Please help choose z68 mobo for i5 2500k

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

Scraniel

Honorable
May 2, 2012
25
0
10,530
Hi folks,
I want to build my own comp for the first time. I've settled on the marvelous ***Intel i5 2500k*** processor and plan on overclocking it. Please help me choose an inexpensive z68 motherboard that will fulfill my requirements:
- USB 3.0
- onboard GPU (i know some z68 don't have)
- PCI 3.0 (I know Sandy Bridge doesn't support this but much later on I will upgrade to Ivy)
- Don't care about SLI/Crossfire now but maybe in a few years I might add a 2nd graphics card (so i guess i need a second PCI 3.0 slot?).
- Achieves decent overclocking for the 2500k

Oh, and I will also be needing a GPU for games:
Sub-question: any suggestions for a GPU? :)

I don't need a grandiose motherboard with lots of features, just something that provides primarily USB 3.0 and overclocking potential (and doesn't have some weird fluke like the memory can't be physically inserted if a 2nd GPU is added). Just the minimum.

My budget is... well, the cheapest board from the list that fulfills those minimum requirements. I intend to use the computer for programming and development and games (no extreme gaming, after all I can't tell the difference between great graphics and mind-blowing graphics).

Since not all motherboards are available in my country, please help me choose from the following list, including the price of each in my country (in USD) and a link to each Newegg page for your reference.

All of these are essentially the same features (maybe give or take a PCI slot or a couple USB 3.0 slots), so why should I pay for the more expensive boards??

1. Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 ($138)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128538&Tpk=Gigabyte%20GA-Z68AP-D3
2. ASUS P8Z68-V LX ($143)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131781&Tpk=ASUS%20P8Z68-V%20LX
3. Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 ($145)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495
4. ASUS P8Z68-V LE ($164)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131773
5. Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 ($175)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502&Tpk=Gigabyte%20GA-Z68A-D3H-B3
6. Gigabyte GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 ($183)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128503
7. ASRock Pro3-M ($183)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157252
8. ASRock Pro3 Gen3 ($186)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279
9. Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 ($188)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128498
10. Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 ($189)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128512

Thanks so much!!!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
S

Scraniel

Honorable
May 2, 2012
25
0
10,530
Well, I've read here that Z-77s might have some problems in the beginning and it's safer to wait. And since I don't plan on upgrading to Ivy Bridge (maybe not for at least 3 years), shouldn't I just stick with the z-68?

So from that list, is the cheapest one sufficient for my needs outlined in my first post? Thanks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Scraniel

Honorable
May 2, 2012
25
0
10,530
The Z-77s have onboard HDMI-Display port as well as DVI-D and VGA-the board I have has 6 USB slots- look at it as a Z-68 with a bit extra-they all have PCI-E 3.0 and they are about the same price
Click to expand...

Hmm, well those z68s in the list also have either HDMI or a combination of both HDMI and DVI. And they are also capable of PCI-E 3.0 and USB 3.0. Either way, I am buying a nice graphics card which will surely have those outputs. Is there something I missed and didn't understand. Was your emphasis on "on-board" HDMI???

Let's say I'm not upgrading to Ivy Bridge, is it still worth it to get a z77 mobo over the z68?

Can I hear from the pro z-68 crowd here? Any reasons why you went for a z-68 mobo when you also had the option of buying a z-77? :)
Thanks!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
4Ryan6

4Ryan6

Champion
Apr 14, 2002
20,610
6
52,915


Seeing as how you did mention overclocking the 2500K my recommendation is a very good overclocker, needing PCI-E 3 slots, you mentioned onboard video the CPU itself has an IGP onboard the CPU and this board has the outputs, plus discrete addition up to SLI or Crossfire setup your choice.

This motherboard also sports the CCO (Combo Cooler Option), meaning if you have an old aftermarket socket 775 CPU cooler it will bolt to this motherboard, most all the ASRocks have that CCO option.

This ASRock Motherboard is not in your list but is my recommendation.

This is my attempt to bring this thread back to what you originally asked advice on.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom