Motherboard for intel i5 2400 multimedia please? thanks

[buramuski]

Hi guys:

I am buying a computer with intel i5 2400 CPU. I am wondering which motherboard would you recommend? and also which brand is better? ASUS or GIGAbyte? and which chipset would you go for?

It's mainly for multimedia use -
1. audio editing (making music album using m-box and pro-tool 8)
2. photoshops
3. trasfer video files to mpeg etc from my hd video camera
4. video editing my recordings on my hd video camera
5. watching movies online
6. using it as a "server" in the househould where the other 4 computers in the house can communicate to and share files etc.
7. other usual use - home office, internet etc
8. I play games on ps3 not on computer

p.s i would like to have hdmi and dvi; optical/good audio output?
and could you also help explain is it worth buying usb3 now?
my budget is around $100 - $200 but anything is ok as long as it's suitable for my needs.

Thanks heaps for your help!!!

 

[wintermint]

You can just get a H61/H67 and the reliable brands are asus msi gigabyte and asrock should be fine too. Don't go for biostar unless you're really strapped for cash

 

[jaquith]

Welcome to Tom's Forum!

The $140 ASUS P8Z68-V LE -> would be my top pick and covers all of your requirements including the Z68 chipset for MPEG-2/4 encoding.

Others side-by-side -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%20600093976%20600158412&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-157-251^13-157-251-TS%2C13-131-773^13-131-773-TS%2C13-128-498^13-128-498-TS%2C13-131-729^13-131-729-TS

As far as USB 3.0 about the only 'plus' IMO is the use of ultra-fast Flash Drives, and to a lesser degree external HDD, but 'I' prefer eSATA e.g. GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 if that's the case.

 

[buramuski]

Welcome to Tom's Forum!

The $140 ASUS P8Z68-V LE -> would be my top pick and covers all of your requirements including the Z68 chipset for MPEG-2/4 encoding.

quotemsg]

Thanks a lot for your help!! just wondering, what advantages does it give me compared to H67? and the difference between that and P8Z68 V pro? and is z68MX-UD2H B3 of gigabyte equivalent to the ASUS one? also I had a look at the catalog and am a bit confused as to what the M or A or UD2H after the H67orZ68 means... like Z68MX-UD2H-B3, Z68X UD3 B3 or h67MA UD2HB3 v.s H67MA UD2HB4 or H67MA UD3H B3 and they differ a lot in price!! or what advantages and disadvantages do they provide in terms of meeting my needs? thank you and sorry if they sound like dumb questions coz i am a newb :-( thanks!

 

[jaquith]

I realize you have a non-K SB. Few exceptions, most H67 MOBO's are mATX, have a more limited expansion, limited to slower DDR3 1333/1066, H67 2 DIMM slots vs Z68 4 DIMM slots, no SSD Caching, -2 step Turbo Boost, lower number of Phases {longevity and cooler running CPU} -- and in essence are 'cheap'. The H67 is perfect for HTPC. The Ivy Bridge CPU will work on Z68 and I've seen it both ways on H67.

The ASUS P8Z68-V PRO is fine -- it's also $210. The $150 GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 is a mATX.

 

[buramuski]

Thanks a lot! so for use of photoshop w SLR camera, transcoding and editing of videos from HD video, transcoding video clips, audio editing etc - are they all by definition part of HTPC? coz that's basically all that i'll be doing.. coz ASUS p8z68 V LE sounds perfect to me but it's not available in my region... :-(.. thanks heaps

 

[jaquith]

An HTPC to me is a glorified DVD player, basic PC, and the i5-2400 is a little overkill for the H67. Keep in mind even the basic Intel Pentium G6XX is fast.

Are any of the others listed in my side-by-side available in your area?

 

[buramuski]

so it's possible that the h67 will be puffy running the stuff I want to do then?

The GIGA Z68X UD3H B3 seems available in my region... i notice it's more expensive ($210 in my region .... :-( !!) does it give more than the ASUS one? and it should be plenty for all my needs right? or do i still need an extra graphic card?

Thanks.

 

[jaquith]

Where do you shop? Post a link and you currency.

 

[buramuski]

I am in Australia but am buying computer from Taiwan coz they build the computer for you and my parent is coming back to Aussie from there. (i am a newb and don't actually know how to build it up myself...), so i just ring and ask if they have the stuff i need. currency Aus to US about 1:1 US to Taiwan about 1:30 thanks

 

[buramuski]

Gigabyte Z68 MX - UD2H B3 $5200 ~$173
ASUs P8Z68 V $6490 ~$216
ASUS P8Z68 V PRO $7990 ~$266

P8H67 M Pro $160
P8H67 M Evo$186
H67 MA UD2H B3 $150
H67 M UD2HB3 $120
H67 A UD3H B3 $160

Thanks

 

[jaquith]

I'd either get the GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 or splurge for the ASUS P8Z68-V it's an outstanding MOBO with eSATA for an external HDD. It'll have room to grow.