GPU and SB boards

ignatzatsonic · 07 Mar 2011

You mean motherboards?

I've owned several Asus, an Intel, and now a Gigabyte.

The last Asus died on me. I had no problems with Intel or yet with Gigabyte.

Overclockers tend to gravitate toward Asus because they are highly tweakable. Gigabyte is also very tweakable. But I don't overclock.

I chose Gigabyte over Intel recently only on a whim and because the price differential was small--about $30.

I had no luck with Asus support either, so I won't be buying more Asus. I do realize that support from any tech outfit is likely to be shaky nowadays.

It's pretty much a coin flip and blind hope. Just look for the features and ports you need at a price you are willing to pay.

ICIT2LOL · 07 Mar 2011

Thanks again ignatzatsonic yes - in idiot mode again - yes motherboards mate I was leaning toward Gigabyte a they are realistically priced out here and hey they look good too ( I know that shouldn't be a deciding factor - but my favourite colours blue LOL!!)

The site I like to deal with has mostly P67's anyway. The ports look ok to me I was primarily looking for HDMI as well as the usuals and the Gigabyte GA-H67MA-D2H-B3 checked out ok, can take the 8Gb RAM I'm getting and a fair but cheaper than the others (not much choice) at $129!!

The nearest was a MSI H67MA-E45 Motherboard B3 at $10 more.

The only other Gigabyte was the GA-H67A-UD3H-B3 Motherboard but it's $189!
Worth the extra do you think?? as I suppose over the total it's just $60 eh?

ignatzatsonic · 07 Mar 2011

I have a H67A-UD3H that I will be exchanging for a H67A-UD3H-B3 in a week or two.

I originally was going to get an H67MA-UD2H. It was about $10 cheaper than the H67A-UD3H. But on the day I bought, the UD3H was at a special price--a few dollars cheaper than the UD2H.

NO, I don't think the UD3H is worth 60 more. They differ in only 2 ways that I could see. The UD3H is an ATX board and has 3 PCI slots, which I don't need and you might not need (?). The UD2H is a Micro ATX board and has no PCI slots. The UD3H has Firewire, which you may or may not need. The UD2H does not have Firewire.

$60 for 3 PCI slots and Firewire? I wouldn't. But I might if I wanted Gigabyte and needed PCI slots.

Both have eSATA, which can be handy.

ICIT2LOL · 07 Mar 2011

Ok ignatzatsonic I'll go with the UD2H unless like you say the 3 comes up cheaper somewhere else as I would prefer a larger board to work with( fingers aren't what they used to be).

Firewire well looking at the figures quickly it isn't that much faster than a USB 2.0 at the moment and with USB 3.0 is there going to be any noticeable difference anyway? for the average simpleton like me??

Plus the resolution it will support is exactly the same eh?

Now the only thing is I picked out G.Skill Ripjaws XL F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL (2x4GB) DDR3 for my memory and they run at 1600 whereas the board is 1333 so Iguess I'll have to change that - but perhaps it might save me some doughand be able to ugrade to the UD3H??

Now I seem to be on about the same wavelength as you would you mind if I add you to my friends list?? I mean the same wavelenght as in easy to talk to - no that the others aen't but everyone seems less abrupt than the usual forum I go to for advice!

ICIT2LOL · 07 Mar 2011

Hiyya ignatzatsonic have just had a power out here and and things a bit haywire.

Anyway am going UD3H as the RAM I picked out won't fit so am saving money on it.

But at least I can make a start now.

NOw for the bloody WLM grrrrrrrrr

ignatzatsonic · 08 Mar 2011

Look out on the RAM.

Sandy Bridge is a bit finicky and wants 1.5 volt RAM. Both of those boards should use the same RAM.

No need to get anything other than 1333 or anything fancy/expensive if you will not be overclocking RAM.

Gigabyte has a compatible RAM list for some of their boards, including the H67A-UD3H. If you can find a list for your board choice, I would try to get RAM from that list. Other RAM may work, but it is touchy. You can go to Crucial.com and enter your board model in their configurator and it will spit back the guaranteed compatible Crucial RAM model numbers, which you could then shop for.

The Firewire/USB thing shouldn't be a deal-breaker either way. I've got Firewire, but will never use it. I do use the eSATA with an external drive dock setup.

If you want 8 gigs of RAM, you might find that 4 two gig sticks are cheaper than 2 four gig sticks?

ICIT2LOL · 08 Mar 2011

Thanks ignatzatsonic I've got some plain old RAM sticks (couple off 2Gb) picked out as you say won't be O/Cing so they'll do for starters and then add more when the fiances pick up.

i'll check with supplier down here first - anyway at least can start ordering, and I'm sort of a bit more sure with the 3 board.

GPU and SB boards

Thanks again

OK

The board

Okee dokkee