top microATX board?

[SeanFL]

I'm building a system for video & audio editing; we like the smaller uatx cases.

That said, we build last time with an asus p5b-vm and were pretty pleased. Is gigabyte just as solid as asus?

Does giga make a microatx for core i7 yet?

Thank you for guidance.


Sean

 

[NXIL]

Is gigabyte just as solid as asus?

In my opinion, yes. Lots of solid reviews for both brands. Both are top sellers.

Does giga make a microatx for core i7 yet?

Per Newegg, only DFI does:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136066

There is this Asus model:

http://www.hardwaresphere.com/...-x58-matx-motherboard/

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/...motherboard-to-lineup/

HTH

NX

 

[PCTC2]

Newegg has the Asus Rampage II GENE MicroATX X58 board that's pretty solid.

 

[NXIL]

Hmm, Newegg search did not pull the Rampage II up:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131371

Thx PCT--

 

[Zap]

As noted only DFI and Asus make Core i7 mATX boards (Newegg just FUBAR'd the listing so it doesn't appear as mATX). They are both pretty solid, AFAIK. PClark99 has owned both of them and had this to say about them:

Originally posted by: PClark99
Both boards are really nice.

Both boards have bios options up the wazoo for overclocking. Both boards overclock well.

Both boards allow just about any HSF to fit without issue.

The NB HSF on the Asus board is not sufficient for heavy overclocking.

I had no issues with the DFI boards, the Asus I had a minor software issue with Sandra working properly.

The Asus is about $20-30 more than the DFI and it is equivalent in my opinion in performance.

I would lean very slightly to the DFI board.

 

[PClark99]

Originally posted by: Zap
As noted only DFI and Asus make Core i7 mATX boards (Newegg just FUBAR'd the listing so it doesn't appear as mATX). They are both pretty solid, AFAIK. PClark99 has owned both of them and had this to say about them:

Originally posted by: PClark99
Both boards are really nice.

Both boards have bios options up the wazoo for overclocking. Both boards overclock well.

Both boards allow just about any HSF to fit without issue.

The NB HSF on the Asus board is not sufficient for heavy overclocking.

I had no issues with the DFI boards, the Asus I had a minor software issue with Sandra working properly.

The Asus is about $20-30 more than the DFI and it is equivalent in my opinion in performance.

I would lean very slightly to the DFI board.

OMG I am famous!!!!!!!

SeanFL,

If you are going to be building a system from scratch I would just go i7.

What kind of budget are you looking at and are you going to recycle any of your old parts.

 

[PClark99]

Of course now that I am on record endorsing the DFI board I have had one fail on me.

Blew a DIMM slot this weekend.

I will see how the RMA process goes. I have been through Asus RMA before and it was painless.

 

[Zap]

Thus you have had both brands fail on you.

MicroCenter is at $199 again and people are getting D0... oh the agony of resistance...

 

[PClark99]

Originally posted by: Zap
Thus you have had both brands fail on you.

MicroCenter is at $199 again and people are getting D0... oh the agony of resistance...

The only time I RMA's asus was because of a bad bios flash. Unfortunately.

I think I can take a trip to microcenter this afternoon.

small update.

Apparently it wasn't the mobo, it was my set of Kingston PC16000.

pulled the cmos battery and was able to revive the DFI board. Whew what a relief.

The Kingston seemed to be working fine when I put it in my asus board yesterday, but today it was exhibiting signs of flakiness and causing the asus board to wig out.

RMA time for that.

 

[ghost recon88]

There is also a cheap MSI X58 mATX board out. Not sure how good it is (no MSI X58 boards are really that good). However it is the cheapest of the 3 X58 mATX boards out.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ghost recon88
There is also a cheap MSI X58 mATX board out. Not sure how good it is (no MSI X58 boards are really that good). However it is the cheapest of the 3 X58 mATX boards out.

EVGA is also coming out with one, making four. Dunno exactly when... EVGA seems to love announcing products way ahead of time. BTW contrary to what their fanboy said at Fudzilla, it is their SECOND micro ATX SLI board, not their first.

 

[cbn]

EVGA is also coming out with a X58 based micro ATX board.

http://news.softpedia.com/news...herboards-112184.shtml

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Just learning
EVGA is also coming out with a X58 based micro ATX board.

Isn't that what I just wrote?

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Just learning
EVGA is also coming out with a X58 based micro ATX board.

Isn't that what I just wrote?

Sorry my fault. I didn't read the whole thread.