Lower end motherboard compare

[Vicaar]

Hoping folks can chime in with opinions: Newegg is currently running a deal on the following two motherboards where you get 2x4GB g.skill memory free with purchase. I'm planning on a modest system - 1 GPU (Radeon 7850 or 7870), and an i5-3xxx (non-K) processor.

The biggest difference between the two boards (that matters for my situation) is really the price. Obviously, it is the difference between the B75 and Z77 chipsets but for a non-K chip that isn't a big deal. The number of ports/slots/etc., seems fine on either one. Am I missing anything critical? Would there be a reason to spend the extra on the z77 for a non-K chip?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128540

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128554

 

[Zap]

As long as you understand and accept the limitations beyond overclocking, such as the single SATA 6G port of the B75 versus dual ports of the Z77, there really isn't anything "missing" beyond feature bullet points. The cheaper board would be fine for a non-overclocking single GPU system.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

There are two small differences. The B75 only has one SATA3 port. The Z77 allows limited (4 bins) overclocking so long as your CPU supports turboboost...

Other then that no differences...

 

[VirtualLarry]

That particular Z77 board has HDMI output, and that particular B75 board does not. I would pick the Z77 (out of those two choices) for that reason alone.

Edit: Sorry, didn't see that the OP was going with a discrete GPU. In that case, mobo outputs matter little, unless OP wants to go multi-mon.

 

[charlietee]

No free ram but a proven board that is highly acclaimed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157293

MicroCenter has a Smoking deal on the core i7 3770k

http://www.microcenter.com/product/388575/Core_i7_3770K_35GHz_LGA_1155_Processor

If you have the duckies a great foundation for a smoking fast platform that should last for a good while.

Be 355 bones without the memory.

 

[Vicaar]

Those are great parts, but I think you missed the 'modest' and 'lower-end' part of my post The Extreme models are simply more features than I need - no need for SLI/xfire, more than 1 sata iii port, or even the z77 chip if I go with a non-K. In fact, the only reason I haven't jumped on this deal yet is the hope of a K chip coming down to the non-K price (and assuming the non-K itself doesn't drop further).

Had it simply been the asrock pro3 z75 with the free ram, it wouldn't have even been a question!

 

[Vicaar]

I believe this thread has now become moot. Newegg just put the ASrock z77 extreme3 board on sale for $100 with free ram. While I said I don't 'need' the extra features that a z77 provides, I don't think this deal is going to be topped.