AsRock - Gigabyte - ASUS

Venomina

Honorable
Sep 14, 2012
7
0
10,510
I'm in the market for a new computer with a somewhat of a budget, but have been jumping around with a bunch of different motherboards - namely one to fit the third generation of intel processors.

I was looking at the ASUS p8z68-v-le ($69) motherboard, but would initially have to purchase a $42 G530 processor to do a BIOS update before spending $190 on my i5 3470.

Should I go that route, or is it worth it to get something like a p8z77-v-lx ($128), AsRock H77-PRO4-MVP ($98) or GA-H77-DH3 ($108) and go straight on to the 3rd gen intel i5. (Which Mobo would you choose, mind you no overclocking is expected to be done)

If I went for the p8z68-v-le I could go with this config

Case: $72 Thermtake Versa II
Mobo: $69 p8z68-v-le
CPU: $42 G530
RAM: $23 AMD entertainment 4GIG
SSD: $66 Samsung 530
DVD: $23 Asus DVD thingy
Hard-Disk: $107 1 TB caviar black (Is it worth it to go down to a blue for just $84 performance wise?)
All up: $402 (OEM not needed)

And get the upgraded CPU plus a GPU (probably 6870) somewhat further down the track. Having a better computer than this old pre-built hunk would be nice as soon as possible.

Alternatively, going the route with the other boards I'm looking at about 600$+ before I can get the thing up and running. Mind you this PC down the track once the CPU and GPU are updated/added would be used for mainly BF3 on whatever settings.

 

Venomina

Honorable
Sep 14, 2012
7
0
10,510
These are based on Australia (MSY) prices, btw.

Is there any downfall in going with a mATX over an ATX. Only one I can think of it less expansion slots? I'd be chucking a network adapter in there with the GPU at some point.