Best Microcenter Mobo for 2500k

[rbk123]

I am contemplating the jump to SB and have access to a Microcenter. If I go with their $40 off combo of buying a 2500k + Mobo, which Mobo should I get? Note, I intend to OC extensively. This will be for a media center where I need more power for transcoding and video converting (it won't be for gaming, if that helps).

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

What are your options?

 

[rbk123]

Here are my options, per the site:

http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...67+4294963446&

 

[VirtualLarry]

Is MC still doing the $40 off combo SB + mobo purchase deal? I thought that they took down that web page advertising it?

Edit: Oh, I see. They have a new deal up now.

http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/julysave40_eNews.html

It is limited to bundles with the 2500K or 2600K, no i3-2100 cheapo deals. Bummer.

 

[Kenmitch]

Here are my options, per the site:

http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...67+4294963446&

Which store is closest to you? The link defaults to whatever store I last set in the drop down box for some reason.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I would narrow it down to a Z68 motherboard. For one reason, just so you have the option to turn that rig into a sweet HTPC later on down the road.

 

[IndianScout]

I went with the MSI P67A-G43 (B3)

which is SLI/Xfire ready, other than that it's the same as the C43 board (single PCIE) slot.

 

[Athadeus]

I vote Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3

I don't even know when this came out (almost certain it wasn't available a month ago), but why the heck couldn't they have made it sooner? I refused to buy any of the ugly black/blue/white GB boards, and all their black ones were $180+ on sale (never any good sales that I could find). I got a Biostar TP67B+ instead, which actually has been quite good so far and still the cheapest.

 

[IndianScout]

Z68, boards with the best of both worlds, will not only use the built in gpu on the sandy but sli/xfire also..

I love the MSI board, performs well, and I don't have to look at it once I put my side on with the smoked plexiglass..

 

[rbk123]

Which store is closest to you? The link defaults to whatever store I last set in the drop down box for some reason.

The St. Louis store is the one closest to me.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Careful which board you buy. Some of the Z68 board were made to still require a discrete GPU :thumbsdown:

 

[Athadeus]

Z68, boards with the best of both worlds, will not only use the built in gpu on the sandy but sli/xfire also..

I love the MSI board, performs well, and I don't have to look at it once I put my side on with the smoked plexiglass..

The MSIs look pretty good actually, a lot better than the cheap GB ones.

Careful which board you buy. Some of the Z68 board were made to still require a discrete GPU :thumbsdown:

Ah yeah, I heard that is true especially for a lot of the GB boards.
edit: Doesn't appear to be the case for the one I picked.

The St. Louis store is the one closest to me.

Ha, as well for me. It's too far from Stillwater for me to bother going unless I have something else to do in the area though.

 

[rbk123]

No love for the Asus P67-Pro R3?

 

[Kenmitch]

The St. Louis store is the one closest to me.

Looks like stock at your store is currently limiting your choices pretty good at this time

Might be better to wait for a restock in your store but not sure when the $40 combo will expire.

That said based on current stock at your store:

The Asus P8Z68-V LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard looks interesting to me. You'll be able to use the onboard video of the 2500K and should have all the overclocking power you'll need.

 

[rbk123]

I do have a low end video card already - a PowerColor AX5450 Radeon HD 5450 that I can use unless you think the onboard video will be superior to that.

 

[IndianScout]

GB boards still use the old style bios also, no GUI..

the MSI one is kewl as hell

http://www.eteknix.com/attachments/4726d1307915681-sam_0589-copy-copy-jpg/

 

[Bman123]

I wish they we ould do this combo with the 2100 cpu

 

[Kenmitch]

I do have a low end video card already - a PowerColor AX5450 Radeon HD 5450 that I can use unless you think the onboard video will be superior to that.

It's just a matter of how much you wanna spend and if you think you'd have any need for the features only available on the Z68 chipset currently or in the near future.

You could always go for a P67 chipset so you can still overclock the 2500K but your choices are kinda currently limited by stock. Maybe one of the MSI MB's or the lower end Asus MB's would work fine for you.

 

[Arkaign]

I do have a low end video card already - a PowerColor AX5450 Radeon HD 5450 that I can use unless you think the onboard video will be superior to that.

3d gaming wise, neither is fast enough for anything modern really. I prefer even low-end discrete cards to integrated though, as I find it irritating to have memory siphoned away from my os/apps to serve as video memory.

I've heard there are also some minor issues with the Intel HD gpus and video playback (no 23.97fps film mode, slight degradation during some hd playback compared to better gpus, etc).

I'd stick with the HD5450 for now, and perhaps look at something like a 6670 down the line, even if you're not a big gamer it would still be nice to have something fast enough for BluRay 3d, moderate gaming, decent GPU acceleration/etc.

 

[sticks435]

I'd say go with the MSI GD65. More display connector options than the XP-UD4. Less USB 2.0 ports, but come'on really, who needs 7 external usb 2.0 ports on the back? Also, I believe any of the Gigabyte boards with X or XP now support "TouchBios", so they finally did go with a graphical UEFI bios, though the touch part is kind of a gimmick. MSI doesn't have any eSATA ports if that matters.

 

[rbk123]

Doh. That MSI Z68 board is pretty toady. It's going to be a decision between it and the Gigabyte mentioned above (which is $35 less but I roll the dice waiting for it to come back in stock). Thanks for all the recommendations.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

First, I think you can find marginally better prices on those boards elsewhere, but if it's a matter of convenience, go for it . . . .

Second, I've been quite active on the forums of late, a little hyper-active about my own Z68/i7-2600K build.

So there's a bias. I enjoy admitting my biases, so I can at least say that I'm aware-of-'em.

You can see how cool and calm I am . . .

GOLLY GEE WHIZ I'M AFRAID I'LL SAY SOMETHING UNTOWARDS BECAUSE THIS MOTHERBOARD ABSOLUTELY FREAKS ME OUT!

I FIND IT STUNNING. .. . There's GOT to be some hitch somewhere, some mistake ASUS made with these P8Z68 models. But so far, I'm overwhelmed.

Elsewhere I mentioned the tangible differences between the "V," the "V-Pro" and the "Deluxe." You can spend your money on the extras, or pinch those pennies. But it's essentially the same board "across the board." You may lose a couple SATA plugs with the "V", but that's about it.

I'm almost afraid to say it. Anything could prove disappointing months later . . . . But this has got to be about the best mobo I've ever had!! [And I got the V-Pro . . . ] Check out the reviews, mindful that there are various implicit payola influences in these promotions . . . but GEEE WHIZ!! This almost seems to be MORE than the reviews depict it . . . .

 

[ensign_lee]

No love for the Asus P67-Pro R3?

SOOO...MANY...BUGS... UGHH (#*&^*#^#^

><

When you have to send back not 1, but TWO motherboards for entirely seperate problems, all of which make the computer unstable / unusable, you have problems.

STAY AWAY FROM ASUS P8P67s!

Although I must say whoever designed them definitely did the aesthetics correctly. It is *such* an attractive board. If only it would work correctly...

And I hear that ASUS did a much better job with the Z68's. I'm starting to wonder if ASUS is just hoping the P67 problems will go away and is simply concentrating on their Z68 line instead.