MSI Z87-GD65 vs Asrock Extreme4 vs Gigabyte UD4H for Overclocking

[itmondsply]

I'm trying to decide on the best motherboard for overclocking with an i5 4670k. I'm shooting for OC speeds around 4.4 & 4.5 GHz. My setup has an excellent case and fans for airflow and the Corsair H100i for cooling. What I'm looking for is a solid motherboard around the $150 (or less) price range that offers the best OC capabilities. I'm looking for the best cooling specs and the ability for manual fan control on all fans. Aesthetics of the board itself is at the bottom of the priority list, but fan header location is kind of high priority, because I prefer them to be located around the edges of the boards (I noticed some boards locate 3 headers in the center of the board, wtf - poor cable management). After reading a lot of threads and reviews on these 3 boards, I can't seem to settle on any one of them. I don't like MSI's LAN adapter and I've heard too many complaints about the reliability of the other 2. So, of the 3, (or maybe another that you'd suggest that meets the criteria & price range), which motherboard would suit me the best?

Criteria:

• Efficient Overclocking
  Optimum Cooling
  Manual Fan Control
  Fan Header Location
  ~$150 or less

 

[junkeymonkey]

they all got there good and bad points but I just did a intel build and that giga z87 ud4 was my first choice but I could not catch it on sale to were it was inline with other boards in its class so I went with my 2ed choice the asrock z87 ex6 so far so good cant complain as of now. but ya I do like the ud4h and feel if you went with it and got a good one thats not defective in some way that is a nice board. as far as the MSI one I did not like the killer lan deal on them I prefer to stay with a realteck or intel lan set up. but the thing is to my nowadays is when you get something it either works well or it don't regardless of the brand you just roll the dice and hope you don't get snake eyes with a part. good luck

 

[Y0GI]

I have the MSI Z87-G43 which OC's to 4.6 GHz quite easily on the i5 4670K: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130694
Realtek 8111E Ethernet. Great MB!

Yogi

 

[itmondsply]

they all got there good and bad points but I just did a intel build and that giga z87 ud4 was my first choice but I could not catch it on sale to were it was inline with other boards in its class so I went with my 2ed choice the asrock z87 ex6 so far so good cant complain as of now. but ya I do like the ud4h and feel if you went with it and got a good one thats not defective in some way that is a nice board. as far as the MSI one I did not like the killer lan deal on them I prefer to stay with a realteck or intel lan set up. but the thing is to my nowadays is when you get something it either works well or it don't regardless of the brand you just roll the dice and hope you don't get snake eyes with a part. good luck

This is what I'm afraid of, especially considering the fact that I have a history of seemingly bad luck, I guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best. I decided to go with the UD4H because I was able to get a killer combo deal for an i7 4770K from Micro Center and it looks like a pretty solid board. If anyone is interested, here is the build I will be working on: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/itmondsply/saved/4yf6

Thanks for the advice, it really helped me make a decision and finally stick with it, not to mention it got me looking more into the UD4H and I found the sweet deal; I guess that kinda contradicts my previous luck statement.

 

[junkeymonkey]

bad luck? don't feel like the lone ranger on that I've had my share of it too. my last build was a pain and I never got it to work right and tried different parts here and there to get it 100% to no avail but on this one so far so good no issues works fine [knock on wood]

that micro center is a joke all there hell of a deal stuff always seems to be in store pick up only and I tried to e-mail them a few times and they never reply at all.. so why advertise all them good deals online and cant deliver?? not good..

 

[itmondsply]

bad luck? don't feel like the lone ranger on that I've had my share of it too. my last build was a pain and I never got it to work right and tried different parts here and there to get it 100% to no avail but on this one so far so good no issues works fine [knock on wood]

that micro center is a joke all there hell of a deal stuff always seems to be in store pick up only and I tried to e-mail them a few times and they never reply at all.. so why advertise all them good deals online and cant deliver?? not good.

I guess that's where our luck differs; I live 20 minutes from a Micro Center