Need Help On My Motherboard Choice

[Suisiders]

I'm having trouble deciding on my motherboard. I will be building computer for gaming only and nothing else. I will only ever need 1 Hard Drive, 1 SSD, 1 Graphics Card, and Overclock (4.5-4.8). Which will last me longer for what I plan on doing? I don't plan to upgrade for 3-4 years down the road.

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H $100 @Micro Center
http://www.microcenter.com/product/387556/GA-Z77X-UD3H_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Intel_Motherboard


Asrock Z77 Extreme4 $85 @Micro Center
http://www.microcenter.com/product/387554/Z77_Extreme4_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Intel_Motherboard


My Build:
CPU: i5 3570K
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB 1600Mhz Low Profile
PSU: Corsair TX750 V2
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3
Case: NZXT Tempest 410
GPU: Radeon 7950

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

I would get this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157297&name=Intel-Motherboards

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

I forgot to say that you could probably do with a 600w psu.

 

[malbluff]

If you have a 750w PSU, because you have thoughts of adding a 2nd GPU, I would go with the Gigabyte. If anything, it has slightly better quality, and is likely to perform better than the Extreme4, if you want to overclock agressively, and has better crossfire support than the Pro 3.
The CoolerMaster Hyper 212Evo is a good value cooler for modest overclocks. I very much doubt it will take you past 4.5GHz. For that you want something better, like Noctua NH-D14, or even liquid/water cooling.

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

He stated that he will only run one gpu so I though it was unnecessary to get more than the pro3

 

[Suisiders]

He stated that he will only run one gpu so I though it was unnecessary to get more than the pro3

Sorry meant to put 2 graphics cards only.

 

[Suisiders]

If you have a 750w PSU, because you have thoughts of adding a 2nd GPU, I would go with the Gigabyte. If anything, it has slightly better quality, and is likely to perform better than the Extreme4, if you want to overclock agressively, and has better crossfire support than the Pro 3.
The CoolerMaster Hyper 212Evo is a good value cooler for modest overclocks. I very much doubt it will take you past 4.5GHz. For that you want something better, like Noctua NH-D14, or even liquid/water cooling.

So if I wanna overclock past 4.5 and run SLI/Crossfire in the future I would be better off with the Gigabyte UD3H and Noctua ND-D14?

 

[DarkSable]

Get the gigabyte - it's better off for overclocking. I've got one and love it - I hit 4.4 with less voltage than stock.

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

You can probably get a pretty good oc with the evo. In all honesty, you don't need to oc at all. The 3.4 will be fine for right now. If you are gonna use 2 gpus I would go with the gigabyte probably. But any of them would work.

 

[malbluff]

So if I wanna overclock past 4.5 and run SLI/Crossfire in the future I would be better off with the Gigabyte UD3H and Noctua ND-D14?

The Extreme 4, and the Evo are fine, for 4.3/4,4 GHz. Whilst they may well go past that, I wouldn't necessarily recommend either, for that. Heat removal, from Ivybridge, starts to become an issue around 4.5 GHz, so whilst it's not impossible, with good cooling, to "go on" a bit, it's a question of whether a modest extra performance gain, is really worth the hassle. When processor has had most of its life, in a couple of years, it's not so bad to try to get a bit extra, to extend its useful life, cos then it's not quite so bad, if you kill it!.

 

[Suisiders]

The Extreme 4, and the Evo are fine, for 4.3/4,4 GHz. Whilst they may well go past that, I wouldn't necessarily recommend either, for that. Heat removal, from Ivybridge, starts to become an issue around 4.5 GHz, so whilst it's not impossible, with good cooling, to "go on" a bit, it's a question of whether a modest extra performance gain, is really worth the hassle. When processor has had most of its life, in a couple of years, it's not so bad to try to get a bit extra, to extend its useful life, cos then it's not quite so bad, if you kill it!.

Yeah I will probably go to around 4.2-.4.3 for daily use and I think I'll go with the Gigabyte due to better quality on VRM for overclocking and customer service

 

[Suisiders]

Best answer selected by suisiders.