Help me pick a uATX LGA1155 MB...please!! ;-]

[Fun Guy]

Here are the five I am considering -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100007627&IsNodeId=1&PropertyCodeValue=705%3A88788%2C4943%3A34967%2C4943%3A40640%2C4943%3A34966%2C2368%3A14898%2C2368%3A20724%2C2368%3A14899%2C2368%3A14897%2C2368%3A44488%2C8110%3A50511%2C8110%3A90571%2C8110%3A57730%2C8110%3A57761%2C8110%3A100410%2C757%3A7619&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-128-495^13-128-495-TS%2C13-131-759^13-131-759-TS%2C13-138-296^13-138-296-TS%2C13-131-711^13-131-711-TS%2C13-131-710^13-131-710-TS

 

[dpk33]

Depends. Will you be overclocking with it? If so, go with the Z68 boards and also if SSD caching is important to you. If none of these are important, go with any of the H67s.

 

[Zap]

Overclocking? If so, then toss out the H67 chipset boards, leaving you with only two choices.

Do you need front panel USB 3.0 headers? The Asus Gene-Z is the rare mATX board that has them. It's probably also the best overclocker, has Intel NIC and X-Fi audio. It is also super expensive.

The Biostar board is cheap, but has very few USB ports.

There are also a couple boards not on your list which I would consider, such as the ASRock Z68 chipset board (the more expensive one of the two they make) or the Asus P8Z68-M Pro.

 

[Epsilon-Zero]

I guess it really depends what your budget is.

The Gene Z is hands down the best in my book and goes toe to toe with even the larger ATX boards.
If this is really for a HTPC then the Gene Z also has a better audio chipset.

The Gigabyte board would be my second pick because its also a Z68 board, and has good features at a great price. The other Asus boards are H67 chipsets and thats just a deal breaker for me.

 

[Skott]

Depends. Will you be overclocking with it? If so, go with the Z68 boards and also if SSD caching is important to you. If none of these are important, go with any of the H67s.

Some decent H61 mobos too if its going to be a real basic build.

 

[Massive Overkill]

I have the Gene and love it. I have hade zero problems with SSD caching with it and I like the fact that it has an Intel onboard NIC. The board wreaks of quality. Only thing I don't like is the lack of support for VT-d, so while I'm up at Micro Center next week, I may get a 2600K and see what she'll do.

 

[Fun Guy]

Only thing I don't like is the lack of support for VT-d, so while I'm up at Micro Center next week, I may get a 2600K and see what she'll do.

Thanks for your input. Can you explain a little more about VT-d....what it is, why the Gene doesn't support it, and how a 2600K is going to make things different for you?

 

[PClark99]

Someone has a lightly used P8P67 M Pro for $90 shipped on FS/FT.

Unless you really need onboard video that is a pretty safe bet.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I just build a new system for my aunt with an Asus P8Z68-M Pro board and the Intel® Core™ i5-2300; it went very well and I am really happy with how it turned out.

VT-d is virtualization with directed I/O. In other words you can assign a port or a devise to a VM. Right now the only desktop boards that I know that are supporting VT-d are Q67 chipset based boards. While other chipset may support VT-d, the motherboard manufacturers are not enabling it on the release products. Intel has 2 boards the (DQ67OW and DQ67SW) and I have seen a Gigabyte board also with Q67 chipset that does. If anyone knows of any others let me know.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[Massive Overkill]

Thanks for your input. Can you explain a little more about VT-d....what it is, why the Gene doesn't support it, and how a 2600K is going to make things different for you?

The VT-d question has already been answered, but I have a 2600, which has a locked multiplier, while the 2600K doesn't, which makes OC'ing very easy. With the heat sink I have I should be able to hit 4.4-5.0 Ghz if I get a good core.

Not that 4.2 Ghz is any slouch.

 

[Massive Overkill]

Got my 2600K from Micro Center, got her up to 4.8 Ghz at 1.35V:

 

[VirtualLarry]

I just build a new system for my aunt with an Asus P8Z68-M Pro board and the Intel® Core™ i5-2300; it went very well and I am really happy with how it turned out.

VT-d is virtualization with directed I/O. In other words you can assign a port or a devise to a VM. Right now the only desktop boards that I know that are supporting VT-d are Q67 chipset based boards. While other chipset may support VT-d, the motherboard manufacturers are not enabling it on the release products. Intel has 2 boards the (DQ67OW and DQ67SW) and I have seen a Gigabyte board also with Q67 chipset that does. If anyone knows of any others let me know.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

Does this motherboard support VT-d? It's a Q67.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121513

 

[Skott]

Got my 2600K from Micro Center, got her up to 4.8 Ghz at 1.35V:

Sweet.