Need help choosing 1155 mobo

[purple stain]

So after hearing that Ivy Bridge is going to be delayed until June I've decided I just can't wait anymore and I really want a CPU upgrade.I'm planning on going with a 2500k and O.C.ing but my budget is a little tight.Max is around $130.So I'm curious as to which mobo you guys think is the better buy.Here's what I've come up with...

MSI P67A-G45 (B3)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130582

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

Now I understand the difference between the Z68 and the P67 chipsets and I don't really think i'll use the Intel SRT of the Z68 or the intergreated GPU but the ASRock board just seems like a really good deal for futureing proofing sake because of the PCI-E 3.0.

I'm also a little confused on the gold caps that ASRock seems to use a lot.Are these really better than the other ones? How so?

 

[geekapproved]

Go with Z68 regardless of what you'll use. The Asrock is an excellent choice.

 

[purple stain]

Can you explain the difference in capacitors? Why go gold and if it's better why don't other companies do it? Just seems strange the cheapest board has the best componets.

Why go with Z68 regardless?I won't even use any of the things Z68 offers.

 

[fb39ca4]

Asrock tends to have lower profit margins on their boards, that's why you can spend $50+ more getting a board with the same features from say, Asus or Gigabyte. This generation, their boards have been of really good quality, both from my personal experience, and from reading reviews. However, the gold capacitors are just a gimmick, more marketing fodder. I would get the Asrock board for the PCIe 3.0.

 

[furry_roadkill]

i tried reading up on this while i was researching for a board. in the end it just seemed like a marketing tactic to show they use high quality japanese capacitors. i can't say if they are better or worse than any other motherboards, but i did end up buying he extreme4 version of that board and i am completely satisfied with it. i couldn't use the extreme3 because of the way the pci slots are laid out. my second gpu would hit my power supply. and asrock is usually cheaper than asus or gigabyte. They don't have the fan base of the other motherboard manufacturers so they entice with low prices. in the end it's a good board with a good price. i say shoot for the asrock z68

 

[geekapproved]

Because it's the same price or cheaper that's why, and it has features you may use down the road, like PCI-E 3.0.

Also if you have a gpu failure, how are you going to use your computer? You won't have the problem with a Z68, you'll still be good to go without a gpu.

Japanese capacitors are just better period.

 

[purple stain]

Alright.I'm still researching.

 

[hunter387]

I was actually choosing boards for a build im doing an these are the two last boards I was debating on. I think im gonna go with the ASRock but I gotta fishy feeling about it.

Also just a side note if someone can answer. If I bought the ASRock Extreme3 Gen3 and a I3, can I swap out that I3 and put in a Ivy-Bridge proc later on the same board???

 

[purple stain]

Yes you can.

 

[furry_roadkill]

i believe it will be socket compatible with current 1155 boards. It may require a bios update, however, and this may or may not happen depending on the manufacturer of the board. If you ask me, boards with pci 3.0 are pretty much committed to supporting ivy bridge, as the slots will only run in 3.0 with an ivy bridge processor. im not quite sure if everything is set in stone tho.

 

[purple stain]

^+1

 

[hunter387]

K so I can take a Processor out and put another in on the same board without problems? When does Ivy Bridge come out anyways?

 

[furry_roadkill]

no release date as of yet. it apparently went into production 3rd quarter 2011 according to the wikipedia page. ceo said in latest earnings call that it would be out in 'early spring' i believe

 

[hunter387]

Alright cool. So I should have no problem swapping my I3 out for lets say and Ivy I5 when it comes out?

 

[furry_roadkill]

you shouldn't. again, keyword: shouldn't. until it's released, anything can change but i'd say it should be a pretty painless swap.

 

[geekapproved]

Why don't use ask a 4th time just to make sure...

Purple, go with the Asrock, you won't be disappointed.

 

[purple stain]

It was rumored that the release date for IB was supposed to be April 8th.But I recently found out that Intel is delaying the release until June.Something about the notebook and ultrabook companies not selling enough sandy bridge last year so they have a lot of inventory of it.They want to wait and sell more of their old stock before getting the new stuff.Intel said they would ship "some" processor's on April 8th but they will be few and probably hard to find.That's why I decided to just go ahead and buy a Sandy Bridge now because I can't wait any longer.

 

[LordConrad]

I just got this board to put in a home server. Works flawlessly and will work with Ivy Bridge.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495

 

[purple stain]

Yah I saw that board.I didn't like it cause of how poor the cooling is on the VRM's.I'm going to be O.C.ing.

 

[LordConrad]

Yah I saw that board.I didn't like it cause of how poor the cooling is on the VRM's.I'm going to be O.C.ing.

Good call. I had no need to overclock mine as it is only running a storage server.

 

[purple stain]

What do you guys think of this MSI board compared to the ASRock board?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130611

 

[geekapproved]

Looks like a decent board, but the Asrock has all the same features for $70 less.

 

[purple stain]

Well I'm currently bidding for it on Ebay.I bid $100 on it and no one else bid on it.Auction close's in 1 hour and 30 mins.

 

[geekapproved]

Keep in mind if it's not from a qualified vendor they might not honor your warranty.

 

[purple stain]

Just got it for $90.Basically half of retail.

How would they know where I got it from?I just give them the serial number don't I?