Newbie suffering from P68 motherboard choice overload

[Michilius]

All,
I'm currently putting together a build with the following specs:

Processor Intel Core i5-2500K
Cooling system COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO
Motherboard Not sure
RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
Graphics Card EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580
Hard Drive OCZ Agility 3 120 GB
Hard Drive SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
Case Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower
Power Supply CORSAIR Professional Series HX850 850W

The purpose of this computer is essentially gaming (Skyrim, Starcraft 2, other cool games that come out over the next few years) as well as the usual web surfing. I may try modest overclocking, and may add another 580 some time down the road, but otherwise, I'm not an advanced computer user so I don't need bells and whistles other than those that make me enjoy gaming at high resolutions.

As for choosing a motherboard, the options seem innumerable. ASUS, Asrock, Gigabyte, and MSI all have multiple z68 models ranging in price from the low 100s to mid 200s. Tom's did an article on middle market motherboards, which selected the GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3:

From $100 To $160: Five Z68-Based Boards, Compared

Just wanted to know if people thought I'm either going too low end or high end given my computer needs with the GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3, or just choosing the wrong mobo in my price range. Also, if you think I'm making the wrong choice, which mobo would you choose?

Thanks!

 

[Twoboxer]

You want to preserve the option to SLI, so you need a mobo with at least two PCIE slots operating at x8-x8 or better. I also tend to restrict mobo recommendations to Asus, Gigabyte . . . and the occasional Intel . . . unless a board has been specifically reviewed by someone I trust.

Scanning Newegg with those limits in mind, the cheapest board that works is $115 Gigabyte:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495

Since the GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3 is now $150, ask yourself what am I getting for the additional $35?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%20600093976&IsNodeId=1&page=6&bop=And&CompareItemList=280%7C13-128-495%5E13-128-495-TS%2C13-128-512%5E13-128-512-TS

There's not much there that you likely need. However, I note from the review article there's a USB 3.0 socket on the mobo, which is really nice for the future *IF* your case has front panel USB 3.0 support, or you plan to add a USB 3.0 pair in one of the external disk slots.

Probably the determining factor is overclocking though. If I were going to think about OC, I'd invest a little more in the board thinking I get more robust components that may prove useful.

Long-winded way of saying i think you got the right mobo.

Your vid card may be overkill (if budget is a concern) if your screen resolution is 1920. 570s are pretty good at that res, and adding a second one of those IF needed makes "more" sense.

OTOH, I use a 580 on 1920 resolution, have an 850w Corsair so I could add a second 580 . . . probably never will . . . so I understand lol.

Have fun!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

If ya going Z68, and I don't see anything in your post that dictates that choice, I'd get a GEN3 board w/ at least a 3 year warranty (that rules out Asrock).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006644&isNodeId=1&Description=asus+Gen3&x=0&y=0

But ya title says P68 ...I dunno if ya leaving P67 boards in your options list or not. To decide whether ya need Z68,

http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/difference-between-h67-p67-z68-and-h61-chipsets-a-22.html

Launched 5 months after the P67 and H67 chipset the Z68 chipset combines the advantages of the H67 and P67 Chipset so that overclocking, dual dedicated graphics cards and use of the integrated CPU graphics is available. Whilst on the surface it would seem that this would be the chipset to go for, how many users that have 2 dedicated graphics cards will actually want to use the onboard graphics when they already have 2 more powerful graphics cards in their system anyway?

The only real advantage is for users that wish to access the HD graphics features such as quick sync, but considering it’s only supported by very few transcoding programs and there are not many people out there that need or will want to transcode, it makes it almost pointless to choose Z68 over a P67 chipset.

Same applies to users that want to overclock the CPU but use the onboard graphics card; it’s a very limited market.

Finally, another feature of a Z68 chipset is known as SSD caching which is where it allows the use of a small (say 10 or 20 GB) Solid state hard drive to act as a cache for a larger ‘traditional’ hard disk. If you are already planning the use of a Solid State drive this feature is redundant.

If you can’t afford a decent size SSD (40GB+) then there are more cost effective ways around using a small SSD and SSD cashing like spending less on a motherboard, (H67 chipset or even a P67 chipset) and putting the saved money into a decent size SSD.

Id take the Corsair Vengeance over the Ripjaws but whatever ya get, lose the toothy heat sinks.

Tough question now....two 560 Ti's now for $430-460 and get 40% more fps (862) than a single 580 (616) in Guru3D's test suite? .... or get another 580 down the line for a total cost of $1000 for 10% more fps (953) than the 560's ?????

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363

HX 850 ain't gonna cut it w/ twin 580's.....check SLI zone, not a single 850 watter on the certified list ....works good for twin 560's tho ....even 570's

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

You have top end components across the board except for the case and Cooler..... some laternatives

Antec 1200 V3 or DF-85 w/ CP-850 ....

$135 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100
or
$135 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
with
$115 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

The pairing is $10 cheaper than your choice. The PSU gets the same 10.0 performance rating from jonnyguru as the HX850 and which jonny says:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=142

It is completely unmatched by any ATX unit on the market I can think of. You'd have to spend twice as much as this thing costs to find the next best thing, performance wise.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article971-page7.html

The Antec CP-850 is a superlative power supply by almost any standard. Its electrical performance is up at the level of its more expensive brethren, the Signature 650 and 850, and Seasonic's flagship, the M12D-850: Voltage regulation is extremely tight for all the lines at all loads, and the ripple noise is amazingly low.....

