GHz
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 Mobo
XIGMATEK MC NRP-MC751 750W PSU
OCZ 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 RAM
EVGA nVidia GTX 285 GPU
Windows 7 Home

Planned Build:
Intel Core i5-2500K
Corsair HX750 PSU
8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333 or 1600 RAM (preferably 1600)
nVidia Geforce GTX 560Ti (Fermi) GPU

Hard drives are no problem. I got 3 internals (two storage, one for OS) on my current system totaling about 2TB of storage. I also have an additional 2 external drives totaling about 1.5TB of storage. On top of that, for whatever reason, about 2-3 years ago, I bought a new HDD for a low price at the time. I think it's a 1TB Seagate drive for about $80 if my purchase history is any indication. I'll use that to house the OS for the new build.

Obvious question: What kind of motherboard should I use? I'm not the biggest overclocker, preferring to not muck around with timings, voltages, etc. since I'm not very knowledgeable in that. but no reason why I shouldn't give it a shot with the 2500K. The only requirement i got for the motherboard is to keep it under $200 if possible. I'm trying to keep this build as close to $1k, and before anyone brings it up, yes, I got a lot of additional parts lying around that I can use. I DO plan on getting a new case, so about $150 is going to be sunk into that. But besides that, everything I'm looking for is mentioned above.

Any suggestions?

P.S. No, I'm not getting AMD parts (CPU/GPU). So don't bother suggesting them. I'll just get a forum mod to delete the post.

 

[Sn1PeR]

I'm running an Asus P8Z68-V Pro and have been very happy with it. I've also built a machine using the Asus P8P67 - no problems there either. I personally recommend getting a Z68 based motherboard. They allow for you to use the GPU built into your CPU -- meaning that machine would make a great low power HTPC or server a few years down the line when you upgrade again. It's also nice to have as a backup if you ever have GPU. Additionally, if you are only running one monitor, you can turn off the primary GPU to save power on some of the z68 motherboards (dynamically switch to the iGPU on your CPU). I personally don't use that as it does have a slight performance hit and I use 4x monitors all the time. SSD caching is supposed to be great (I'm just about to set that up myself - just got a bigger SSD in so I'll use my old 64GB as cache for my Steam drive) -- and is another feature specific to z68 chipsets. I recommend getting one that will do 8x/8x PCIe to allow for SLI/CF to be a viable upgrade option down the line.

I don't have any personal experience with 1155 socket MSI motherboards (I do have a 775 one which is still working fine), but this one supports PCI-e Gen.3 which may be interesting in the future for PCI-e based SSD cards, etc. Review here:
http://pcper.com/reviews/Motherboards/MSI-Z68A-GD80-G3-LGA-1155-ATX-Motherboard-Review

TLR - Most Z68 chipsets are fine - get one that can do 8x/8x PCIe. I've had good luck building two machines off of Asus 1155 boards.

 

[Snipeye]

Alright, so a Z68 chipset is the best mobo models to aim for?

I'll look over Asus/EVGA/Gigabyte as I'm partial to them. I don't have the best experience with MSI boards. Asrock, I may be willing to try.

Any specific model best for under $200 from those 3, 4 vendors?

 

[phalanx]

Alright, so a Z68 chipset is the best mobo models to aim for?

I'll look over Asus/EVGA/Gigabyte as I'm partial to them. I don't have the best experience with MSI boards. Asrock, I may be willing to try.

Any specific model best for under $200 from those 3, 4 vendors?

z68 has all the features of both H67 and P67. I was looking at some Asrock boards that would future proof the build a little down the road when PCIE3.0 GPUs are released, although I believe Asus MSI and Gigabyte(?) have some as well.

Here are those boards. Please note that the PCIE 3.0 will only work with Ivy Bridge CPUs.
Asrock Extreme 3 Gen3
Asrock Extreme 4 Gen3 P67
Asrock Extreme 4 Gen 3 Z68
Asrock Extreme 7 Gen3 NF200
Asrock Z68 PRO
Asus P8Z68

Here are the Asus and Asrock Boards, MSI search just in case. I wasn't able to find any Gigabyte boards in my quick run down on Newegg.

