Thoughts on a socket 1155 system?

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Dannar26

Dannar26

Senior member
Mar 13, 2012
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My buddy is taking his first step into the hallowed halls of the PC master race....mostly because his xbox died. He doesn't have a lot of cash to go around, and myself and a few others are donating spare parts.

I'm not too sure what they're all giving him beyond the cpu and a video card. The cpu is an i5 3470. So, this means socket 1155. Looking around online, it seems that finding a decent mobo for this thing might be a challenge. It looks like everything on newegg is micro atx or mini itx. I'm not interested in a cutesy form factor or the upcharge it brings.

Any advice for a 1155 mobo this late in tye game?
 
dave_the_nerd

dave_the_nerd

Lifer
Feb 25, 2011
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3470 can't be overclocked, so it doesn't really matter what mobo you use.

The price premium for "cutesy" SFF is pretty much a myth, too.
 
monkeydelmagico

monkeydelmagico

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2011
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Dannar26 said:
It looks like everything on newegg is micro atx or mini itx. I'm not interested in a cutesy form factor or the upcharge it brings.

Any advice for a 1155 mobo this late in tye game?
Click to expand...

Upcharge? What upcharge? mATX is going to be the cheapest build by far. Can still get brand new mobo for $38.- shipped to your door.
 
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M

MrTeal

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2003
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monkeydelmagico said:
Upcharge? What upcharge? mATX is going to be the cheapest build by far. Can still get brand new mobo for $38.- shipped to your door.
Click to expand...

Someone's got to pay for all that extra fibreglass in a full ATX build.

One thing to keep in mind is that some of the cheaper LGA1155 boards don't have USB3. It's definitely worth the extra $10. Also, depending on whether your friends are scrounging around for 2GB (or god forbid 1GB) DDR3 sticks, you might want to look for one with four RAM slots.

Pretty much anything will work, but it's tough to beat that Z77 board for $50 shipped.
 
Dannar26

Dannar26

Senior member
Mar 13, 2012
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Mini Itx is more expensive...the same isn't true with microATX?

I understand the "more materials" aspect, but I thought it was more of a supply/demand thing.

Thanks for the suggestions so far!
 
LTC8K6

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
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Most microATX boards are not very small, really.

The board I linked to is 9.6" x 8.66".

microATX is backward compatible with ATX.
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
Dannar26 said:
Mini Itx is more expensive...the same isn't true with microATX?

I understand the "more materials" aspect, but I thought it was more of a supply/demand thing.

Thanks for the suggestions so far!
Click to expand...

MicroATX is generally your least expensive option because it costs less than ATX in terms of raw materials (not much more, but more) and is produced in greater numbers than ATX.
 
Sonikku

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
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wow. Wish someone would just "give" me an i5. :( Still kicking around a g630 myself. You're a good friend!
 
Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
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I picked up an ITX barebones (lacking a CPU) for $50 on eBay, and rebuilt my current rig around it. After selling the power supply and case, I basically got the motherboard for free, and it's a Z77 chipset too. ITX cases move pretty quickly in the classifieds here.
 
Dannar26

Dannar26

Senior member
Mar 13, 2012
754
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Seems to me that if you're not getting a 7 series chipset, you're missing out on several features. USB 3.0,more than one SATA 6 connector, SSD caching tech among others.

Even the cheap business class B 75s don't go for under 70 bucks new.

I'm not sure about how I feel about refurbished or used mobos. I'd sooner take a used processor or gpu...
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,327
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Dannar26 said:
. . .
I'm not sure about how I feel about refurbished or used mobos. I'd sooner take a used processor or gpu...
Click to expand...

It depends on who had them before your acquisition. I had ALWAYS avoided used and refurbished parts, until I needed a board that couldn't be found new in the box, and started looking at EBAY.

If you go that route, you really need to analyze the sales pitches carefully. Sometimes, an independent computer shop or even individual user will offer up an RMA replacement board -- never used. From some manufacturers, the replacement board is as likely to be new as it is "repaired."

Just as an example, some unknowing souls may RMA a board because they borked the BIOS chip, and in many cases, those chips are only socketed and easily replaced -- no less by a more experienced user. So the RMA may involve replacing the PLCC chip and a user who just decided to "move on to another board." There are all sorts of possibilities, and -- you have . . . to analyze . . . the sales-pitch -- perhaps even communicate in advance with the seller.

Then there are corporate refurbishers. IT departments of major companies may turn over a large number of PCs and parts. Those PCs or parts are less likely to have been abused. The "asset-handler" acquires them, tests them, refurbishes them, and offers them up for sale. AscendTech is one such outfit.
 
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