Buying a high end vs entry level same chipset board

[slicksilver]

Consider a Z77 entry level board vs a top end Z77 board...does it have any difference in terms of performance if the additional features and OC don't matter? I'm thinking NO but just wanted a confirmation.

[ShintaiDK]

None at all. A 50$ board performs identically to a 300$ board in performance. (Assume stock.)

Even at OC, a 300$ board wont be much better than a 100$ board. Rest is features and bling bling.

[Jetster...]

So i guess those larger heat sinks on the north bridge and mosfet dont really do anything?

[ShintaiDK]

Originally Posted by Jetster...

So i guess those larger heat sinks on the north bridge and mosfet dont really do anything?

Not at stock speed. And there aint any northbridge, only a PCH chip. And for that its 100% useless.

[Soulkeeper]

It kinda angers me how fragmented the mobo makers have gotten over the years.
Just looking at any socket from the big 3 and you're bound to find 10+ different versions from each.

That being said I usually get a midrange board, something good enough to have an ethusiast oriented bios, but without all the nonsense extra percs.

Hell ECS even makes a gold plated motherboard now ...
Just like all the non-sense mice/keyboards on the market these days .... How many buttons/features does a mouse really need ?

[ShintaiDK]

It might be worse after Haswell when the VRM goes ondie. Then mobomakers will be even more desperate in a way to diversify their products.

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Originally Posted by ShintaiDK

Even at OC, a 300$ board wont be much better than a 100$ board. Rest is features and bling bling.

I'd argue that there can be a difference. The Asrock Z77 Pro4 was an utter piece of *!*&@ when trying to OC a Sandy (VRM kept thermal throttling), while the Extreme4 was alright.

[Insert_Nickname]

Originally Posted by Soulkeeper

That being said I usually get a midrange board, something good enough to have an ethusiast oriented bios, but without all the nonsense extra percs.

Same here...

[Eureka]

Find the cheapest motherboards with the Z77 chipset, look at all the ones within a $10-20 range of each other. Find the one with the best review, best features you want, and go with it. Don't pay more for things you don't need... like that diamond-plate they have on those sabertooths.

[lehtv]

Originally Posted by WhoBeDaPlaya

I'd argue that there can be a difference. The Asrock Z77 Pro4 was an utter piece of *!*&@ when trying to OC a Sandy (VRM kept thermal throttling), while the Extreme4 was alright.

That's true. For overclocking beyond mild to moderate, 8 phases makes a lot of difference compared to 4 phases, and that's not comparing a $50 board to $300, but $100 to $130.

[Kenmitch]

If it was me I wouldn't shop for a MB entirely by price....You get what you pay for.

You don't need to get the most expensive but many decent MB's can be had for around $130 or even less.