Recommend me a LGA1156 mobo w/ SATA 6.0 GBS

[davmat787]

I recently was given an HP desktop that contains an i7-880 and a crappy AMD 4670 video card. It also has an Intel 520 series SSD and 16GB of RAM.

I want to upgrade the video card and motherboard that can take advantage of the SSD's SATA III 6.0GBS controller.

Reading video card reviews and benchmarks, I think I have settled on a GeForce with either the GTX 660 or GTX 660 chipset. I know these chipsets support PCIe 3.0, while an LGA1156 motherboard will likely have a PCIe 2.1 slot. I assume the video card will be backwards compatible, but just how much, if any, performance is lost using a 2.1 slot?

So, any recommendations on an ATX motherboard, and where I could buy it? I don't mind refurbished if it is from a reputable retailer since this is an older socket.

I do realize I will need a new case as well, which along with the video card and motherboard seems like a small price to pay to finally get back into PC gaming relatively inexpensively and have a system that will last several years. :awe:

Thanks in advance for any input.

edit: I realize the SATA III 6.0GBS interface is not supported directly by any Intel chipset I know of on LGA1156 motherboards and that the controller would thus be a soldered on add in basically. Is this correct?

 

[Prey2big]

I would just go with the rig as it is.
PCIe 2.1 --> PCIe 3.0 is zero difference. And I doubt one would ever feel the loss of SATA 6Gb/s. Especially from what I hear about non-native SATA controllers.

 

[davmat787]

I would just go with the rig as it is.
PCIe 2.1 --> PCIe 3.0 is zero difference. And I doubt one would ever feel the loss of SATA 6Gb/s. Especially from what I hear about non-native SATA controllers.

Thanks, that sounds like sound advice. The only mobo I have found that fits what I am looking for is the MSI P55A Fuzion, and only one seller of it for $140.00. Was thinking I could find a cheap used one, but maybe not.

 

[Wall Street]

I recently had to replace an LGA 1156 motherboard due to the death of the old one. There are very few on the market, so they price is aren't at all a deal. I ended up with a Biostar TPower i55, mostly because there were so few options from newegg available.