System board advice please

**Glitch** · 01-31-13, 08:25 AM

Okay ... I have a
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K
new in box waiting for a home but my old MB is AMD. Only thing keeping me from using it is waiting on Tax $ to buy a new system board. I am by NO means an expert on the subject.

Does anyone have a suggestion on which LGA 1155 I pick up?

I know I want 4 slots of DDR3 for at least a max ram of 32 gig (I plan on picking up 2x8gig to start)

I am leaning toward one of these

Newegg.com - MSI ZH77A-G43 LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $87.56
Newegg.com - MSI Z77A-G41 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS $92.55
Newegg.com - ASUS P8B75-V LGA 1155 Intel B75 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $89.99

but I am really not sure the differences or if I should be looking to spend more $ (and what it would get for me) like

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $137.86

Or something entirely different?

I am a PC tech for a large hospital but I really support stock PCs with cookie cutter software on them. I have built home PC's before but I typically buy what is on sale to may my dollar stretch as far as I can. I really don't know much about the details in the differences between mother boards. Any guidance would be appreciated.

**a weakling spaz** · 01-31-13, 09:04 AM

I would go for a board with the Z77 chipset. Out of the ones you linked that includes boards from MSI and Gigabyte. Both are great brands. There shouldn't be a huge difference between the two. Beyond that make sure it has everything you need: enough ports, slots, etc.

**a weakling spaz** · 01-31-13, 09:09 AM

Also since you grabbed the 3770K, are you looking to overclock?

**Glitch** · 01-31-13, 09:20 AM

No, I just got a great deal on it through a resaler program ($120) Couldn't pass that up.

I have never actually over clocked any CPU before.

so look for the z77 chipset? Okay. I guess I assumed that was just a 1155 thing. That is exactly why I asked

Never considered looking it up. Got something to Google now

**a weakling spaz** · 01-31-13, 09:44 AM

For general advice I am just going to start linking people here:
Build a PC

A lot of great discussion to read through, and there is pretty good information in the sidebar on the right.

**Glitch** · 01-31-13, 09:46 AM

OUCH... Reddit hurts my eyes to read.

I never figured out why that site is popular. It looks like crap. Actually it looks like crap from BBS's 20 years ago.

How do you actually find info on there?

**a weakling spaz** · 01-31-13, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Glitch

OUCH... Reddit hurts my eyes to read.

I never figured out why that site is popular. It looks like crap. Actually it looks like crap from BBS's 20 years ago.

How do you actually find info on there?

I find it easy to browse through and read because of its simplicity. YMMV. It's easy to find things on there.. the Search function works well.

**RhysJD3** · 01-31-13, 01:08 PM

Which video card(s) do you plan to use? Are you going to be doing SLI or Crossfire or want the ability to do both or do neither? Makes a difference for which board you get.

Overclocking? Based on your original post, I'm guessing no. I think I have the P8Z77-V but mostly because I wanted SLI support and digital power control (and the less expensive one was out of stock).

**Glitch** · 01-31-13, 01:23 PM

I have a Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16.

I never have done Crossfire or SLI. By time I can afford another card it is just better to get 1 new card than try and find a matcher for my old one. Really don't plan on going with a crossfire set up anytime in the foreseeable future.

Spaz sent me to learning about North Bridge Chip sets, which I had heard of North and South bridge but never realized there was a difference on the same type of CPU.

Per Chipset Differences: Do You Really Need a Z77? - Gamer's Nexus | Gaming Hardware, Culture, Features, and PC Builds

Since I probably won't over clock and Most likely will stick with one Video card... am I crazy in thinking I can get away with a H77?

**DJ Ms. White** · 01-31-13, 01:34 PM

Well, Overclocking is relatively painless assuming you have a decent cooler (not hard to get, air coolers will work plenty well in most cases). It never hurts to get the capability to OC; that way, if you need the extra horse power, you can get it.

Also, I do recommend Gigabyte. I have one for my rig, and the GUI for the Bios is very nice.