My personal favorite is the Extreme 4 gen 3 Z68, great value for the price, however I've never used ASRock so I cant attest to their reliability.

 

[Snipeye]

I'm liking the Asrock Extreme 4 Gen 3 Z68 board you suggest, Phalanx. I'll put that one on my short list of mobos. Still hoping to find a Gigabyte board that would be just as good, if not better (been using them the last 2 builds).

 

[Ph?bus]

I'm liking the Asrock Extreme 4 Gen 3 Z68 board you suggest, Phalanx. I'll put that one on my short list of mobos. Still hoping to find a Gigabyte board that would be just as good, if not better (been using them the last 2 builds).

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 is what I would recommend. I also like GB boards.

 

[a pet rock]

Near as I can tell, the only difference between P67 and Z68 is IGP and SSD caching. If you aren't planning on using either of those, I don't think Z68 will make a difference for you.

 

[Snipeye]

Well, I do plan on getting an SSD so that's one reason to go ahead with the Z68. Considering how long I keep gaming systems, and partially upgrade them, it helps to have a good framework that can be used for the next 5 years, if necessary.

Phobus, thanks for that mobo suggestion. Wish it was a lil lower, but it's definitely in my budget (And a GB! Yay!)

 

[reflex99]

Well, I do plan on getting an SSD so that's one reason to go ahead with the Z68. Considering how long I keep gaming systems, and partially upgrade them, it helps to have a good framework that can be used for the next 5 years, if necessary.

Phobus, thanks for that mobo suggestion. Wish it was a lil lower, but it's definitely in my budget (And a GB! Yay!)

There are lesser Gigabyte models that are a little cheaper:

Z68XP-UD3P; basically the same feature set wise as the UD4, but power delivery system is cut down. Still, shouldn't be a problem.

Z68X-UD3H. This one is a bit different from the others, the Power delivery subsystem is a gain cut down, this time, with just 4 phases on the CPU. It really shouldn't matter for everyday users, but if you want to bin some chips and find a 24/7 5GHz baby, this probably is NOT the board for you.

P67A-UD4: Pretty much identical to the Z68XP-UD4, only without the Z68 features, which honestly, are pretty useless.


My personal vendetta (word choice? I am a computer nerd, not an english major):
Personally I am a fan of Gigabyte's power designs, I prefer analog PWMs to the digital ones ASUS uses. The Intersil controllers that Gigabyte uses are really something special, and if the common people understood what a PWM was, they would appreciate the level of engineering detail that has gone into Gigabyte boards since X58 a lot more. <3 analog

That said, ASUS' method works fine too, just a little more prone to error, and personally I don't like it as much.

Does it matter for 99.99% of users? Probably not. Does it matter to reflex? Yes.

All that said, many people are Happy with thier ASUS boards. I personally run a Crosshair V. I would've gone Giga, but i'll give them another generation to get their Vdroop issues worked out.

For ASUS recomendations:

P8P67 PRO: this is kinda the go-to board for 1155, one of the most popular ones out there. Nothing really to complain about, i just like the UD4 better.

P8Z68/Gen3 Z68 based successor to the PRO, it adds PCI-E 3.0 support, but nothing else really.

If you don't mind mATX, the Maximus IV Gene, is a great value, it offers many of the features of the Maximus Extreme, but at 1/2 the cost.

MSI also makes good motherboard for 1155. My personal board was a P67A-GD55, and it was pretty nice.

Currently the GD65, GD55, and GD80 are all very good boards.

I am kinda weary to recommend the newer ASRock boards (particularly Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 and Z68 Extreme4 Gen3), as many people seem to have issues with them. Particularly with setting voltages, and other EFI funkiness

 

[Gagoloth]

i actually have the Asrock Extreme 4 Gen3 P67
i have to say its pretty bad @ss for the money i would definitely recommend it.