Asus P8Z68-V PRO GEN3 or ASRock Z68 Extreme4 GEN 3

[Snowjim]

Hi,

Wich one of Asus P8Z68-V PRO GEN3 and ASRock Z68 Extreme4 GEN 3 should I choose, and why?

This is the diffrences as I see it :

Asus P8Z68-V PRO GEN3
Intel NIC
> No idea if this matters
Bluetooth
> No need
har 12+4 digital VRM
> No idea if this matters
DTS surround
> Nice
ASMedia USB 3.0 controller
2 year warrenty

ASRock Z68 Extreme4 GEN 3
har floppy drive connector
> will not be used
Has PLX chip
> No idea if this matters
Supports THX TruStudio
> Nice
Induvidual Power for the graphiccard
> No idea if this matters
Etron USB 3.0 controller
> Seems to have some problem but it could be fixed with drivers
1 year warrenty

Its about the same price.

 

[Mem]

Asus also has TPU switch,

ASUS TPU :
- Auto Tuning
- TurboV
- GPU Boost
- TPU switch

Excellent UEFI BIOS,CrashFree BIOS 3 as well,personally I had them both short listed but went with Asus Z68 V/Gen3 which is typing this post,great overclocker too and no issues,if you need the extra marvel ports then go with Pro version.

 

[Puppies04]

Asus

Source: I like asus

 

[Rvenger]

I have the P8Z68V/GEN3. At first I hated it. I put it up for sale and ordered an Asrock Extreme 3 Gen 3. Put that back together and it was defective. Got pissed and returned the Asrock and put the Asus back in. Played with the bios for about 3 hours and love it now.

 

[Remobz]

The Asus has a built in Intel NIC for LAN. That is another plus for it.

I read that the Asus P8Z68-V is just as good as the PRO version, but with little less features that are not used much to begin with for most users. Cheaper as well than the PRO version.

 

[Rvenger]

Not much cheaper, the only difference I see is 2 more sata ports. Anything else that comes to mind?

 

[cytoSiN]

Minor things to consider:

The Asus (both the -V pro and -V) lack a PS/2 port, so no full n-key rollover on those boards. You'll have to spring for the Deluxe if you want/need that. This is a non-issue for most, but in some games it's necessary and, frankly, it's completely insane that Asus left it off these boards. Moreover, if you shell out the extra cash for the Deluxe, you lose the video outs (HDMI, VGA, and DVI) on the backplate, which its a shame because they can be very useful if you have GPU issues. The ASRock Extreme4 has both PS/2 and backplate video outs.

SLK: You're right about the SATA ports, but the -V Pro also comes with the USB 3.0 bracket/cable, and the -V doesn't. I don't know if these additions are worth $25, but I think it's an easy enough question to answer: How many SATA devices does OP have/need to use, and does OP's case have USB3.0 headers (obviating the need for the bracket that comes with the -V Pro), and/or does OP even need USB3.0 anywhere outside of the backplate? In my opinion, it's $25 well spent just for the extra SATA ports if you choose the Asus.

 

[blackened23]

I recommend the asus. Because i've used them for years with no hiccups, I guess i'm an asus fanboy

 

[Mem]

Minor things to consider:

The Asus (both the -V pro and -V) lack a PS/2 port, so no full n-key rollover on those boards. You'll have to spring for the Deluxe if you want/need that. This is a non-issue for most, but in some games it's necessary and, frankly, it's completely insane that Asus left it off these boards. Moreover, if you shell out the extra cash for the Deluxe, you lose the video outs (HDMI, VGA, and DVI) on the backplate, which its a shame because they can be very useful if you have GPU issues. The ASRock Extreme4 has both PS/2 and backplate video outs.

SLK: You're right about the SATA ports, but the -V Pro also comes with the USB 3.0 bracket/cable, and the -V doesn't. I don't know if these additions are worth $25, but I think it's an easy enough question to answer: How many SATA devices does OP have/need to use, and does OP's case have USB3.0 headers (obviating the need for the bracket that comes with the -V Pro), and/or does OP even need USB3.0 anywhere outside of the backplate? In my opinion, it's $25 well spent just for the extra SATA ports if you choose the Asus.

Couple of points PS/2 is really old legacy nowadays,most things are USB so not really an issue,I don't use anything that is PS/2 and even if I did would upgrade to USB,as to USB 3.0 cable V Pro/Gen3 comes with well its a rear slot one so runs from the back to the USB 3.0 onboard which means cable halfway across the board,better of doing what I did with my non Pro V/Gen 3 board ie I got a USB 3.0 front mounted case bay(two port) that plugs into the motherboard onboard USB 3.0 which is right on the edge towards the front so ideal for neat cabling and only cost me like £6 (under $10)brand new inc delivery from ebay.

