MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming or MSI Z87-G45 Gaming - update: bought the gd65!

[TylerS]

Update: Thanks folks. The input was helpful. I wasn't aware that the gd65 had better power management and that was the deciding factor. I bought it!

I'm pulling the trigger today but I'm having a heck of a time figure out which motherboard to buy. I have decided on MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming or MSI Z87-G45 with a i5-4670K.

The price difference is $28.25 (all-in with shipping, tax, etc.). Is it worth the extras?

Both are in my budget. I will overclock, but may not push too hard until later. I have an 8GB set of G.skill RipjawsX 1866 RAM. The rest remains per my sig.

 

[dma0991]

The MSI Z87-G45 Gaming looks decent. You don't have to get the MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming just to overclock. As to whether its worth the extras, only you know the answer as everybody's needs are different. I may need 8 SATA ports but that may not apply to you.

OTOH, I dislike and like the implementation of the Killer NIC. I dislike it as I do prefer Intel's NIC but it doesn't work with MSI's Network Genie as its supposed to. With the Killer NIC, you should have better software for it and shouldn't be too difficult to do bandwidth shaping.

Hopefully they've improved the audio, the ALC898 on my board sounds weak. It barely drives my headphones, doesn't sound good either.

 

[qliveur]

If the difference is only $28, I'd get the GD65 for the extra SATA ports and CPU power phases.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

If the difference is only $28, I'd get the GD65 for the extra SATA ports and CPU power phases.

+1 Cheap upgrade from C -> D