Best P67/Z68 gaming mobo for ~$130?

[moogleslam]

I have all the components purchased for my new PC except for the motherboard. I had figured out what I wanted a while ago, but it’s been some time, so thought I’d ask again before I make the purchase.

Here are the other components (I’ll eventually be running crossfire with a 2nd identical card to what is listed, so want x8/x8 on the mobo):

PSU OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
Case Rosewill DESTROYER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 120mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan, 1x Top 120mm Fan, 1x Bottom Fan
CPU Cooler COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
Monitor ASUS VW266H (25.5" 1920x1200)
Graphics Card Sapphire HD6950 unlocked to HD6970
Memory Mushkin Enhanced Radioactive 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 997006
Storage Drive Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Optical Drive SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-222BB/BEBE - OEM
CPU Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K


Thanks

 

[Pezcore27]

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

 

[jumbolkna]

why not a z77 board? might aswell as it's newer technology and roughly the same price?
asrock z77 extreme4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

 

[jumbolkna]

you will at least get more sata 6 and usb 3 ports if you have no interest in the new virtu mvp

 

[Pezcore27]

I was going to suggest that, but he asked for a Z68 board. That ASRock is a well reviewed and proved board for what the OP is looking for.

 

[moogleslam]

Hmmm, I feel like I haven’t been keeping up on my technology.

Z77 has a 1155 socket? I thought Z77 was ivy bridge with a 2011 socket?

So assuming I can put my i5-2500k in a Z77, what does Z77 have that P67/Z67 doesn’t have?

 

[boulbox]

Hmmm, I feel like I haven’t been keeping up on my technology.

Z77 has a 1155 socket? I thought Z77 was ivy bridge with a 2011 socket?

So assuming I can put my i5-2500k in a Z77, what does Z77 have that P67/Z67 doesn’t have?

Z77 is the newest socket 1155 so it will work with ivy bridge and sandy bridge.

if you live near a microcenter i would suggest buying a i5 2500k really cheap over their and buy a Z77 mobo maybe a lower brand such as msi, biostar, or asrock( these are still very great brands. They are just not as popular as Gigabyte and Asus as they have been around for quite a while).

if not i suggest upgrading to a ivy bridge i5 3570k

here's a combo deal that will work wonders for you

BIOSTAR TZ77XE4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 with i5 3570k

if this is over your budget i would go with a i5 2500k even a i5 2400 to save some money as putting more money on your graphics card would give better performance than upgrading cpu

 

[moogleslam]

Z77 is the newest socket 1155 so it will work with ivy bridge and sandy bridge.

if you live near a microcenter i would suggest buying a i5 2500k really cheap over their and buy a Z77 mobo maybe a lower brand such as msi, biostar, or asrock( these are still very great brands. They are just not as popular as Gigabyte and Asus as they have been around for quite a while).

if not i suggest upgrading to a ivy bridge i5 3570k

here's a combo deal that will work wonders for you

BIOSTAR TZ77XE4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 with i5 3570k

if this is over your budget i would go with a i5 2500k even a i5 2400 to save some money as putting more money on your graphics card would give better performance than upgrading cpu

I already have the i5-2500k and everything else listed in the first post, so just focusing on the mobo now.

 

[boulbox]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138355

 

[moogleslam]

Best answer selected by moogleslam.

 

[moogleslam]

Went with the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3. I didn't see that the Z77 was giving me anything I needed, and that AsRock Z68 was the one I had picked out a few months ago anyway.

Thanks guys

 

[m0s3s4]

Went with the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3. I didn't see that the Z77 was giving me anything I needed, and that AsRock Z68 was the one I had picked out a few months ago anyway.

Thanks guys

You're lucky, the Z77 does not seem to like unlocked 6950s. See here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/352078-33-trouble-unlocked-6950