I originally posted this in the general hardware section but didn't get a response so trying it here since it is a motherboard question. I am building an i5 based system for gaming and video/photo editing and am unsure about which motherboard to go with.
The question that I have with regards to the motherboard is whether to get the MSI GD65 or to go with a USB 3.0 solution. The choices there are the Gigabyte P55A-UD4P or the ASUS P7P55D-E Pro.
With the Gigabyte P55A UD4P if there are two video cards installed, which I was considering at a later point in time, the USB 3.0 and SATA III drop down to normal speeds negating its advantage.
On the MSI it is $40 cheaper after rebate and I can get a PCIe x4 add on card for that board with USB 3.0 and SATA III when I actually have some hardware that can use it and I can still use the video slot at 16x or 8x/8x in CF. Or am I looking at that the wrong way? The gigabyte board only has PCIe X1 slots. I know that if I use a PCIe x4 card on the MSI board all of the PCIex1 slots will be disabled.
Another option is the Asus P7P55D-E Pro for $190 which includes SATA III and USB 3.0 and allows the board to have two video cards at 8x/8x with the USB 3.0 still working, it is a better solution that the gigabyte but there are so few reviews out for it since it is new and I don't know if they are using the lotes or foxconn sockets. The issue there is it is a new board and I could only find one review for it online and no reviews at newegg.
The question that I have with regards to the motherboard is whether to get the MSI GD65 or to go with a USB 3.0 solution. The choices there are the Gigabyte P55A-UD4P or the ASUS P7P55D-E Pro.
With the Gigabyte P55A UD4P if there are two video cards installed, which I was considering at a later point in time, the USB 3.0 and SATA III drop down to normal speeds negating its advantage.
On the MSI it is $40 cheaper after rebate and I can get a PCIe x4 add on card for that board with USB 3.0 and SATA III when I actually have some hardware that can use it and I can still use the video slot at 16x or 8x/8x in CF. Or am I looking at that the wrong way? The gigabyte board only has PCIe X1 slots. I know that if I use a PCIe x4 card on the MSI board all of the PCIex1 slots will be disabled.
Another option is the Asus P7P55D-E Pro for $190 which includes SATA III and USB 3.0 and allows the board to have two video cards at 8x/8x with the USB 3.0 still working, it is a better solution that the gigabyte but there are so few reviews out for it since it is new and I don't know if they are using the lotes or foxconn sockets. The issue there is it is a new board and I could only find one review for it online and no reviews at newegg.
