Question Motherboard suggestions for my gaming rig ?

[shadowman_93]

Hello people,

I want to replace my old motherboard with a new one, but I'm unsure about the recent trends or good fits for my old gaming setup (still, it works perfectly with the following components!).
My budget is around $100-$175. Any motherboard suggestion will be appreciated, I look forward to hearing from you.

PROCESSOR
Intel® Core™ i7-3770K processor

GPU
GeForce® GTX 980 AMP! Omega

RAM
Corsair XMS3 — 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600MHz C11 Memory Kit

PSU
CX Series™ ATX Modular Power Supply CX750M - 750 Watt 80 PLUS®

MOTHERBOARD
N/A

 

[dark_globe]

since your cpu has unlocked multiplier and can be decently overclocked (with decent cooler of course)
you should look for second hand Z77 chipset motherboards (not the cheapest models with bad VRM though)

some suggestions for a good motherboards:

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H
asrock Z77 EXTREME 4/EXTREME6
MSI Z77A-GD65
ASUS P8Z77-V

 

[shadowman_93]

since your cpu has unlocked multiplier and can be decently overclocked (with decent cooler of course)
you should look for second hand Z77 chipset motherboards (not the cheapest models with bad VRM though)

some suggestions for a good motherboards:

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H
asrock Z77 EXTREME 4/EXTREME6
MSI Z77A-GD65
ASUS P8Z77-V

Thanks for your reply @dark_globe; I wonder why you mentioned the second-hand? Is it that hard to find a new one for my setup? Or any possibility of using something else rather than the Z77 chipset ones?

 

[dark_globe]

yes it is hard to find because your cpu is 10+ years old -
you can´t use new motherboards with this cpu .
intel is changing their socket every 2-3 years and it is not backwards compatible .

 

[DSzymborski]

Thanks for your reply @dark_globe; I wonder why you mentioned the second-hand? Is it that hard to find a new one for my setup? Or any possibility of using something else rather than the Z77 chipset ones?

There haven't been new ones made for a decade.

And you can't use anything past a Z77 as they're completely incompatible.

 

[geofelt]

What is the make/model of your current motherboard?

What do you hope to accomplish by changing out the motherboard?

Such an old gen motherboard will no longer be made. The used market like ebay is your only easy source.

 

[shadowman_93]

Thanks for your messages. @dark_globe @DSzymborski @geofelt

I was using ASUS Z77-A Intel Z77 Mainboard ATX Socket 1155, but I've moved far away from my home and only taken the small parts of the computer and left the motherboard and case in my hometown; I was thinking that I may upgrade it with the new one. Now I see that was a stupid idea.

 

[DSzymborski]

Can you get your old motherboard shipped from your hometown? That would be the most elegant solution.

The (relatively) good news is that you can get used Z77 motherboards for about $50 these days.

 

[shadowman_93]

Damn! I just checked and shipping will cost around 200$ 😀

 

[geofelt]

I might add that changing out a motherboard(unless exact make/model) will require a now license unless your licence was retail and not oem.

Without a case, would you just assemble all on a table?

 

[dark_globe]

or maybe just build a new system altogether . you will be able to sell your cpu for maybe 40-50 bucks
keep the video card for some time with your new system and replace it after you save some more money .
sell everything else .
even cheap build like ryzen 5600 , B550 motherboard and 2x16gb of ddr4 memory
will give you much better overall performance (even more so after you swap your video card)
and it will cost you only around 350 bucks .