Mobo Recommendations.

[mc605700]

Hey everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone has a motherboard recommendation. This is my list of requirements.

- Ivy Bridge Compatible
- (2) PCI-E x16 slots in (x8, x8) that can be used for Crossfire or SLI (PCI-E 3.0 would be great but not required)
- USB 3 and SATA 6gb
- Good track record for reliability and stability
- I will not be overclocking
- $100 or less

I've started to wade through the hundreds of P67, Z68, Z75 and Z77 boards but any sort of recommendations would be appreciated.

I'm also wondering what people think about QuickSync? It seems like except for a couple of high end video editing programs nobody uses it. Is it worth getting a Z series board and a K series processor if what I do most of the time is encode old DVD's with Handbreak for my wife to watch on her iPad?"

Thanks!

 

[constepatdyak]

To find an ATX motherboard with 2 PCIe 16x slots under 100 is really hard. Here is an open box MSI one from newegg with 2 PCIE 16x slots but at 9dollars over budget.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130573R

If you can put in an extra 20 bucks you can go for a great motherboard with value and performance:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

If you're not OCing, no need to get a K processor. some Z68 boards have PCIE 3.0 compatilbility, like the Asrock one.

 

[mc605700]

Thanks,

I'll take a look, I was hoping to be around $100. I could probably go up to $125.

 

[cbsevenfifty]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138317&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

That would be the board I would get if I was looking for something that fit in your criteria.