Please help me with 1155 H67 mobo options

[tadwick]

Please help me choose a motherboard for my new quiet system. I've listed my just-purchased components for this system below and the mobo specs I think I need in parentheses. My old system is about 5 years old and I can't see re-using any of the parts in my new build (except my HP 6L old faithful parallel printer).

To narrow the scope of recommendations I am going for H67 boards because that is the whole attraction (to me) of the Sandy Bridge platform. So I don't need expansion slots for discrete GPU(s) and I also don't need any OC capabilities. I don't think I need ATI/Crossfire support nor firewire ports. I do, however, need two DVI/D-Sub ports for my dual monitor setup. I think I will need 3 SATA-2 connectors for my SSD, HDD and DVD.

Maybe I am being premature but both Gigabyte and Asus have their specs listed and the sense I get is that both these manufacturers make decent boards.

Comparison of Gigabyte H67 Boards with D-Sub/DVI

ASUS H67 Boards (couldn't get a URL of the comparison chart)

New parts

RAM: G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL Ripjaws 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1333 (2 slots)
HDD0: OCZ Vertex 2 Sandforce 120GB 2.5in SATA2 SSD (SATA 2 slot)
HDD1: WD Green 1TB (64MB Cache) (SATA 2 slot)
HSF: Noctua NH-U12P (cpu fan header)
Monitors: 2 x Samsung E2220X 21.5in LCDs (1 D-SUB + 1 DVI)
Mouse: Logitech M510 (USB 2.0/1.1)
KB: Logitech K120 (USB 2.0/1.1)
Case: Antec Solo (ATX vs mATX ?)
PSU: Seasonic X-460FL (8pin vs 4pin ?)

To buy

MOBO: 1155 H67 (on board graphics, support above)
CPU: i5 2400 (possibly 2500 but not K,S or T models)
DVD: TBD (SATA 2 slot)
Expansion card for old parallel HP6L printer?

So, this is about as far as I can take the buying decision and I would appreciate your advice in narrowing down the options.

Thanks

MOD EDIT: We have a forum specifically for motherboards for a reason. - Zap

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Well, the 2400 and 2500 have HD 2000 graphics while the 2500K has HD 3000 graphics on-die so you'd be better off with that. Even if not overclocking, the 2500K is really the best option for any consumer right now because it's not much more $$ than the 2400/2500.

Which brings me to your cooler, it's overkill when not overclocking. Money would be better spent on a Hyper 212 Plus or Gemini II S which are ~$30.

 

[tadwick]

@Patrick Wolf

Good point about the HD 3000 vs HD 2000.

Yes the HSF (and PSU) may be overkill but I wanted quiet and these items get consistently good reviews for low noise.

What I'm really after though is mobo advice...

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Well seeing as sandy bridge runs very cool, any good HSF will suffice to keep it cool n' quiet. Heck you could easily go fanless using an HR-02 or the like. Though you already purchased the Noctua so nevermind I guess.

As for mobos, ASUS and Gigabyte are the most popular right now. I wouldn't really say one is better than the other. Unless you see specific reviews on the boards you're interested in it's really anyone's guess. Just pick a board that has the features you need and unique features that sound cool to you.

OTOH, I hate that rev. 1.0, 2.0 crap Gigabyte does. Not sure if ASUS does the same thing but it's annoying to have a rev. 1 board when there's a newer one. Also it doesn't appear as though Giga boards will have the UEFI bios even though they support it so a simple bios update down the line may enable it.

 

[Majic 7]

ASUS does the same thing with rev. Shouldn't come up for another few months, unless they screw something up. You get a different rev depending on where it's made, also.

 

[DesiPower]

where can you buy them processors? are they out yet? newegg aint have them yet

 

[Zap]

Sandy Bridge will be available to buy (in the USA) on 1/9.

 

[piasabird]

I dont see how they can sell a new motherboard and not have a HDMI output??

 

[Patrick Wolf]

I dont see how they can sell a new motherboard and not have a HDMI output??

Seeing as only the H67 support on-die graphics there isn't any point for the P67 boards to have video outs. 5/7 of the ASUS H67s have HDMI, while one only has DVI which is basically the same thing.

 

[mfenn]

Has it even been confirmed that you can run two monitors from the Sandy Bridge IGP?

 

[tadwick]

http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/chipsets/ec-h67/h67-overview.htm?wapkw=(h67)

it looks like it

 

[tadwick]

Final ordered parts:

Case: Antec Solo
PSU: Seasonic X-460FL
MOBO: Asus P8H67-M PRO
CPU: i5 2500K
RAM: G.SKILL 8GB 2X4GB
GPU: on board
HDD0: OCZ Vertex 2 Sandforce 120GB 2.5in SATA2 SSD
HDD1: WD Green 1TB (64MB Cache)
HSF: Noctua NH-U12P
Monitors: 2 x Samsung E2220X 21.5in LCDs
Mouse: Logitech M510 (wireless)
KB: Logitech K120 (corded)

Do you think I'll notice a difference from my Athlon 64 X2 4800+ w/2GB ?