The noise performance is excellent, with the <400W performance matching or bettering virtually every PSU tested thus far. Above 500W load in our heat box, the noise level goes over 40 dBA@1m, or about the norm for PSUs rated this high. It has the virtue keeping itself extremely cool, however, cooler than any other PSU we've tested at such high loads.....

The above is an obviously unfair advantage for the CP-850... but what of it? Antec has used an integrated systems approach for its CP-850 and its best cases, and if that approach is an advantage over all other case/PSU combinations, then, all the more power to Antec!

For the quiet-seeking computer gaming enthusiast, the CP-850 (along with any of the compatible cases) is something of a godsend. Fantastically stable power, super low noise at any power load, long expected reliability due to excellent cooling, modular cabling, and all at a price that's no higher than many high end 6~700W models.

The CP-850 is non-standard, but compelling, and in its typical application, as powerful and quiet a PSU as anyone will ever need.

There's no question about the case comparisons so no review data necessary.

 

[Michilius]

I like the dual 560 ti suggestion. It's more for the money. Thanks for the advice.

Some further questions based on the other issues you discussed:

1. What is the advantage of a full tower case? Better cooling? Something else? Just want to know what the reason would be to get something that is more expensive and clunkier.

2. Not that the $7 difference is is big deal, but why corsair vengeance over the g.skill?

3. You mention the cooler as something that is not a very high quality. Do you think the COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO isn't up to the task? Its reviews have been pretty solid.

If ya going Z68, and I don't see anything in your post that dictates that choice, I'd get a GEN3 board w/ at least a 3 year warranty (that rules out Asrock).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=100006644&isNodeId=1&Description=asus+Gen3&x=0&y=0

But ya title says P68 ...I dunno if ya leaving P67 boards in your options list or not. To decide whether ya need Z68,

http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/difference-between-h67-p67-z68-and-h61-chipsets-a-22.html

Launched 5 months after the P67 and H67 chipset the Z68 chipset combines the advantages of the H67 and P67 Chipset so that overclocking, dual dedicated graphics cards and use of the integrated CPU graphics is available. Whilst on the surface it would seem that this would be the chipset to go for, how many users that have 2 dedicated graphics cards will actually want to use the onboard graphics when they already have 2 more powerful graphics cards in their system anyway?

The only real advantage is for users that wish to access the HD graphics features such as quick sync, but considering it’s only supported by very few transcoding programs and there are not many people out there that need or will want to transcode, it makes it almost pointless to choose Z68 over a P67 chipset.

Same applies to users that want to overclock the CPU but use the onboard graphics card; it’s a very limited market.

Finally, another feature of a Z68 chipset is known as SSD caching which is where it allows the use of a small (say 10 or 20 GB) Solid state hard drive to act as a cache for a larger ‘traditional’ hard disk. If you are already planning the use of a Solid State drive this feature is redundant.

If you can’t afford a decent size SSD (40GB+) then there are more cost effective ways around using a small SSD and SSD cashing like spending less on a motherboard, (H67 chipset or even a P67 chipset) and putting the saved money into a decent size SSD.

Id take the Corsair Vengeance over the Ripjaws but whatever ya get, lose the toothy heat sinks.

Tough question now....two 560 Ti's now for $430-460 and get 40% more fps (862) than a single 580 (616) in Guru3D's test suite? .... or get another 580 down the line for a total cost of $1000 for 10% more fps (953) than the 560's ?????

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121425
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363

HX 850 ain't gonna cut it w/ twin 580's.....check SLI zone, not a single 850 watter on the certified list ....works good for twin 560's tho ....even 570's

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

You have top end components across the board except for the case and Cooler..... some laternatives

Antec 1200 V3 or DF-85 w/ CP-850 ....

$135 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100
or
$135 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129087
with
$115 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

The pairing is $10 cheaper than your choice. The PSU gets the same 10.0 performance rating from jonnyguru as the HX850 and which jonny says:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=142

It is completely unmatched by any ATX unit on the market I can think of. You'd have to spend twice as much as this thing costs to find the next best thing, performance wise.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article971-page7.html

The Antec CP-850 is a superlative power supply by almost any standard. Its electrical performance is up at the level of its more expensive brethren, the Signature 650 and 850, and Seasonic's flagship, the M12D-850: Voltage regulation is extremely tight for all the lines at all loads, and the ripple noise is amazingly low.....

The noise performance is excellent, with the <400W performance matching or bettering virtually every PSU tested thus far. Above 500W load in our heat box, the noise level goes over 40 dBA@1m, or about the norm for PSUs rated this high. It has the virtue keeping itself extremely cool, however, cooler than any other PSU we've tested at such high loads.....

The above is an obviously unfair advantage for the CP-850... but what of it? Antec has used an integrated systems approach for its CP-850 and its best cases, and if that approach is an advantage over all other case/PSU combinations, then, all the more power to Antec!

For the quiet-seeking computer gaming enthusiast, the CP-850 (along with any of the compatible cases) is something of a godsend. Fantastically stable power, super low noise at any power load, long expected reliability due to excellent cooling, modular cabling, and all at a price that's no higher than many high end 6~700W models.

The CP-850 is non-standard, but compelling, and in its typical application, as powerful and quiet a PSU as anyone will ever need.

There's no question about the case comparisons so no review data necessary.

 

[Michilius]

Best answer selected by michilius.