Motherboard Suggestions

[windchaser90]

I'm building a new computer and I need a good motherboard that'll keep my total price under $800, one that's under $150. I'm pretty set on everything else I've picked, just need a motherboard. If I could have a few different suggestions to decide on I'd really appreciate it.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gONA

 

[SolMiester]

Doesn't look like you are too worried about a gaming system, you have non k Ivy Bridge, so asrocks non k OC would give you a 4ghz CPU out of the box....I have the m-ATX version of the pro4. 4sata6 4sata3, 4 usb3....

 

[windchaser90]

Yea, it's not really a gaming computer. I just want to play mmo's occasionally with it, like Aion and Guild Wars 2. It's really for use with all the adobe programs. So it's kinda like a starter workstation/casual gaming computer lol.

 

[SolMiester]

If you use adobe, asrock also has software to create a RAM disk from extra RAM you have installed, it's quite cool for a performance booth with the non k ovclocking too!

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

My suggestions would be to ditch that memory and ditch that graphics card. None of them are worth buying at those prices. Some better alternatives:

Memory: Kingston HyperX 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600: $40
Graphics card: HIS iCooler Radeon HD 7770 GE: $120/$105 with MIR.

Corsair Vengeance is okay memory, but it's certainly nowhere near the best. In terms of reliability you can't beat Kingston, and despite the 1.65V rating the memory runs fine at 1.60V. For $40, it can't be beat.

As for the graphics card, the HD 7770 is significantly more powerful than the 550 Ti and consumes less power to boot. For just $5 more, you're getting a lot higher frame rates.

As for the motherboard, this depends on what features you want. Considering the fact that you won't get a high-end graphics card, I don't think CrossFire/SLI is too feasible an option. What I'd recommend if you want to get a ton of features at a low price is to get an ASRock Z75 Pro3. It's basically 99% the same as the Z77 Pro3 but with a lower price. It has great reviews, too.

 

[SolMiester]

Does the ti550 not help with some of the adobe products with CUDA support?

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Does the ti550 not help with some of the adobe products with CUDA support?

Yes, but now so do AMD GPUs thanks to OpenCL support in CS6.

 

[SolMiester]

Yeah, but that's just the new version....

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Yeah, but that's just the new version....

He did hint that he's only using Adobe's suite as a hobby, so it's not like it'd matter much anyway. Unless you're using the suite professionally it doesn't really matter because you're not investing enough time in it to be worth it to have CUDA.

 

[windchaser90]

Well, it's more that I'm a college student majoring in graphic design, so the programs are very much important and needed lol, and I don't have much money to build a 1k+ computer lol. This computer is a right now thing in which I'll upgrade in the future.

Playing the games is more the hobby LOL but I want it to be able to play my mmo's on medium to high settings but it being able to use the adobe programs well is more important. My budget's like $600-$800 altogether. What parts would you suggest to make a better build then?

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Well, it's more that I'm a college student majoring in graphic design, so the programs are very much important and needed lol, and I don't have much money to build a 1k+ computer lol. This computer is a right now thing in which I'll upgrade in the future.

Playing the games is more the hobby LOL but I want it to be able to play my mmo's on medium to high settings but it being able to use the adobe programs well is more important. My budget's like $600-$800 altogether. What parts would you suggest to make a better build then?

So do you have any of the software right now or will you be buying it now or in the future? If you're gonna be buying now you'll get CS6 which, again, supports OpenCL and therefore AMD would work just as well as NVIDIA. Since the HD 7770 is much faster and consumes less power yet is only $5 more expensive, I'd hugely recommend you go with that.

However, if you already have an Adobe suite older than CS6 then you should get the 550 Ti instead.

 

[windchaser90]

Is everything else that I picked decent? The cpu, case, power supply, ect? I have cs5 atm, not sure if I'll get cs6 but I'll think about it and decide on the card.

 

[windchaser90]

Can I have a few other motherboard options also, so I'll have a few to decide from? With a DVI port on it for my monitor.

Shoulda edited my previous post, didn't think about it til after the fact.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Is everything else that I picked decent? The cpu, case, power supply, ect? I have cs5 atm, not sure if I'll get cs6 but I'll think about it and decide on the card.

Those three things are fine. Just change the RAM. If you already have CS5 and don't need to upgrade, then by all means go with the GTX 550 Ti then.

Can I have a few other motherboard options also, so I'll have a few to decide from?

There's also the MSI Z68A-G43 for $90/$75 with MIR and the Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H for $90. Out of the three, again, I'd recommend the ASRock Z75 Pro3.

 

[windchaser90]

Thanks a lot

 

[SolMiester]

Can you get 16gb of RAM instead, the RAM disk of memory would be sweet for graphics work.....Especially since you aren't getting an SSD.