Trying to pick a Z68 motherboard (MSI / Gigabyte)

[mxsix]

Hello, I'm about 90% done with buying my parts for a new build and I am stuck on the last component - the motherboard.

I am trying to pick between these two:

MSI Z68A-GD65 (G3)

-Or-

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3P

The rest of my system:
Intel i7 2600K
8GB Corsair DDR3 1600
No video card (high-end workstation - using onboard HD3000 graphics)
Seagate 1TB SATA 6Gbps
Corsair 600T Graphite White case
Corsair Hydro H80 water cooler

I won't be doing any overclocking (except maybe a MILD one). Any input helps, thanks for looking!

 

[abekl]

The boards are almost identical. I'd save a few dollars and go with the GB board.

 

[deoxide]

I would go with the GB board alos. Even tho I think you could get away with a much cheaper board. Any reason for getting a H80 over something cheap like 212+ if you are not doing anythnig over a mild overclock.

 

[mxsix]

I would go with the GB board alos. Even tho I think you could get away with a much cheaper board. Any reason for getting a H80 over something cheap like 212+ if you are not doing anythnig over a mild overclock.

I'll be doing some Folding@home on that i7 and want ample cooling since the loads will be sustained for hours at a time.

I'm just torn because I know MSI well, and aside from each board's features, I'm trying to get the highest quality board.

 

[lp231]

Gigabyte, but I hate those red I/O ports!

 

[mxsix]

I'm going to be buying DDR3 1600 RAM, do I have to overclock the RAM to get those speeds or will the board auto detect/accept that RAM?

 

[abekl]

I'm going to be buying DDR3 1600 RAM, do I have to overclock the RAM to get those speeds or will the board auto detect/accept that RAM?

The ram will default to 1333. You will have to go into the BIOS and enable the XMP profile for it to run at its full 1666.

 

[samuelspark]

Gigabyte. Quality stuff.