Hello,
I'm stuck between two very similar (seeming -_-) micro-ATX motherboards. I'm set on my CPU (An Intel Core i7-3820, socket LGA2011) and have already purchased it. I'm also set on the micro-ATX form factor. Nothing else will be shorter than me once I set it up on my desk, and I don't need the extra silicon of a full-size for anything.
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Here are the specs:
ASRock x79: http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=X79%20Extreme4-M&cat=Specifications
AND Asus Rampage IV Gene: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_2011/Rampage_IV_GENE/#specifications
A little background:
I want my motherboard to support two HDDs and one SSD. Either of these can do that. One of them supports "green" SATA, on which topic I must admit that I have no knowledge. Are there any advantages to green Sata or eSata? (or are they different things, which is probably the case?)
I also want to be able to upgrade later. My understanding is that the X79/LGA2011 is the best option for this, hence my decision to get an LGA2011 socket processor. It would be nice if I could know what specific/unique features are available to Asus or to ASRock, because the names they give things (X-Fast Ram? WTF?) don't really help much. The ASRock apparently comes with a bunch of extras, but so does the Asus, and I'm not in it for the software bundled in or anything. I just want to make sure that I get the best motherboard.
Also, will either of these come with USB connections for me to put in the front of my case? Because I need to know whether I should and/or must buy an additional cord in order to get USB Ports in the front, which are a must-have.
I really don't know which to choose - they seem about the same, in most all respects. My best guess is that you will agree with me, that they are highly similar, but hopefully I can come away more educated about my final decision. Thanks in advance!
-J
I'm stuck between two very similar (seeming -_-) micro-ATX motherboards. I'm set on my CPU (An Intel Core i7-3820, socket LGA2011) and have already purchased it. I'm also set on the micro-ATX form factor. Nothing else will be shorter than me once I set it up on my desk, and I don't need the extra silicon of a full-size for anything.
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Here are the specs:
ASRock x79: http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=X79%20Extreme4-M&cat=Specifications
AND Asus Rampage IV Gene: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_2011/Rampage_IV_GENE/#specifications
A little background:
I want my motherboard to support two HDDs and one SSD. Either of these can do that. One of them supports "green" SATA, on which topic I must admit that I have no knowledge. Are there any advantages to green Sata or eSata? (or are they different things, which is probably the case?)
I also want to be able to upgrade later. My understanding is that the X79/LGA2011 is the best option for this, hence my decision to get an LGA2011 socket processor. It would be nice if I could know what specific/unique features are available to Asus or to ASRock, because the names they give things (X-Fast Ram? WTF?) don't really help much. The ASRock apparently comes with a bunch of extras, but so does the Asus, and I'm not in it for the software bundled in or anything. I just want to make sure that I get the best motherboard.
Also, will either of these come with USB connections for me to put in the front of my case? Because I need to know whether I should and/or must buy an additional cord in order to get USB Ports in the front, which are a must-have.
I really don't know which to choose - they seem about the same, in most all respects. My best guess is that you will agree with me, that they are highly similar, but hopefully I can come away more educated about my final decision. Thanks in advance!
-J