Who makes the best Z77 board for around $200?

[vailr]

i'd still go with the cheaper yet fully functional UD3H.

With the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H, you'd only get a single Atheros NIC. Might be adequate for some users, however.
With the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H, you also get a "bonus" front 2x USB 3.0 port bracket.

 

[Meghan54]

So what advantages (if any) do you think the Sabretooth will have over the Gene V with its larger form factor?

More space and more slots....about all.

As for can you SLI/Crossfire on a Gene? Sure you can. It'll fit two 2-slot video cards just like any other motherboard with the PCIex16 slots spaced two slots apart......meaning with a slot between the x16 slots.

With watercooling an SLI/Crossfire setup on the Gene, the space would become a complete non-issue as typical water blocks for video cards are thinner than the OEM air cooling solution already present, and the air cooling solutions fit the Gene.

I do know two 7970's fit a Z77 Gene from personal experience. Was toying around with XFire a few weeks ago. Moved back to a single card but two fit perfectly, and I wasn't watercooling them. Watercooling...they'd fit with room to spare. Of course, you do lose access to the lone PCIex1 slot, but you do sacrifice to play with mATX boards.

My current setup is inside a PCLabs QMicra V2 case, so a full sized ATX board wasn't in the cards as the case only fits mATX boards. But I don't regret purchasing the Z77 Gene at all......rather like it a lot, actually. Simple OC'ing my 2600k to 4.6GHz without a sweat or work.

 

[cmdrdredd]

More space and more slots....about all.

As for can you SLI/Crossfire on a Gene? Sure you can. It'll fit two 2-slot video cards just like any other motherboard with the PCIex16 slots spaced two slots apart......meaning with a slot between the x16 slots.

With watercooling an SLI/Crossfire setup on the Gene, the space would become a complete non-issue as typical water blocks for video cards are thinner than the OEM air cooling solution already present, and the air cooling solutions fit the Gene.

I do know two 7970's fit a Z77 Gene from personal experience. Was toying around with XFire a few weeks ago. Moved back to a single card but two fit perfectly, and I wasn't watercooling them. Watercooling...they'd fit with room to spare. Of course, you do lose access to the lone PCIex1 slot, but you do sacrifice to play with mATX boards.

My current setup is inside a PCLabs QMicra V2 case, so a full sized ATX board wasn't in the cards as the case only fits mATX boards. But I don't regret purchasing the Z77 Gene at all......rather like it a lot, actually. Simple OC'ing my 2600k to 4.6GHz without a sweat or work.

Yep. I have the M5G myself and it's a great board. mATX shouldn't scare anyone, this thing is built better than most full ATX boards. I will say though that a standard ATX motherboard might have 1 extra fan header. My Abit IP-35Pro had one extra that my M5G did not. No issue though as it still has plenty.

 

[Mars999]

UD3H is the answer

Ditto!

 

[cisco kidd]

Asus P8Z77-V Pro or the Maximus V Gene matx I will be watercooling using a 2700 and 6990

Same price which one should I pull the trigger on. Was considering the AsRock Fatal1ty Professional-M or Extreme 4 which would save me the most but the Fatal1ty Professional does not seem to excell where I would like it to and uses more power. The Extreme 4 seems great balance and price. What about these 2 Asus and I am coming from AMD CHIV to this new build