Best Intel or AM3+ Mobo ~ $200

[Flyfunner5]

My build so far, already all bought
Build

IF bulldozer turns out to be good, come October 12th, I'll be getting either the 4 core or 6 core chip, or even 8 core

What's the best mobo to accompany it?
I plan on getting 2x AMD HD Radeon 79xx in the future (early next year)

I plan on overclocking the hell out of everything
I might also put a sound card, and wi-fi card in it in the future

So what's the best mobo that has good slots for all these features

 

[Flyfunner5]

Best Intel Motherboard ~ $200

My current parts

Come Oct 12, if bulldozer becomes a flop, I will buy the i5-2500k from Microcenter for $180 USD
& I need a good mobo to go with it. I plan to use pc to play bf3

I will be adding 2x AMD HD Radeon 79xx Gfx card (Early 2012)
Plan to overclock everything
Might add wi-fi card, and sound card in the future (mid 2012)

So what's the best intel motherboard to do all this that's 180-220$??

 

[mbentley]

I merged your threads and moved them to General Motherboards instead of having two separate threads about nearly the same thing.

 

[Mario1]

I'd look into the Gigabyte 990FXA series, great motherboards.
D3 is the cheapest one and its pretty good, ignoring the fact that you'll need to buy VRM cooling if you plan on overclocking.
Runs dual SLi/CF at x16/x16 without any problems whatsoever!

 

[Flyfunner5]

I'd look into the Gigabyte 990FXA series, great motherboards.
D3 is the cheapest one and its pretty good, ignoring the fact that you'll need to buy VRM cooling if you plan on overclocking.
Runs dual SLi/CF at x16/x16 without any problems whatsoever!

Thanks! And anyone know why intel motherboards are generally more expensive than their amd counterparts?

 

[ZapTap]

I'd look into the Gigabyte 990FXA series, great motherboards.
D3 is the cheapest one and its pretty good, ignoring the fact that you'll need to buy VRM cooling if you plan on overclocking.
Runs dual SLi/CF at x16/x16 without any problems whatsoever!

is there something wrong with what comes stock? does this apply to the ud5, too?

 

[wingman99]

is there something wrong with what comes stock? does this apply to the ud5, too?

There is no proof that you need to add anything to a motherboard, so stock is fine. Who knows better motherboard manufacture or us.

 

[Flyfunner5]

update!

Ok, so Bulldozer was a flop, so I'm going to get i5-2500k. But first, I need a good motherboard, and I have some questions. Thanks!

1. i5-2500k is socket 1155 right? And the older version was the 1156?
2. What's southbridge and northbridge? I looked online, and most I could find was that it means the motherboard divides up tasks into those 2 parts?
3. Which motherboards support i5-2500k (Sandy Bridge)
4. What motherboard supports i5-2500k, and will also support Ivy-Bridge
5. Sandy Bridge-E is just a suped up version of i7 2600k right? Like in the 300$+ range? (So consumers on my budget don't have to worry about it?)
6. And Ivy Bridge is Sandy Bridge upgraded onto a die shrink and new architecture right? And the release is around march/april 2012?

Ok, now onto the motherboard
Parts I bought
Now for CPU+Mobo I have $400 USD
400-(179.99 x 1.07) = $207.41 It's 179.99 @ MicroCenter, plus i'm guessing 7% tax

So I have $207.41 - $5.99 (shipping from Newegg.com) = $201.42
What's the best mobo for 200 or less? Take into account
-I plan to get 2 x AMD HD Radeon 79xx in crossfire
-I plan to add an SSD
-I plan to add a wi-fi card
-I plan to add a sound card

 

[MattNo5ss]

update!

Ok, so Bulldozer was a flop, so I'm going to get i5-2500k. But first, I need a good motherboard, and I have some questions. Thanks!

1. i5-2500k is socket 1155 right? And the older version was the 1156?
2. What's southbridge and northbridge? I looked online, and most I could find was that it means the motherboard divides up tasks into those 2 parts?
3. Which motherboards support i5-2500k (Sandy Bridge)
4. What motherboard supports i5-2500k, and will also support Ivy-Bridge
5. Sandy Bridge-E is just a suped up version of i7 2600k right? Like in the 300$+ range? (So consumers on my budget don't have to worry about it?)
6. And Ivy Bridge is Sandy Bridge upgraded onto a die shrink and new architecture right? And the release is around march/april 2012?

