GA-Z77M-D3H vs GA-P61A-D3

[Jinbe]

Currently i have mobo GA-Z77M-D3H with DA NV GT 440 2gb/128bit.

Firstly, I heard that GA-P61A-D3 can support future system-proofed well and can upgrade many things over time, is this true? Or better stick with GA-Z77M-D3H, because i read these both specs on gigabyte site and compared, i think its best to stick with my old mobo. What do ya'll think?

Secondly, im not really good at computer upgrading, since im just a computer user, so there goes a long story. What i want is to upgrade my vga card for a better graphic rendering 3d game, so i went to computer store for a help to upgrade my cpu, but im having issue with their staff, because they seem to have lack of knowledge of installing mobo and vga card in which series is compatible and supported.

Previously they suggest a vga card DA NV GT 730 2gb/128bit, tried to install with my old mobo GA-Z77M-D3H, happened that can't go boot to bios system, froze at the bios screen (the screen that need to press 'del' many times), they said the old mobo is not compatible with new vga card, so they suggest i must buy new mobo GA-P61A-D3, so i bought it, tested and it works.

On my other ear, i heard that my old mobo needs to upgrade its bios, which is a real risk and i know, i used my old mobo for 2 years already. But then i have issues again that the staff seems does not know about upgrading bios, with a condition my old mobo attached with new vga GT 730, he said it cant upgrade the bios because it froze at the bios screen, can't respond to 'del' button. So i said what if they change the vga card into my old vga card GT 440? So that can boot to bios. They said it doesn't affect it and must use thr new vga card to upgrade all include bios. Now ended up froze at bios screen.

And then, my second thought that i had change my vga card again to DA GTX 760 palit 2gb/256bit, good lord for that, because i realise that my graphic card is important for gaming spec, 128bit is not enough to play 3d game to the max. Now this puts me into dilemma, if i bought GTX 760 palit then ask the staff to try install first to my old mobo GA-Z77M-D3H, will it be any issue with the compatibility or does it support? Do it need to upgrade the bios for old mobo? How i should tell them to upgrade bios?

Im stressed with their staff that have poor knowledge about upgrading, if this old mobo cant work, it'll end up to new mobo. But i still curious which mobo is better. I hope that can understand my condition.

Any answers are appreciated, i live in asia, english is not my first language i apologize. Thank you.

 

[cin19]

The Z77M-D3H is newer than P61A-D3, because the z77 is the 7 series with Z77 chipset and the p61 is the 6 series MB with H61 chipset. But the Z77 has the older version BIOS when it came out. Yes, sometime you need update the BIOS so that you can use the new GPU. Here is how to check the BIOS version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkPUTCjvf_0

I check the gigabyte site 1) the z77 has two version 1.0 and 1.1, the 1.0 rev has 1st BIOS F5 (2012/03/29) and 1.1 rev one has 1st BIOS F9 (2012/07/23), and 2) the GA-P61A-D3 has two version too ( rev2.0 and 3.0) , but the rev3.0 has the FA bios ( 2014/02/14 ), I think you maybe get this version. I know the Gt 730 just came out this year, so the GT 730 works on the GA-P61A-D3 maybe the BIOS.
GA-P61A-D3 http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4940#bios
GA-Z77M-D3H http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4329#bios

And the gtx760 was in the market for while I think it may work on the z77m-d3h, if it does not work and you need update the BIOS, here is how to update the BIOS, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oyZDhv94k0 I recommend to use the Q-flash method.
But if you buy the gtx760 and make sure you have the PSU can power the gtx760, that requires 500W with 2X 6pin pcie connectors and 30A in the +12V rail. http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm Also make sure get the good PSU too. Check out the " PSU tier list" http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

Yes, updating the BIOS has the risk, but if you do it right then it works, so if you are afraid to that, then just get the GA-p61A-D3 ( maybe the 3.0 rev, I call that is the downgrading the MB, but you don't need update the BIOS.) then it will work with the gtx760.

 

[Jinbe]

Thank you cin19, that is pretty great information, but i ended up using GA-p61A-D3 (which is 3.0 rev) supported with DA NV GTX 760 Palit. Though im sad that i can't upgrade by myself, cause i don't want to risk it, so i sold my old mobo and my old vga to my friend who in need, and for PSU, it wrote 700W on the label, so I think its enough for my cpu built recently. So... I'm happy that i learnt some knowledge about motherboard and vga card. Thank you once again!!!