Best motherboard for overclocking and gaming?

[zachcuden]

Hi there! I am very lost as to which motherboard to get. I am thinking z68 to be safe. 3 out of the 4 of the below links are. But I am not sure which to go with. My budget is about 170 for motherboard. My parts are msi twin frozr gtx 570. i5-2500k. Some normal HDD. Not SSD. Unfortunately I can't afford one though I would like to have one. NZXT Phantom case. I'm always worried about the lack of ratings or having 4 instead of 5 eggs. I dont know what to go with. Please help. Between my first and second choice down below, the second choice seems to have more features and definitely more rating but I'm not sure if it's better. Can you decide between those two or a seperate one please?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279 (probably my last choice)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130622 (1st choice)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512 (Second choice)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

 

[rolli59]

I would go with this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

 

[inzone]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131759

I have used Asus boards a lot and the one thing about them is the overclocking and features , thier boards are always loaded and I find it very easy to overclock. The feedback thing is something you really have to take with a grain of salt so to speak , I have seen people give only one egg because they didn't get thier rebate or the ups guy was late so you really have to read through and see what is being said and what they are actually saying about the item. I have bought items with feedbacks of 45% and been completely happy. You basicly have to eliminate the doa's and complaints about minor things and focus on the function of the item. I usually add the 4 and 5 stars together and see what that percentage is , and you would be surprised what it comes out to.

 

[leonalex12]

I would go with this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

I'm gonna be using a 2500k and I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

Any advantages to P67 over Z68? I don't plan to use the graphics on the 2500k.

 

[casualbuilder]

You should do either the Gigabyte, or my favorite in that list, the Asrock GEN 3. They are the best boards. STAY AWAY FROM MSI! They have had a terrible last couple years with issues with their motherboards, and my roommate just rma'd one recently.

P67 is all you need.

 

[zachcuden]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131759

I have used Asus boards a lot and the one thing about them is the overclocking and features , thier boards are always loaded and I find it very easy to overclock. The feedback thing is something you really have to take with a grain of salt so to speak , I have seen people give only one egg because they didn't get thier rebate or the ups guy was late so you really have to read through and see what is being said and what they are actually saying about the item. I have bought items with feedbacks of 45% and been completely happy. You basicly have to eliminate the doa's and complaints about minor things and focus on the function of the item. I usually add the 4 and 5 stars together and see what that percentage is , and you would be surprised what it comes out to.

Ok this one looks great but I have two questions. What is micro atx and what are the pros and cons compared to asrock extreme4 gen3. The 155 one

 

[casualbuilder]

a Micro ATX will have issues housing multiple gpu's in the pci-e slots. This board, however, does a fantastic job in spacing out the features it is equipped with. This is a smaller board, so that airflow is greater, and the case size can be smaller if you need. I personally never suggest a microATX board for a gaming rig, but this would be the one i would say is ok. Its built and spaced correctly for a good setup!

 

[rolli59]

I'm gonna be using a 2500k and I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265

Any advantages to P67 over Z68? I don't plan to use the graphics on the 2500k.

No advantage but the Z68 has additional features you might not need like SSD caching and quick sync for video editing with the onboard if you are using it.

 

[zachcuden]

a Micro ATX will have issues housing multiple gpu's in the pci-e slots. This board, however, does a fantastic job in spacing out the features it is equipped with. This is a smaller board, so that airflow is greater, and the case size can be smaller if you need. I personally never suggest a microATX board for a gaming rig, but this would be the one i would say is ok. Its built and spaced correctly for a good setup!

Haha sorry do you mean this board as in the asus or the asrock extreme 4?

 

[casualbuilder]

The ASUS is acceptable, i would go with the regular ATX Asrock if you were to go with that. Personally, i like that one better anyways, and they are a sister company of ASUS. Very high quality. I like them.

 

[zachcuden]

The ASUS is acceptable, i would go with the regular ATX Asrock if you were to go with that. Personally, i like that one better anyways, and they are a sister company of ASUS. Very high quality. I like them.

Oh I see. Whats the difference between them? And which is better/easier/safer to oc?

 

[jaquith]

None of them listed, my pick for Gaming ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131771

See 2nd spreadsheet -> http://www.overclock.net/intel-motherboards/916189-official-intel-p67-z68-motherboard-comparison.html

My pick for Video editing {same MOBOs different PCIe switch; will do zip unless eBay/File-13 CPU AND GPU(s)}
ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790
ASUS P8Z68-V PRO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131730

Using the (K) Sandy Bridge and OC'ing is all about the luck of the CPU, 12+ Phases to both yield the lowest stable vCore.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

If ya think ya need Z68 (personally i don't think it makes you any more "safe"), then I'd get a GEN 3 board

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006654&isNodeId=1&Description=asus+GEN3&x=0&y=0

My fav P67 board is the WS Revolution .... KO'd the competition in performance, power efficiency and temperature.

