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Considering Motherboard Upgrade

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  • RAM
  • Graphics Cards
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Motherboards
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September 23, 2014 8:46:19 AM

I'm toying with a motherboard upgrade for an Ivy Bridge based rig I built a year ago. System Specs are as follows:

CPU: Core i5-3570k (stock cooler)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
Video Card: Radeon HD6770 (I plan on purchasing a GTX 960 to replace this when it comes out)
PSU: Seasonic X660 Fully Modular PSU
RAM: 8 GB Kingston HyperX Genesis 1600 Mhz (2 x 4 GB)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha


Current motherboard is an MSI Z77A-G41. http://ca.msi.com/product/mb/Z77AG41.html
I've found its a solid little board and I'd be fine with the motherboard, however the ASRock Z77 Extreme 3 has gone on sale at Canada Computers for 114.99.

This would give me a better quality board with the potential to Crossfire/SLI and more fan support. I'd also be adding a SSD and a CLC to the upgrade as well.

Would it be worthwhile to upgrade to the Extreme3?

More about : motherboard upgrade

a b U Graphics card
a b V Motherboard
September 23, 2014 8:51:17 AM

Save your mone for the new mobo and get just one GTX 970 4GB !

GTX 970 is 6x faster than HD 6770 . Your CPU is robust enough !
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September 23, 2014 8:52:19 AM

Finally, A canadian! anyways Extreme 3 is worth only if you planing on SLI/Crossfire.
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September 23, 2014 8:53:26 AM

rockie_ said:
Save your mone for the new mobo and get just one GTX 970 4GB !


Agree a gtx 970 beats the 780
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a b U Graphics card
a b V Motherboard
September 23, 2014 8:54:05 AM

No I wouldn't say it is since you seem to be going for another single gpu upgrade not sli/xfire. If you need more fan support PWM fan splitters are like $3 or you could go with a fancy fan controller for $40. I think you would be best off not buying a new board and putting the money into your gpu, maybe getting a 970 instead of 960. This way you will get a better card and also won't have to wait however long for the 960
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a b U Graphics card
a b V Motherboard
September 23, 2014 9:06:17 AM

You will also need to add in a new OS as the one you have now if its windows 7 is tied to the motherboard. Unless you do some real sweet talking to whoever you get on the phone with Microsoft you wont be able to use the key you have now on the new board.

you are also spending money on a lateral move Z77 to a Z77 board. I would save your money and get a 970 and by the time you need a new video card it will be time to upgrade the whole system.
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