Fastest POSTing 1155 Motherboard (Z77)

[althaz]

Hi guys, I am about to buy a new computer (for the first time in ages, I'm running a launch-model Conroe E6300 OCed to 3.29Ghz as my CPU, that's how long it's been since I started from scratch). I'm settled on components almost entirely except for one thing - I can't figure out which motherboard to get!

I have only a few criteria:
- Fastest possible POST time. <- MOST IMPORTANT THING
- Z77 chipset
- HDMI out
- Header for front USB 3.0 ports
- If all things are equal, I would pick an Asus board (because they support esports), however I know their Z68 mobos were horrible for POST time
- Would like to spend $150ish or less, but not that important

Most of these are obviously trivial to find out, however the most important one is IMPOSSIBLE to find out. It's almost all that I care about, in fact I'd give up almost all the other criteria if it meant having a POST time more like 2 seconds than 10 seconds.

I would be incredibly appreciative if anybody could help me out here, it is driving me insane how hard it is to find this info out. I found hundreds of people asking this same question in forums, but for some reason no reviews I can find cover this, to me, EXTREMELY important attribute of motherboards.

Also, before all the normal replies of "get an SSD to speed up boot times," guess what? I'm doing that, but motherboard choice can double boot time with a fast SSD and Windows 8. Ideally I want to boot from powered off to working in 10 seconds. If I can POST in 1-2 seconds, then this is doable. POSTing in 10 seconds obviously makes this NOT. I'm also not interested in making my computer sleep or whatever the hell, I want a fast boot. It's possible, but I don't want to have to buy 18 different motherboards to find out which one I need.

P.S. If anybody cares I'm going to get something like this:
Core i5-2500k/i5-3570k (depending on price and availability)
Fastest posting Z77 motherboard on the planet
HD7870
Intel 520 240Gb SSD
Silverstone FT02B (in black with front USB 3.0 ports)
8Gb Kingston RAM (because they sponsor Huk)
2-3TB HDD that is available at the time for a good price (currently have a Seagate pencilled in)
Toughpower 750w HDD that I already have
CPU cooler, probably Noctua NH-D14, but I need more research before committing

 

[shakedotazz]

Not a real big review as this is my first time building a computer... but I picked up an MSI Z77A-G45 and was booting up in about 20 seconds, from pushing the power button.

It's a starting point at least...

Unfortunately, I returned that and grabbed a different board with better hackintosh compatibility... My boot time sucks now compared to that.

 

[LagunaX]

I can't comment for z77 but Biostar has been a faster booter for me in the past AND you can get their top of the line z77 in your price range.

 

[cantholdanymore]

Not really an answer but wouldn't a board with very few features (ports, etc) and little memory will POST faster? If this is the case why do you need iGPU if using a 7870?

 

[LagunaX]

For a faster boot time you can disable unused ports and devices (Bluetooth, Marvel Raid, 1394, etc.) and sometimes the igpu in the bios.

The best price/performance chips are the 2500k and 3570k at Microcenter for $169 and $189 right now.

Since the OP is looking for boot speed I would recommend the 3570k since right off the bat with a decent cooler you can run 4.5ghz at 1.2v-1.25v with DDR3 2400.

With a SSD and the above the Windows 7 flag will never fully form.

 

[Avalon]

Sounds like he's looking for POST only speed, not overall boot speed. I agree that disabling unwanted ports will help speed up this process.

I'll be putting together my i5 3570K system Thurs, and will report the POST speed of my Asrock Z77 Extreme4.

 

[dma0991]

My MSI Z77A-GD65 has a screen that shows something related to PCIE 3.0 device that I do not have any plugged in. Maybe with a compatible PCIE 3.0 GPU it might eliminate that screen entirely or shorten the duration. After that comes the splash screen and from the splash screen onwards it didn't take any longer than a second.

 

[VirtualLarry]

POST speed is overrated. I am curious as to the application that this is required for. Why can't you just leave the computer running?

And what does this have to do with esports?

 

[althaz]

Thanks for the replies so far guys!

@cantholdanymore Features can be disabled, but in general a motherboards stock speeds will have more difference between them (in my experience) than just disabling features. Everything disabled on Z68 Asus mobos vs everything enabled on a Gigabyte board still favours Gigabyte, for example.

@LagunaX Thanks, I guess, but I've already picked out the majority of my components.

@Avalon Thanks a ton, I am especially interested in Asrock because their older boars POSTed quite quickly.

@VirtualLarry I need a fast boot-up time because I'm very impatient. I can't leave my computer powered up because it keeps my wife awake (she's pregnant and needs all the sleep she can right now). Re: esports, it just influences my choice of brands, companies that support pro-starcraft I will support if it doesn't impact me overly.

 

[Avalon]

Althaz, my Asrock Extreme4 can go from POST to loading windows in ~2 seconds. It's much faster than my old P35 Gigabyte DS3L, which took ~5-6.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Just get an ssd

 

[ShintaiDK]

Just get an ssd

^^ This

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Just get an ssd

Do you post just to post? :thumbsdown:

SSD's do not solve the problem of POST speed.

 

[JonBlack]

Current ASRock's (Z68 & Z77) have quick POST times. Gigabyte's Z77 POST times are very fast too.

 

[Batmeat]

Some of the replies here are vague. Post speed does not equal boot speed. Post speed has no relationship to what hard drive u have. That being said look at MSI or Asrock IMO. Also disable extra raid controllers if you don't use raid. That will speed up post speeds a lot.