 

[jaquith]

If Price is no object then the Gigabyte UD7 series (up to 3-WAY), and I too like the ASUS P67 WS (up to 3-WAY + PhysX). However, the OP's highest priced MOBO is ~$155.

I also like the EVGA 'FTW' Series - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%2050001402%20600093976&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&SrchInDesc=FTW&Page=1&PageSize=20

 

[zachcuden]

Ok so I guess between these two? The first one seems more updated and has more features but is micro atx. Yet at the same time it can sli and seems to have no downsides in being micro. The second one is the p67. Uhh I think that was recommended too. They are both virtually the same price. I'm leaning towards the first one because of the updatedness and how there's a video on it and the review for 3dguru or whatever was really good. But I don't know. What are your guysses opinions?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131759&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1gjbbfc32mv60

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131771

Oh here's a ws revolution. But it's open box. Is that too big of a gamble? Like a chance of it not working. Plus me being a nub and if it doesn't have all the parts i'll be confused. I'd rather stay away from the below unless it's super recommended.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131714R

Edit: The top one is probably too small to SLI with especially with my heatsink so the second one is my choice. I'm ordering within a week so yeah. Is it confirmed the second one is great for me?

 

[jaquith]

Open box - 9/10 missing stuff: 1. I/O Shield ($15~$20) {if you can find one}, 2. SATA Cables ($10).

Personally, I'm not a mATX (uATX) fanboy, but other's love/need the smaller sized MOBOs...

 

[zachcuden]

Open box - 9/10 missing stuff: 1. I/O Shield ($15~$20) {if you can find one}, 2. SATA Cables ($10).

Personally, I'm not a mATX (uATX) fanboy, but other's love/need the smaller sized MOBOs...

Oh hmm well that missing stuff would add up to a bit too much for me. so do you think the second link ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1) that thing would be the best choice? And is there an easy oc guide?

 

[jaquith]

Yep, get the ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1)

MOBO...... CPU....GHz vCore
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.1 1.30
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.0 1.344
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.0 1.32
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.0 1.34
P8P67 Pro 2600k 4.8 1.47
Averages 4.98GHz 1.35v

P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.33
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.30
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.32
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.248
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.5 1.49
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.5 1.50
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.5 1.495
Averages 4.67GHz 1.38v

Overall Average 4.8GHz 1.37v

 

[zachcuden]

Yep, get the ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.1)

MOBO...... CPU....GHz vCore
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.1 1.30
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.0 1.344
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.0 1.32
P8P67 Pro 2600k 5.0 1.34
P8P67 Pro 2600k 4.8 1.47
Averages 4.98GHz 1.35v

P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.33
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.30
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.32
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.8 1.248
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.5 1.49
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.5 1.50
P8P67 Pro 2500k 4.5 1.495
Averages 4.67GHz 1.38v

Overall Average 4.8GHz 1.37v

haha I wish I knew what that meant. I got the corsair a70 heatsink. I don't really know what vCore is. With my i5-2500k I just want to oc to around 4.5-4.7. And have it as stable as possible at that range. I will take the gamble of oc but don't want to push it. I hope 4.5-4.7 is good enough performance though. Especially after I SLI. Also i'm going to try to overclock my gtx twin frozr. Hopefully I can find a good guide on that too haha

 

[jaquith]

The data is the vCore (CPU Voltage) to CPU OC; so on that MOBO the average i5-2500K is 4.7GHz to a 1.38v vCore. Anything less than 1.45v is good, anything less than 1.40v is great. High vCore = High Temps.

 

[zachcuden]

Oh ok so what would be an ideal ghz and vcore and temp for me? Like 4.6 at 1.4v? I dont know whats good temperatures either. For gpu or cpu

 

[jaquith]

Every CPU is going to yield a different vCore, so you'll need to discover that yourself. Excellent Guide -> http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/39184-p67-sandy-bridge-overclocking-guide-beginners.html

The vCore dictates the temps; lower vCore = lower Temps and then there's cooling. Water yields increased delta-T, Finned yields lesser delta-T; thermal limits. I prefer the CPU temps to be 60C~65C and 1.35v vCore if possible.

GPU's it depends on the GPU, typically 70C~80C so make sure you have good airflow in your case; it's better to have negative pressure (more air out than bottled in). nVidia GPU's typically run cooler than their AMD/ATI counterparts.

 

[billj214]

My vote is for Asrock, my Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 has given me some issues lately and I am not happy with it!
I also have the Asrock Extreme 6 X58 board, still running like a champ, no issues, solid overclocker.

 

[zachcuden]

Best answer selected by Zachcuden.