Which mobo for an i5-2500k?

[real world]

Hi guys. I'm picking up an i5-2500k + mobo combo at Microcenter. The PC is for my parents so OC'ing isn't needed. Budget wise, I've narrowed my mobo choices down to these two. Any difference between them, are they all fine, should I avoid one, or definately buy the other?

There's low stock on the Asus btw. Thanks in advance!

ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM R3 LGA 1155 H61 mATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0365088

or

Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2H LGA 1155 H61 mATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0371994

 

[Pezcore27]

I built a i3-2100 build off the GA-H61M-S2H board for my dad and had zero problems with the build. I have not had any expierences with ASUS boards so I can only give you my expierence with the board I used.

Curious though, why the mATX boards?

Also for the Price of the Gigabyte, you could upgrade to a mATX Z68 board for a little bit more. ($30)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0367879

 

[real world]

I built a i3-2100 build off the GA-H61M-S2H board for my dad and had zero problems with the build. I have not had any expierences with ASUS boards so I can only give you my expierence with the board I used.

Curious though, why the mATX boards?

Also for the Price of the Gigabyte, you could upgrade to a mATX Z68 board for a little bit more. ($30)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0367879

The PC is for my parents. I missed out on last months i3-2100 bundle deal, so I'm stepping up to the i5-2500k since it's got a $40 off combo mobo deal going. My parents don't game really, and won't be OC'ing, so an H61 board will be fine. I want to keep the price as low as possible. I figure that $30 difference to the Z68 can be used toward a GPU. The mATX boards are the cheapest to bundle with.

I've used ASUS in most of my builds, and like their quality a lot, but like you, most people speak highly of gigabyte boards.

 

[clarkjd]

The PC is for my parents. I missed out on last months i3-2100 bundle deal, so I'm stepping up to the i5-2500k since it's got a $40 off combo mobo deal going. My parents don't game really, and won't be OC'ing, so an H61 board will be fine. I want to keep the price as low as possible. I figure that $30 difference to the Z68 can be used toward a GPU. The mATX boards are the cheapest to bundle with.

I've used ASUS in most of my builds, and like their quality a lot, but like you, most people speak highly of gigabyte boards.

If you won't be overclocking, getting the 2500K is a waste. you could get the plain 2500...

 

[Pezcore27]

If you won't be overclocking, getting the 2500K is a waste. you could get the plain 2500...

They are only offering the deal on the 2500k, 2600k, and 2700k processors @ Microcenter.

@ OP: If they are not gaming, why not use the Z68 board and use the HD3000 built in graphics on the processor and save money since likely a GPU won't be needed (depending on the games...)

 

[real world]

They are only offering the deal on the 2500k, 2600k, and 2700k processors @ Microcenter.

@ OP: If they are not gaming, why not use the Z68 board and use the HD3000 built in graphics on the processor and save money since likely a GPU won't be needed (depending on the games...)

I could do that, but my brother and I do visit them for weeks at a time, and we go game. So I'd like the system to at least provide the ability for us to play something if we wanted to. I don't need it to pimp BF3 at High settings persay, but if it can run BC2 for me, and the strategy games my brother plays, it would be perfect. Therefore I figure the H61 board with maybe a 6770 would be the ideal fit.


Oh, and yes, the $40 off bundle is only for the "k" series CPU's. Newegg has a deal on the non K 2500, but it's still more money than the K at Microcenter. Even with MA sales tax. I'm going to buy the mobo/CPU combo here and stick them in my carry on for the flight out. The rest of the components I'm having delivered directly to them.

I'd have opted for the AMD 960 BE bundle for $110, but they no longer offer that. They only offer the FX bundles, but with the mobo's needing to be flashed to run the FX CPU, I'm passing. I don't feel like either updating the driver here through one of my AMD systems, or bringing my Phenom chip with me to do it there. Too much of a hassle. I'll just spend the extra money on the 2500k combo.