New Computer Parts (Motherboard Help)

[TeXaCo]

Hey Guys, I know there are multiple threads with computer part builds but I'm hoping I can throw the line into the water and fish out some help from everybody one more time.

I am trying to help my Dad upgrade his computer and although I have built my last two computers, I have been out of the loop on parts in the last year or so. Wow, everything changed so fast with all the new chipsets, processors and what not.

Once I get the motherboard settled, I should have no problem picking the other parts, so I am looking to build a higher end fast system that is NOT used for gaming. I have been trying to do research on it so correct me if I am wrong on any of these

Z67 is for gaming
P67 has to have a video card in the system
H67 does not need a video card in the system (Can run onboard graphics)
but H67 doesn't seem to come with sata 6 connections, only sata 3.

Here is what I am looking at right now

i7 Processor (looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070)

but here is where it gets hazy. I am looking for a motherboard with USB 3.0 and Sata 6 connection that will fit that i7 processor and preferably a micro ATX because were looking to have a smaller case

He Won't need a video card because he does not play games but I am still a little unsure which chipset to choose. I would hate to get the computer built and there will be nowhere to plug in the monitor...Doh!

Basically he is looking to upgrade to an i7 with stuff like sata 6 and usb 3.0 but has no need for the gaming features. I did google this stuff and read alot of articles on it but I still didn't get the answers I was looking for.

Any Help is appreciated

[hal9000]

Just to clear up a few of your points:-

"P67 has to have a video card in the system"
Correct, the P67 chipset cannot use the integrated video of the i5 /i7 CPU's.

"H67 does not need a video card in the system"
Correct, where the P67 can't use the Intel integrated GFX, the H67 can. This also means you can use the ultra fast 'Quick Sync' feature of the Intel GPU to encode video. There also seems to be a much greater choice of micro ATX H67 boards around as opposed to P67.

"Z68 is for gaming"
Not quite, the Z68 chipset takes the best bits of P67 (very overclockable) and H67 (can use the Intel GPU), adds in some cool features of it's own like 'Smart Response Technology', and puts it all together. It's no better for games than a P67 but it does have the extra features which makes it the best all round chipset out of the three.

"H67 doesn't seem to come with sata 6 connections, only sata 3"
Perhaps you're getting a little confused here. SATA 3 runs at a speed of 6 Gbit/s and SATA 2 runs at a speed of 3 Gbit/s. Most of the boards will have SATA 3 integrated apart from the lower end ones which you shouldn't be looking at anyway if you're thinking of an i7 CPU.

On the USB 3.0 front, like SATA 3, at least 2 are included on just about all mid range and above boards so you shouldn't have any trouble there. Why Intel, in their wisdom, didn't integrate USB 3.0 into any of the chipsets mentioned here, I'll never know!

To sum it up, I really don't think you should be considering any of the chipsets apart from Z68. It's by far the best of the three and isn't that much more expensive than the others, if at all. There are also a number of micro ATX ones around, and the only thing you need to look for, is what video connections you want as they vary from board to board. Apart from that, the more expensive Z68's only really give you things like extra USB / SATA ports, ESATA and multi GFX card slots.

Hopefully, things are a little clearer for you to make your choice. If you're still not sure about models and manufacturers, I'm sure we can help further.....

[Raymond]

I was actually waiting for hal9000 to help out with this thread

[Bearcat]

Well done as usual hal!

I bought a P67 Asus board myself last summer, but my nephew BigGuy went with a Z68 Asus board and after seeing what it can do, I rather wish I had gone that way myself. The cost difference isn't that great and IMHO it would be a much better board than the H67.

[TeXaCo]

Hal,

There was more help in your post than all the posts I read on all the forums I have seen about this subject. Thank you very much for going out of your way to help me understand the new technology. I will definitely be checking out the Z68 motherboards especially since I don't need a video card to go along with it.

I know that picking a brand of motherboard might ignite the PC or Mac type argument but do you have any recommendations on which one to choose.

Asus, gigabyte, MSI all have good reps and they seem to all have similar features but is there any feature that one has that puts above the rest or even a history of problems that I should stay away from?

Thanks Bear, I count on real life stories rather than online reviews so appreciate your input.

[BigGuy]

I don't know about Gigabyte, or MSI motherboards, but I am very happy with my Asus board.

[Bearcat]

Thanks Bear, I count on real life stories rather than online reviews so appreciate your input.

You and me both.

Here is another vote for Asus motherboards, but just like BigGuy, I haven't ever owned a Gigabyte or MSI MB, so I can't really compare them to mine. I think the biggest reason I bought one was because I'd read that Asus is a favorite board for gamers and I figured if it can stand up to that kind of use, then mine should last me a very long time.

[Raymond]

I've always built my own desktop with MSI boards.... and I can't really explain why.
If I am going to build a new desktop, it will definitely be Asus. I've heard all the rave about it and time to give it a test.

[hal9000]

After several years of BIOS bugs and general glitches across 3 boards, I've actually decided to move away from Asus this time round and gone a little bit different with an Asrock board. Asus still produce well built boards though, and you'd probably replace it because of something newer, not because it fails.

Have owned and used several Gigabyte and Asrock boards over the years and to be honest, they have all been a lot less 'buggy' than the Asus ones, and have been just as reliable to go with it. Never really used MSI, EVGA etc, so can't really say how good or bad they are.

A few mATX boards you might want to look at:-
Asus P8Z68-M PRO
GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3
GIGABYTE GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 (more connections than the D2H)
ASRock Z68 PRO3-M

They are all pretty similar in performance. The only real differences are the number of connections each one has. Also, although only a minor thing, Gigabyte still use the traditional text / keyboard based BIOS, where the others use the fancy new UEFI mouse driven / graphical BIOS.

Reviews for the Asus seem to be really thin on the ground, but there are a couple of the Asrock HERE and HERE. The Gigabyte reviews are just as rare as the Asus ones, but there is a mini review for the UD2H HERE.

[Bearcat]

Asus still produce well built boards though, and you'd probably replace it because of something newer, not because it fails.

I would like 5 dependable years out of my Asus. By then, I will either need a new PC, or I will have departed from this world.