Which MOBO?

[Nebul0us]

Hello everyone,

I have decided on most of my components for my first system build. Up until now, I have been set on the ASRock Extreme4 motherboard. However, I am now considering saving some money on either the Asus P8B75-M LE or the MSI B75A-G43. Does anyone know if I would be giving anything up to go with either of these boards? As far as I can tell, I would have the needed SATA III for my SSD. I don't think my WD Caviar Black HDD needs SATA III, SATA II should do just fine. Can anyone confirm that for me? All boards have HDMI, USB 3.0, max RAM capacity of 16GB (I probably wont need more.) I plan on using the PC to surf the web, stream and watch movies, and multi-tasking. No heavy video rendering or gaming. My components are as follows:

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ball Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ????
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($157.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($72.51 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-14D1XT Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VS247H-P 23.6" Monitor ($165.00 @ Amazon)

Here are the 3 MOBO's I mentioned that I am considering:

Asus P8B75-M LE $75:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131842&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

MSI B75A-G43 $80:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130651&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

ASRock Extreme4 $135:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

Also, I will take overclocking in to consideration. Haven't yet looked to see what overclocking features the other 2 boards have. Any help on this is much appreciated!

 

[butremor]

3570k on b75 mobo? haha, wtf...
IF you want b75 then drop down to i5-3470
If you want 3570k you at least need Z75 mobo. Preferably Z77, for example asrock pro3, should be cheaper than extreme4.
also why do you need 99$ bd-rom, are you gonna write bd discs? you can save 80$ by getting simple dvd/cd writer for 19$

 

[Nebul0us]

I think I am going to go with H77 with a non-K series i5. I am looking at this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157303&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

It's not that I want b75, I just wouldn't mind saving some money. I now understand that the most difference Z77 offers is overclocking features. IMO, the price difference between an i5-3470 and a i5-3570k isn't enough to sacrifice having the option to overclock (albeit on a different mobo.)

Yes, I want to burn BR. I also want to watch BR.

 

[butremor]

yes, it's good mobo

 

[eyeage]

Honestly, it sounds more like a HTPC, than anything. Let me make sure I have this right. You want a PC capable of surfing the internet, youtube, and watching blueray movies. You don't really care about gaming, and you aren't really doing any intensive tasks? If that's about right, then you're overspending by about $400-$500. A much cheaper build will suffice for what you're trying to accomplish. The 3470, 3570, etc are gaming/working CPUS. For people doing CPU intensive tasks. Nothing you've mentioned is. Just my 2 cents.

You could even step down a little further that these components, but this will be more than sufficient to do what you want to do (if I understand you correctly). Probably only need 4Gb RAM, but hey, 8Gb is cheap. Most likely, the SSD performance increase isn't justified here. The processor has IGP HD4000, which would let you play "some" games. The IPS monitor will make everything look better. Could step up to 2TB HDD, but would you really need it? That's a lot of data. Tossed on windows (which you forgot/left out). This comes in about $350 cheaper with windows (or $450 without) than your build. Plus, it's about 12x12x6 inches, making it's footprint very small. Something to consider.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($136.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: FSP Group 300W 80 PLUS Certified Micro ATX Power Supply ($46.82 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $727.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-06 08:45 EST-0500)

 

[Nebul0us]

Best answer selected by Nebul0us.

 

[Nebul0us]

Honestly, it sounds more like a HTPC, than anything. Let me make sure I have this right. You want a PC capable of surfing the internet, youtube, and watching blueray movies. You don't really care about gaming, and you aren't really doing any intensive tasks? If that's about right, then you're overspending by about $400-$500. A much cheaper build will suffice for what you're trying to accomplish. The 3470, 3570, etc are gaming/working CPUS. For people doing CPU intensive tasks. Nothing you've mentioned is. Just my 2 cents.

You could even step down a little further that these components, but this will be more than sufficient to do what you want to do (if I understand you correctly). Probably only need 4Gb RAM, but hey, 8Gb is cheap. Most likely, the SSD performance increase isn't justified here. The processor has IGP HD4000, which would let you play "some" games. The IPS monitor will make everything look better. Could step up to 2TB HDD, but would you really need it? That's a lot of data. Tossed on windows (which you forgot/left out). This comes in about $350 cheaper with windows (or $450 without) than your build. Plus, it's about 12x12x6 inches, making it's footprint very small. Something to consider.

Responses like this are the problem with this website. The subject was obviously motherboards. Know-it-all's like you rip apart and criticize people's whole builds. I didn't ask your advice on an entire build. I asked about motherboards. Anyways, I've ordered most my parts by now.

FYI

The i3-3225 is a good processor for the money, however if you want a quad-core (like I do), i5-3570k is the only one to offer HD 4000 graphics. I probably wont be buying or upgrading for several years, so I would rather have too much performance than too little. I decided to go with ASRock Pro4 that I got open box from newegg for $89.99. It has already arrived and has everything except one SATA cable, which my HD should come with.

IMO, an SSD is the best 80 bucks anyone can spend to boost performance. You can't spend an extra $80 on a CPU or RAM or anything, and get that much performance boost. Don't bother arguing with me, like I know you want to, because you wont change my mind. My Crucial m4 has already arrived to my house and I paid $69.99.

I already have Windows 7 to put on the PC.

The Caviar Black HD is virtually legendary, and yes , I want 2 TB of space.

 

[eyeage]

Edit: People like you, sir, are the problem. I won't waste my dexterity.