Any other decent mATX board besides the Asus Maximus IV GENE-Z?

[lsquare]

I'm looking for a good value mATX board to use with the Intel Core i5 2500K. I know that the Asus Maximus IV GENE-Z is a good board, but it's pretty expensive. Are there cheaper, but still decent solution for overclocking the 2500K?

Thanks!

 

[Transfusion]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128523
GIGABYTE GA-Z68M-D2H
$94.99. The major caveat is that it has much less USB ports and no eSATA ports. It does have 2 PCI-E x1 ports and 2 PCI-E x16 ports, whereas the Asus only has 1 PCI-E x4 port and 2 PCI-E x16 ports.

 

[Meghan54]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128523
GIGABYTE GA-Z68M-D2H
$94.99. The major caveat is that it has much less USB ports and no eSATA ports. It does have 2 PCI-E x1 ports and 2 PCI-E x16 ports, whereas the Asus only has 1 PCI-E x4 port and 2 PCI-E x16 ports.

I wouldn't even put that Gigabyte board anywhere near the same class as the Asus Gene-Z.

Why?

The Gene-Z's second PCIe slot, which looks like an x16 slot, is actually a PCIEX8 slot; meanwhile, the Gigabyte's second "x16" PCIe slot is actually a PCIEX4 slot, a very notable difference.

Second, the Asus uses an Intel 82579V LAN controller vs. the Realtek RTL8111E controller on the Gigabyte.....and while the Intel ethernet controller on the Asus isn't Intel's absolute best, it's better than the Realtek controller.....a somewhat notable difference.

Third, the Gigabyte has NO USB 3.0 ports while the Asus has 4. Again, a very notable difference.

Nope......wouldn't put those two in direct competition with each other. One is made to a price point and shows the compromises made (the Gigabyte) and one is not (the Asus.)

Your money...you make the choice.

 

[Zap]

I'm looking for a good value mATX board to use with the Intel Core i5 2500K. I know that the Asus Maximus IV GENE-Z is a good board, but it's pretty expensive. Are there cheaper, but still decent solution for overclocking the 2500K?

This board is what you are looking for. No super bells/whistles, but has USB 3.0 (2 ports on rear, no headers) and is good for medium overclocking of a 2500K.