Remember Asus has the better USB 3.0 controller Asmedia which is a lot better then the Etron that the Asrock has.
Basically Asus has better USB 3.0,better Nic(Intel) better power phases,better UEFI BIOS,longer warranty so was not really hard for me to pick it over Asrock.


Btw this is the USB 3.0 I got(price has gone up) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-USB-3-0-Front-Panel-Drive-Bay-20Pins-2-USB-3-0-Super-speed-up-5Gbps-/180786132966?pt=AU_Components&hash=item2a17b177e6 (I do prefer front mounted over back of case type ,more practical).

 

[cytoSiN]

Couple of points PS/2 is really old legacy nowadays,most things are USB so not really an issue,I don't use anything that is PS/2 and even if I did would upgrade to USB.

This is all true. But USB only allows 6-key rollover, and PS/2 supports full rollover, which is important in a lot of video games (particularly MMOs), and also extremely useful for programmers that use a lot of keyboard shortcuts. Mechanical keyboards are making a comeback, and the ones worth purchasing have PS/2 plugs (they have USB as well, or come with converters, but just sayin').

Otherwise I agree with what others are saying re: Asus. It's a better product imho.

 

[Renegade_09]

I'm also deciding between these two motherboards.
There's a i5-2500k/Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 bundle right now on for $369.99CAD
There's also the Asrock Extreme 4 on sale for $149.99 after a $40 mail in rebate. Pretty big rebate but the Z77 boards are newer so really can't decide which one to get.

 

[Snowjim]

I decided on the Asus and im happy with it. It feels expensive

 

[Don Karnage]

Neither. Z77

Z68 is outdated and has been replaced

 

[Renegade_09]

Neither. Z77

Z68 is outdated and has been replaced

Then what do you recommend if none of this boards?

 

[Don Karnage]

Then what do you recommend if none of this boards?

Whats your price range?

 

[Rvenger]

Neither. Z77

Z68 is outdated and has been replaced

Not really.

If you can get a highend z68 for a steal, by all means, go for it! Z68 and Z77 differences are minimal.

 

[Renegade_09]

Whats your price range?

$150 to $180

Edit : just realize the OP was both Z68.
My post above was about Z68 vs Asrock Z77 board

 

[Don Karnage]

$150 to $180

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138354

I could recommend some cheaper ones if you like as well. Z77 Extreme 4 is also an option. The XE4 is what i run and its an amazing board for the money. I hope they make an XE5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157293

 

[Renegade_09]

The Asrock extreme 4 is a Z77 board. Forgot to mention that. It is $150Cad after a $40 MIR. Should I get that instead of the 2500ks/ asus z68 bundle for $370

 

[Don Karnage]

The Asrock extreme 4 is a Z77 board. Forgot to mention that. It is $150Cad after a $40 MIR. Should I get that instead of the 2500ks/ asus z68 bundle for $370

What sites are you looking at? Newegg.ca? Ivy Bridge launch's at midnight. No point even considering a 2500K

 

[Renegade_09]

http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=047869

Yeah I forgot about IB. Completely slip my mind.

 

[Don Karnage]

http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=047869

Yeah I forgot about IB. Completely slip my mind.

Just wait till tomorrow to see what kind of combo's everyone has.

 

[TheUSMale2]

I have both boards. The ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 is a fantastic board. I OCed upto 4.8 with n/p (of course I have a Corsair water cooler). Playing COD4 with all Graphics setting on full. OC Gskills memory to PC3-12800.The asus drives me crazy D:. It is such a pain to change my settings in the EUFI. ASRock Utility makes this a breeze! Believe me-get the ASRock-you'll be glad u did. ps My board also came from newegg D: screwed up, sent it back for a replacement. next one passed all stress test, passed ok. Had the same problem with my CPU Intel 2500k. it was bad from neweggD: also but sent it back and replacement passed all stress test as well. So it Took a month to get all the parts working well., but I'm so glad I stayed with it. ASRock-ROCKS!

 

[Z15CAM]

I had the same decision between the 2 boards. I like the Asus V12+4 VRM and more optioned UFI Bios but I really wanted PS/2, PLEX and Floppy interface.

I eventually got the ASUS on sale for $105 - The decision maker for me. I've yet to see the ASRock that low. Reviews tend to point out that the ASUS is of better quality and more stable at Higher Clocks.

Building: ASUS P8Z68-V Pro Gen3 / i7 2700k / 16GB Samsung MV-3V4G3D-US_DDR3 / Corsair H100i.

To me either MB they are both proven warriors compared to some of the flaky User Reports I've read with newer Z77 MB's. I suppose UpDated Bios's will tend to work out the Bugs of the Z77 MB's over time.