New processor and motherboard

[Siriusmuzik]

Hello,

I need a new motherboard and processor. I do gaming (BF3, css, starcraft 2, diablo III) and just general work like office 2010, word, browsing, and videos.

I can get the AMD FX 8120 and the ASRock 970 Extreme4 for $200.

Is there any reason to go the intel route? I can drive to a microcenter (gas and time, but not that big of a deal for me).

My memory is rated at 1.5V so I don't think it should have any issues with intel processors. I will be buying an Antec KUHLER H2O 620. I have a Corsair Builder series CX 500 PSU and am planning to get a 448 core GTX 560 TI this week.

 

[Forceman]

If you can really get that CPU and motherboard for $200 total, then I think you need to do it. Intel offers better performance overall, but you are looking at closer to $300 on the Intel side (i5-2400 + Asus P8Z68-V LX for instance).

 

[Siriusmuzik]

Well, at microcenter you can get $50 off a motherboard when you buy a $179.99 i5 2500K. So I guess that makes things a little harder.

For example i5 2500k + ASUS P8Z68-V LX $239.98

But i would like recommendations for a better board if the intel route.

 

[wtourist]

The Asus MAXIMUS IV GENE-Z/GEN3 is probably the price performance favorite at around $189 list.
Asus uses the same performance features, just fewer of them, on their boards from about $130/$140 on up, so you can choose what you need by feature set.

 

[Forceman]

Well, at microcenter you can get $50 off a motherboard when you buy a $179.99 i5 2500K. So I guess that makes things a little harder.

For example i5 2500k + ASUS P8Z68-V LX $239.98

But i would like recommendations for a better board if the intel route.

That board is perfectly fine if you aren't planning on doing heavy overclocking (over 4.5 or so) or SLI/Crossfire.

The Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3 (I think that's the full model number) is also a good choice but a little more expensive. Then Asus' full P8Z68-V range starts at $180 or so. You can also get a P67 board - I'd avoid Asus, but MSI and Gigabyte both sell mid-range P67 boards for around $100.

 

[E4g1e]

The Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3 (I think that's the full model number) is also a good choice but a little more expensive.

That was the full model number of one of Gigabyte's earliest Z68 motherboards with no video outs at all. It is apparently no longer in current production. The two boards that replace it are the GA-Z68X-UD3H (with D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI outs) and the GA-Z68XP-UD3 (with only HDMI out). However, the Z68XP-UD3 is currently $10 more expensive than the Z68X-UD3H at Newegg after shipping charges are factored in. (Both the GA-Z68XP-UD3 and the GA-Z68X-UD3H now ship in revision 1.3, which are Gen3 / PCI-e 3.0 ready when Ivy Bridge begins arriving.)

 

[Siriusmuzik]

okay thanks guys. Any comment in regards to 8120 or 2500k keeping in mind costs.

 

[Forceman]

That was the full model number of one of Gigabyte's earliest Z68 motherboards with no video outs at all. It is apparently no longer in current production. The two boards that replace it are the GA-Z68X-UD3H (with D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI outs) and the GA-Z68XP-UD3 (with only HDMI out). However, the Z68XP-UD3 is currently $10 more expensive than the Z68X-UD3H at Newegg after shipping charges are factored in. (Both the GA-Z68XP-UD3 and the GA-Z68X-UD3H now ship in revision 1.3, which are Gen3 / PCI-e 3.0 ready when Ivy Bridge begins arriving.)

Thanks, the XP-UD3 was the one I was thinking of.

 

[Forceman]

okay thanks guys. Any comment in regards to 8120 or 2500k keeping in mind costs.

The 2500K is quite a bit better overall than the 8120, to the point that almost no one would recommend getting an 8120 over the 2500K if you are paying full price. If you have some kind of discount though, it's a different story.