Ok, now onto the motherboard
Parts I bought
Now for CPU+Mobo I have $400 USD
400-(179.99 x 1.07) = $207.41 It's 179.99 @ MicroCenter, plus i'm guessing 7% tax

So I have $207.41 - $5.99 (shipping from Newegg.com) = $201.42
What's the best mobo for 200 or less? Take into account
-I plan to get 2 x AMD HD Radeon 79xx in crossfire
-I plan to add an SSD
-I plan to add a wi-fi card
-I plan to add a sound card

2500K is LGA1155 and uses P67 and Z68 chipsets. You'll want a Z68 chipset since it has additional features and those are more likely to support IB.

SB-E will be LGA2011, quad channel RAM, native x16/x16 CFX/SLI, 6 and 8 core CPUs, etc.

There should be some LGA1155 boards around $180-200 from Asus and Gigabyte that should satisfy your needs.

 

[Flyfunner5]

2500K is LGA1155 and uses P67 and Z68 chipsets. You'll want a Z68 chipset since it has additional features and those are more likely to support IB.

SB-E will be LGA2011, quad channel RAM, native x16/x16 CFX/SLI, 6 and 8 core CPUs, etc.

There should be some LGA1155 boards around $180-200 from Asus and Gigabyte that should satisfy your needs.

Thanks!
Do you recommend or prefer one company over another?

 

[MattNo5ss]

I don't really have a company preference, I've used EVGA, Asus, and Gigabyte. I've heard good things about MSI and Asrock as well.

You just need to make sure you'll have enough slots for the sound card and wifi card and that they are the right slots, PCIe x1, PCI, etc.

 

[Theocnoob]

1. i5-2500k is socket 1155 right? And the older version was the 1156?

1155 yes

2. What's southbridge and northbridge? I looked online, and most I could find was that it means the motherboard divides up tasks into those 2 parts?

NB used to control PCIE and RAM, then just PCIE. Now the NB functions are integrated into the CPU. SB controls lower bandwidth I/O such as SATA, as well as administering bandwidth for things like your network controller, onboard audio, and USB 3 controller.

3. Which motherboards support i5-2500k (Sandy Bridge)
ANY 1155 socket motherboard. H will not let you overclock, but you can use the integrated graphics. P will let you overclock but lock the graphics. Z lets you have it all. Get a Z68 board.

4. What motherboard supports i5-2500k, and will also support Ivy-Bridge

That is uncertain at the moment. In theory any Z68 board. Read up on it there is uncertainty.

5. Sandy Bridge-E is just a suped up version of i7 2600k right? Like in the 300$+ range? (So consumers on my budget don't have to worry about it?)


No. SB-E is a different CPU on a different socket. Ivybridge is the 'stepped up' Sandybridge. Essentially a die shrink with more transistors but still the same general design.

6. And Ivy Bridge is Sandy Bridge upgraded onto a die shrink and new architecture right? And the release is around march/april 2012?

Yes, and I don't trust release dates any more.

 

[Flyfunner5]

Thanks so much! What do you guys think about this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264&Tpk=ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3

 

[MattNo5ss]

Assuming the HD79xx cards are dual slot, you'll have PCIe x1, PCI, and PCIe x16 @ x4 slots available for sound and wifi. So, it looks like that board will do the trick.

Expensive motherboards aren't needed for SB OCing either, so you'll be able to get the CPU up there as well.

 

[Brolloks]

Thanks so much! What do you guys think about this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264&Tpk=ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3

That is a solid board
The Asus P8Z68 Pro , EVO are also great boards

 

[wingman99]

I like Gigabyte boards they have a 3 year warranty, ASRock only has 2 year warranty.

 

[Flyfunner5]

Thanks so much! What do you guys think about this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264&Tpk=ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3

O wow! I just noticed it only had 2.0x16 @ 4
Is that enough for 2 79xx?
Sorry, i don't understand exactly where the GPU cards go, like which slot is for what parts

Is there any mobo with x8 instead of the x4 of that mobo?

 

[MattNo5ss]

Just the bottom slot is x4, the other two will run in x8/x8.

 

[Sentential]

Honestly speaking coming from a i2500k owner; arguably the best motherboard you can get is the P8Z68-V Pro from Asus; everyone has em and there's tons of info about em. That or the Gigabyte equivalent.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364206

One thing you will learn with time about overclocking is go with the herd. Its far easier to parse out information on the 1 or 2 boards everyone and their grandmother is using; rather than being out in the wilderness because you wanted to be "special". Do *NOT* buy the Asrock; buy the Asus or the Giga.

 

[wingman99]

+1 buy the Asus or the Gigabyte