Sorry, I just need helping picking out the mother board. The budget for that is $160. I've compared the two, and the differences are negligible. With an extra 4x PCI-e, and 2 PCI slots. More USB 3.0 ports on the back and 2 more SATA connections. So are these boards any good?
Tracy
If you don't help us, we can't help you. All of ATMINSIDE's questions were 100% relevant to answering your question. He was asking about audio because on most $130-160 class motherboards these days, the audio is as good as a sub $100 soundcard. Onboard audio has advanced by leaps and bounds. For example, the ASRock Z97 extreme 6 has better sound than does the Soundblaster Z.
Given your budget, I suggest an ASRock Z97 Extreme 6 motherboard and that the customer throw their soundcard in a drawer or sell it.
As the tech you need to explain things like "Modern onboard is going to be better than your soundcard" to your clients or they could make stupid decisions, or cause you to make stupid decisions.
Only $200 class soundcards are going to sound better than ALC1150 with proper implementation, which is what the Extreme 6 has. And if you're spending $200 on a sound card, you're MUCH better off getting an external DAC.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7&cm_re=HT_omega_claro-_-29-271-007-_-Product
^This will sound better than the integrated audio on the Ex 6. Soundblaster Z will not.
ASRock Ex 6 has very robust power delivery, exceptional onboard audio with both front and rear headphone amps, dual LAN for teaming, tons of SATA, dual M.2, both of which are full length. One is ultra M.2.
It is the best board, by far, in its price bracket, and you should get it. Everyone who has gotten one that we know of is very happy with it.