 

[Kenmitch]

@VirtualLarry I need a fast boot-up time because I'm very impatient. I can't leave my computer powered up because it keeps my wife awake (she's pregnant and needs all the sleep she can right now). Re: esports, it just influences my choice of brands, companies that support pro-starcraft I will support if it doesn't impact me overly.

I kinda understand your response. Why not use sleep? My rig in sig will shut down completely when I choose. From sleep to windows login it's 2 seconds or so.

 

[Dkcode]

Hi guys, I am about to buy a new computer (for the first time in ages, I'm running a launch-model Conroe E6300 OCed to 3.29Ghz as my CPU, that's how long it's been since I started from scratch). I'm settled on components almost entirely except for one thing - I can't figure out which motherboard to get!

I have only a few criteria:
- Fastest possible POST time. <- MOST IMPORTANT THING
- Z77 chipset
- HDMI out
- Header for front USB 3.0 ports
- If all things are equal, I would pick an Asus board (because they support esports), however I know their Z68 mobos were horrible for POST time
- Would like to spend $150ish or less, but not that important

Most of these are obviously trivial to find out, however the most important one is IMPOSSIBLE to find out. It's almost all that I care about, in fact I'd give up almost all the other criteria if it meant having a POST time more like 2 seconds than 10 seconds.

I would be incredibly appreciative if anybody could help me out here, it is driving me insane how hard it is to find this info out. I found hundreds of people asking this same question in forums, but for some reason no reviews I can find cover this, to me, EXTREMELY important attribute of motherboards.

Also, before all the normal replies of "get an SSD to speed up boot times," guess what? I'm doing that, but motherboard choice can double boot time with a fast SSD and Windows 8. Ideally I want to boot from powered off to working in 10 seconds. If I can POST in 1-2 seconds, then this is doable. POSTing in 10 seconds obviously makes this NOT. I'm also not interested in making my computer sleep or whatever the hell, I want a fast boot. It's possible, but I don't want to have to buy 18 different motherboards to find out which one I need.

P.S. If anybody cares I'm going to get something like this:
Core i5-2500k/i5-3570k (depending on price and availability)
Fastest posting Z77 motherboard on the planet
HD7870
Intel 520 240Gb SSD
Silverstone FT02B (in black with front USB 3.0 ports)
8Gb Kingston RAM (because they sponsor Huk)
2-3TB HDD that is available at the time for a good price (currently have a Seagate pencilled in)
Toughpower 750w HDD that I already have
CPU cooler, probably Noctua NH-D14, but I need more research before committing

Honestly have a look on Youtube, they are videos of Z77 boards POSTing on there, so far I found the ASUS P8Z77 V Pro and the Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H.

Also I read in a Z77 round up that the Intel DZ77GA-70K is the fasting POSTing and has the best UEFI but I cant find that page for you sorry. Unfortunately its said the DZ77GA-70K is a PITA to overclock, so if your into running your gear at stock instead of clocking the shit out of everything its a solid board with some great onboard devices.

 

[Concillian]

I kinda understand your response. Why not use sleep? My rig in sig will shut down completely when I choose. From sleep to windows login it's 2 seconds or so.

I agree, I sleep my computer 2-3 times a day, only see a post a couple times a month when I need a windows update that needs a reboot.

 

[infoiltrator]

Chipset is a chipset.
Software enabled at boot dictates speed.
Asrock uses some "cheater" fast boot set up but I think it is a sleep shortcut.
SSDs, 60 or 128 GB should help your loading programs.
Overclock an I5 2500K to 4.4~4.6 or so.

Any one know if the extra threads on an I7 boot faster?

 

[Dkcode]

He is on about POST speed, not booting Windows.

The motherboard checking all essential hardware before loading the OS.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Do you post just to post? :thumbsdown:

SSD's do not solve the problem of POST speed.

why does post speed even matter?
in his op, hes impatient, so just get an SSD and call it a day

edit wants to get a fast posting mobo and and ssd? -_-
someone is very impatient.

 

[Diogenes2]

....but for some reason no reviews I can find cover this, to me, EXTREMELY important attribute of motherboards.

Reviews don't cover it because it's not a feature hardly anyone cares about..

I's probably a first on this forum..

Bottom line: Motherboards with fewest features enabled will POST the fastest.

Good luck with any great number of Z77 owners disabling everything on their board to get an answer for you ...

I doubt there will be a measurable difference between most ..

 

[LagunaX]

No, my 4.8ghz 2600k boots a little slower than my 4.8ghz 2500k.

 

[Boulard83]

The main thing to improve Post is to disable post prompt of each posting parts, then you can also disable parts that you dont use like USB3 or any other Sata controller if you dont have anything plugged into it.

My p8x77m-pro post very quickly but i use sleep for my 24/7. Wake up from sleep is 2 to 3 sec with an SSD, and after no more than 4 or 5 second your live on the internet.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

why does post speed even matter?
in his op, hes impatient, so just get an SSD and call it a day

edit wants to get a fast posting mobo and and ssd? -_-
someone is very impatient.

lol of course POST speed matters when it might take a good 30 seconds to shuffle through all the various boot menus for the various storage controllers etc

my laptop with a 128GB M4 destroys my desktop PC with dual 256GB Samsung 830s in RAID0 in terms of cold boot to desktop

it can suck if my PC crashes while gaming during a competitive match and I would definitely much prefer a faster boot. Granted my PC is stable enough to the point where that has never happened so far with my new X79 rig, so its not as much of a concern to me as it used to be, but still, it would be nice if my desktop could boot as fast as my laptop.