Good gaming but not extreme enthusiast mobo?

Rodao

Junior Member
Jun 16, 2012
2
0
0
Basically I just want a computer that will play current generation games. Diablo 3, Skyrim, Mass Effect series, a few others. I don't really care much about overclocking or SLI or anything like that. I will probably have 1 SSD, 1 DVD drive, and perhaps later one regular HDD. GPU will be 560ti and CPU will most likely be 3570K.

As far as mobos go, I have been considering these:

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H LGA 115 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128543

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545

ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820

ASUS P8Z77-V LK 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837

I had originally been leaning toward the ASRock, but I am reluctant to take a chance on a newer company. As far as the other models go, it's a choice between ASUS and Gigas' cheaper or more expensive models. Besides # of ports and things like that, is there very much of a difference, i.e., in terms of performance or stability?

Thanks in advance!
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
Basically I just want a computer that will play current generation games. Diablo 3, Skyrim, Mass Effect series, a few others. I don't really care much about overclocking or SLI or anything like that. I will probably have 1 SSD, 1 DVD drive, and perhaps later one regular HDD. GPU will be 560ti and CPU will most likely be 3570K.

As far as mobos go, I have been considering these:

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H LGA 115 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128543

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545

ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820

ASUS P8Z77-V LK 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131837

I had originally been leaning toward the ASRock, but I am reluctant to take a chance on a newer company. As far as the other models go, it's a choice between ASUS and Gigas' cheaper or more expensive models. Besides # of ports and things like that, is there very much of a difference, i.e., in terms of performance or stability?

Thanks in advance!


Nothing wrong with Asrock, they really aren't new either. They were a partner of Asus and now they broke up and went on their own. They make excellent motherboards. I recommend the Z77 Extreme 4.
 

futurefields

Diamond Member
Jun 2, 2012
6,470
32
91
For a single GPU setup you can save some money and get the ASRock Pro4 Z77, which is what I use. Setup was a breeze.
 

Rodao

Junior Member
Jun 16, 2012
2
0
0
Nothing wrong with Asrock, they really aren't new either. They were a partner of Asus and now they broke up and went on their own. They make excellent motherboards. I recommend the Z77 Extreme 4.

Sorry. The last time I built a computer was in 2007, and I don't recall them having been a big player back then, although maybe my memory is faulty.
 

Charlie98

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2011
6,298
64
91
I like my Gigabyte Z68 board very well, and it's pretty close to the bottom of the totem pole as far as features. If I were going Z77, given your choices, I would go with the D3H.
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,449
2,874
126
honestly i don't think you can buy a *bad* board these days, expecially on Z77. maybe on some of the low-end chipsets ..
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
I have yet to come across a bad Intel 6/7 series board yet. I had an ECS h61 board and it was good too. Biostar and Asrock have some good boards this series. Biostar has a pretty robust PCB on the XE3 and XE4. They deserve more credit this time around.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
For a single GPU setup you can save some money and get the ASRock Pro4 Z77, which is what I use. Setup was a breeze.

And since he's not really interested in OC'ing that much, the Z77 Pro3 should be fine as well. One less power phase, only two SATA 6gb/s ports but who needs more than two SSD's? Only $100

In any case, all the SLI certified products in the OP (Extreme4, Z77X, P8Z77-V) are overkill for him
 

IntelEnthusiast

Intel Representative
Feb 10, 2011
582
2
0
I would go with the ASRock Z77 Extreme4. This board and the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 before it have earned good reputations for giving very good value out of these boards.
 

Neurotic_X

Junior Member
Apr 17, 2011
20
0
0
Well, I'm using an MSI Z77A-G43. Not a great Bios for extreme-overclocking. But @ $100, it's a steal. It overclocks decently from my personal experience and desirable overclock of 4.0GHz (i5-2500k). I haven't tried to push it more because i'm simply lazy at the moment.. tired..
 

bootymonkey

Junior Member
Jun 7, 2012
4
0
0
I have the P8Z77-V and its been a great board. I was going to get the LK but needed the Wi-Fi capability out of the box. Lots of room for expanding, if needed.
 

jlw2000

Junior Member
Jun 23, 2012
2
0
0
I had the Extreme 4 and it's great. But I swapped for the P8Z77-V and like it MUCH better. Largely for the automatic overclocking (which pumped my 3570k from 3.4ghz to 4.2ghz without ever thinking about it) and the Automatic Fan control and monitoring.

But the later board cost me double that of the ASRock, so if price is a concern, can't go wrong with the ASRock.

(p.s. based on packaging and manuals, I'm going to guess ASRock and ASUS are related somehow)
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Basically I just want a computer that will play current generation games. Diablo 3, Skyrim, Mass Effect series, a few others. I don't really care much about overclocking or SLI or anything like that.

No overclocking or SLI? ANY MOTHERBOARD WILL WORK. I would still recommend one of the higher end chipsets so that you at least get USB 3.0 and SATA 6G, but brand/model won't matter for what you describe.
 

borisvodofsky

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2010
3,606
0
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I had the Extreme 4 and it's great. But I swapped for the P8Z77-V and like it MUCH better. Largely for the automatic overclocking (which pumped my 3570k from 3.4ghz to 4.2ghz without ever thinking about it) and the Automatic Fan control and monitoring.

But the later board cost me double that of the ASRock, so if price is a concern, can't go wrong with the ASRock.

(p.s. based on packaging and manuals, I'm going to guess ASRock and ASUS are related somehow)

The asus board is definitely easier to work with.

That said, I highly recommend against the auto overclocking. if you Don't know your computer in and out, the overclocking may be killing you 3570k


For example, default overclocking often overshoot the voltage requirements.

Even stock voltages are too much sometimes, like the CPU Pll voltage. default is 1.81, when all that's really needed is 1.65 ;)

Auto overclock also only got you to 4.2, when that specific processor can do 4.5 easily and up to 4.8 cooling permited. ^_^