Difference Between These 2 Motherboards?

[ttechf]

Hey,

I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me what the differences are between these two motherboards besides one being $20 less than the other?


Motherboard 1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157306

Motherboard 2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687


I was told motherboard 1 wasn't as good for overclocking as motherboard 2 but maybe and perhaps that individual was wrong and they are the same?

I'm not a power user. Just wanting decent features in a micro ATX board with the ability to add 1 card and overclock well.


Thank you. : )

 

[Magic Carpet]

I'd get the Extreme4-M, just because it has robust SATA ports placement.

AND.., it has the much better 898 Realtek sound chip onboard.

 

[ttechf]

I'd get the Extreme4-M, just because it has robust SATA ports placement.

AND.., it has the much better 898 Realtek sound chip onboard.

Sound doesn't matter much to me as I will have whatever system I build hooked up to my BOSE system. : )


But you do pose a very valuable point with the placement. Placement of ports is always important so thanks for pointing that out.

If anyone else sees anything else that Im missing, let me hear it. Thanks. : )

 

[Phishy714]

There is a big difference actually.

The Extreme4 has two PCIe Express 3.0 slots rated at (16/0) or (8/8) when using SLI. This is a great, must have for any board that you plan to use two gpu's in.

The Pro4-M has 1 PCIe Express 3.0 slot (@16) and 1 PCIe Express 2.0 slot (@4), which basically means that you will NOT be using this board to run dual gpu's.

$20 for that feature (is you are actually going to run dual cards in the future or want the option to be able to) is WELL worth it.

--edit--

Both motherboards have a 4+2 power phase, so they should overclock the exact same. Most of the overclocking limitation will come from your individual chip.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Please, disregard my earlier comment. I was looking at another ASRock. These two, both have identical ports placement and you didn't point it out to me

The only difference I have now noticed is this:

Z77 Pro4-M:
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 Slot, Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX™, CrossFireX™

Z77 Extreme4-M:
2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 Slots, Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX™, 3-Way CrossFireX, CrossFireX™ and NVIDIA® Quad SLI™, SLI™

 

[Zap]

I was told motherboard 1 wasn't as good for overclocking as motherboard 2 but maybe and perhaps that individual was wrong and they are the same?

I'm not a power user. Just wanting decent features in a micro ATX board with the ability to add 1 card and overclock well.

I've used the older Pro3-M and while it overclocked, it did not overclock as well as some higher end boards I've used. For the $20 difference, if overclocking is important to you then I say go for the Extreme4-M. Besides "features" such as better audio chip, BIOS features and general overclockability is often one way to differentiate products.

 

[ttechf]

Thanks everyone! appreciate the help!! : )

 

[cmdrdredd]

Sound doesn't matter much to me as I will have whatever system I build hooked up to my BOSE system. : )


But you do pose a very valuable point with the placement. Placement of ports is always important so thanks for pointing that out.

If anyone else sees anything else that Im missing, let me hear it. Thanks. : )

Sound doesn't matter? It actually does because with lower quality audio chips, the sound from the speakers will be poorer quality too. I'm not even touching the BOSE topic...I could rant all day about them.

 

[ttechf]

Sound doesn't matter? It actually does because with lower quality audio chips, the sound from the speakers will be poorer quality too. I'm not even touching the BOSE topic...I could rant all day about them.

Well, I have a BOSE system. Very small. Sits on my desk and this thing pumps out sound better and clearer than any other system I've had. Hooks right to my laptop and I enjoy the sound from my laptop right to my BOSE system. I have it on like 15% volume constantly and I can hear it MORE than fine. Never needed to go above 50% volume with this thing. I've had it for 4 years. Was around $275. I think it was money well spent for this portable system that also gives me 6 hours of music playing off the charger.


Just my 2 cents. : )

 

[cmdrdredd]

Well, just so you know where I'm coming from...I run a Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system from my PC or my Paradigm Signature series setup in the living room so I'm a bit of an audiophile, not to the extent of some but I'm bias none the less.

 

[ttechf]

Well, just so you know where I'm coming from...I run a Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system from my PC or my Paradigm Signature series setup in the living room so I'm a bit of an audiophile, not to the extent of some but I'm bias none the less.

Yeah I love clear sound but for something portable, and small that delivers VERY loud and good sound, the BOSE was a good choice for me. It's 10 times smaller than my shelf system, lol.

I'm an audiophile in a different light. Not with the components, but with the files.

I like mp3 320kbps and FLAC only. Don't really like to settle for anything less.


Thanks : )