A little help on Mobo choice please :)

[Blackwatch]

Im looking at having to make an emergency upgrade. Unfortunatley my Asus P7P55D board appears to be dying after 4 or so yrs heavy usage. I am having major audio issues and I think the SATA controller is on it last legs as well.

So after speaking to the missus I have the green light to upgrade early. ( I was getting ready to save for a 2011 board but this means i need something quickly. )

I am going for the Core i5-3570K CPU and hoping to hit 4.6GHz to 4.8GHz under my XSPC Raystorm on a 360 rad. ( see my rig posting )

What I am stuck on is the actual board to run it under.

I like the look of theses

1. Asus Z77 Sabretooth - http://www.cclonline.com/product/78...ards/Asus-Sabertooth-Z77-Motherboard/MBD0375/

2. Asus MAXIMUS V GENE - http://www.cclonline.com/product/78...ards/Asus-MAXIMUS-V-GENE-Motherboard/MBD0377/

3. Asrock Z77 Extreme6 - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asro...i-6gb-s-pcie-30-(x16)-d-sub-dp-dvi-d-hdmi-atx

4. Asus P8Z77-v Pro - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus...-6gb-s-d-sub-(vga)-displayport-dvi-i-hdmi-atx

I am also open to other ideas and options, however I am on a budget so I need to stay in that sort of price range .
Thanks in advance folks.

 

[SavageCupcake]

Thought about the msi z77 m power?

 

[Blackwatch]

I did think about it however I can't find it in stock anywhere and I have to admit to being and Asus fanboy .

 

[Master&Puppet]

All of those boards are good, however, if I had to pick a z77 board I would suggest the MSI z77 mpower without a doubt.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-219-MS

If you want to go for ASUS then I'd get the V gene out of those two. It's a cracking little board (it is m-atx if that matters to you). The Sabertooth annoys me because it is gimmicky but it is a decent board, if over priced.

 

[Bang]

Personally, after doing much reseach on this, I have decided to go with the MSI Z77A-GD65. Its cheaper than the MPower and has a comparable feature set. My advice would be to narrow it down to about 4 boards, go to the manufacturers websites and compare the features yourself. Pick the one with the best features at the price you like. For me that was the GD65.

The Asrock Extreme6 would be my second pick. Both are under $200AUD.

The Maximus V Gene is $255 in my area. However, I understand that its also the best overclocking board Asus has yet produced for Ivy Bridge.

What is more important to you? Having the best of the best or have a good solid board and saving $70 to $100?

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z77a_gd65_motherboard_review/1

 

[airdeano]

yeah. the MSI GD65 or MPower are the clear favs of mine.
no frills, straight usable features without the higher costs.

airdeano

 

[rossi94]

Take the sabertooth, gene is too small

 

[SnW]

Yea MSI is really on it these days....

 

[tinytomlogan]

The Gene is the odd one out, its MATX.


IMHO only use MATX boards in MATX cases or it looks chuffing stupid.


Id also think about an MSI for Z77 tbh dude, probably get more for your money long term. Look at the reviews we have done here.

 

[MacLeod]

I'm a diehard Asus fan but I really do like the M Power boards. They really seem to be performing like a boss! The Sabertooth is the best motherboard on the planet IMO but usually more expensive.

 

[BlacknTan]

I'm in no position to give anyone here advice on hardware purchases, but I will say this. For my current new build, I had my heart set on a Sabertooth, but went with the Z-77 MPower instead and never looked back.

I've been very happy with that decision!

 

[Feronix]

Yeah, Z77 mPower if you do overclocking. It's just an amazing board.

If you really can't find any in stock, I'd go with the Asus Sabertooth. Asus boards are generally good, and I think this particular one has a 5 year warranty

 

[Bang]

I agree with Tom. mATX boards look stupid. They suck - not enough options. If youre going to pay the same price you might as well get a full sized board. With most companies they charge the same price for their 'm' variants.

If youre just looking at websites to see what they have in stock, try calling. They dont always update their websites as soon as stock comes in. Besides, if a shop doesnt have it in stoock, but lists in on their site, they will order it for you, especially when they know its not going to sit on a shelf for a month or more.

 

[Master&Puppet]

I agree with Tom. mATX boards look stupid. They suck - not enough options. If youre going to pay the same price you might as well get a full sized board. With most companies they charge the same price for their 'm' variants.

Of course it would look silly in a huge case but but performance and feature wise it is brilliant. It will fight happily toe to toe with the atx boards out there. I think ASUS did a great job (in fact I think the small form factor had the benefit of making them focus rather than adding pointless things like watercooling).

 

[kilobravo]

The M5G is brilliant,its the best m-atx mobo,i have it myself and it performs very well,but if you want to do a normal atx build i would have a look at what MSI have to offer you.

 

[Blackwatch]

In the end I went with the P8Z77-V Pro board, I did consider the MSI board but I've been burnt a few too many times in the past by them.

AT the moment im very happy, the new UEFI BIOS is a little confusing but I've got a super cool and stable 4.5 overclock on it and i now i can go much much higher but get a little concerned with the temps.....time for a bigger rad me thinks..... but for the time being iI have a few other things to sort first.