Help Choose Budget 1155 MB for HTPC

[ctbrown]

I've already picked up an i3-2125 and now need to decide on motherboard. I'm considering these three mobos. Or are there any other good choices that i have missed? I intend to use the Intel HD3000 graphics of i3 and of course need an HDMI port.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...57-233^13-157-233-TS,13-128-524^13-128-524-TS

 

[Puppies04]

Go for the cheapest board you can find with the options you need. Pretty much all there is to say TBH

 

[vailr]

ECS H61H2-M2(1.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $23.99 AR with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135288

 

[abekl]

I would go for the Gigabyte unit over the Asrock units.

 

[ctbrown]

ECS H61H2-M2(1.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $23.99 AR with free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135288

I've heard mixed reviews for ECS boards...I don't know if they have improved much in recent years.

I would go for the Gigabyte unit over the Asrock units.

Yes...I was leaning towards the Gigabyte to, but was looking for confirmation.

But I'm also now considering ASUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131716

And Intel as well...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121506

 

[Zap]

I've heard mixed reviews for ECS boards...I don't know if they have improved much in recent years.

Two problems with ECS boards.

1) A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, ECS boards were notorious for leaking/bulging capacitors. Then again, so were other brands, but ECS (at the time) just seemed really bad.

2) ECS boards sometimes do not overclock as well or have all the "enthusiast" settings available in BIOS. Thus, they automatically garner the dreaded "this is CRAP" from self-professed enthusiasts.

tl;dr If all you are doing is what you say you will be doing, it should be fine.

 

[ScottAD]

I agree with ZAP. On the whole ECS is not a bad MB manufacturer now, they've all improved.

I'd go with the board valir posted if you're going for a budget HTPC.

 

[Taft12]

Don't get the ASRock that has the electrolytic caps. Either of the other (or the ECS another mentioned) would be fine.

I do like the sale price of the Gigabyte board!

 

[BTA]

Puppies04 answered it on the first shot but any 1155 Biostar or ECS would be fine for a cheap HTPC.

 

[ctbrown]

So I ended up with an ASUS P8H61-M (REV 3.0). 79.99 + free shipping (as opposed to 59.99 for the ECS). I was seriously considering the ECS H61H2-M2(1.0), but it was out of stock and it was unclear on Newegg if it actually had an HDMI port. The photo on Newegg shows an HDMI port, but the description only lists D-Sub and DVI, but not HDMI. And the ECS website lists HDMI as optional feature on that particular board.

 

[BTA]

Good choice on the Asus then, worth the 20 bucks to not have to worry about not getting a pretty important feature.

 

[joutlaw]

I went with a Biostar H67MH and haven't any issues. I'm running a i3 2100 with 8GB of RAM and Crucial M4 128SSD in my HTPC. I wanted SATA III for the SSD, but wasn't concerned with USB 3.0.

It's pretty a solid combo since I built it in July