Hello,
I am building a Windows 7 Pro workstation/HTPC primarily for audio/image/video extraction, processing, encoding, playback and storage with the occasional legacy game. This build will be used daily.
The native power of the work-oriented build will be more than enough for all of my present & future needs. I am not a try-hard gamer. I have no current/future intent or desire to overclock the CPU, RAM nor the future GPU; the less heat & longer component life, the better. Unless it is factually insightful, please, no overclocking preaching without a motherboard suggestion.
I'm looking for quality (well-made components, durable, low DOA, etc) Intel mATX motherboards to consider. Conditions are...
- $200 (flexible) budget
- Micro ATX
- LGA 1155 to pair with Ivy Bridge i7 (3770k for current lowest price, not overclocking)
- at least 6x or more SATA headers (4x SATA III preferred, 3x OK, might consider 2x)
- at least 16GB 1600 RAM support, 32GB could be a welcome futureproof
- one single PCI Express 3.0 for undecided future GPU, no SLI requirement
- no integrated sound requirements, external DAC is always superior
- no RAID requirements
- again, no overclocking of any kind on any components
At a quick glance, as H77/Z77 models appear to cater to overclocking, either the ASRock B75 PRO3-M or GIGABYTE GA-B75M-D3P appear to be appropriate choices, both sporting a solid 5x SATA II + 3x SATA III. Any one advantage over the other? I've read ASRock has high DOA and that GIGABYTE may use higher quality components, any comments about that?
I still want to keep my options open. I have mainly been searching Newegg but perhaps there are other manufacturers who don't distribute through Newegg?
Your time, knowledge & suggestion(s) will be greatly appreciated!
I am building a Windows 7 Pro workstation/HTPC primarily for audio/image/video extraction, processing, encoding, playback and storage with the occasional legacy game. This build will be used daily.
The native power of the work-oriented build will be more than enough for all of my present & future needs. I am not a try-hard gamer. I have no current/future intent or desire to overclock the CPU, RAM nor the future GPU; the less heat & longer component life, the better. Unless it is factually insightful, please, no overclocking preaching without a motherboard suggestion.
I'm looking for quality (well-made components, durable, low DOA, etc) Intel mATX motherboards to consider. Conditions are...
- $200 (flexible) budget
- Micro ATX
- LGA 1155 to pair with Ivy Bridge i7 (3770k for current lowest price, not overclocking)
- at least 6x or more SATA headers (4x SATA III preferred, 3x OK, might consider 2x)
- at least 16GB 1600 RAM support, 32GB could be a welcome futureproof
- one single PCI Express 3.0 for undecided future GPU, no SLI requirement
- no integrated sound requirements, external DAC is always superior
- no RAID requirements
- again, no overclocking of any kind on any components
At a quick glance, as H77/Z77 models appear to cater to overclocking, either the ASRock B75 PRO3-M or GIGABYTE GA-B75M-D3P appear to be appropriate choices, both sporting a solid 5x SATA II + 3x SATA III. Any one advantage over the other? I've read ASRock has high DOA and that GIGABYTE may use higher quality components, any comments about that?
I still want to keep my options open. I have mainly been searching Newegg but perhaps there are other manufacturers who don't distribute through Newegg?
Your time, knowledge & suggestion(s) will be greatly appreciated!