Understanding how to select a MOBO

[sms1295]

I need some help in understanding how to find a MOBO for my first build. I listed below what I believe are is the starting points and what I’m looking at:

Form Factor: ATX
CPU Type: I7-2600K
CPU Socket Type: LGA 1155
Maximum Memory Supported: At least 8GB
SLI option: Yes
3:0 USB: Yes

Are there any other features/details I should be looking at or considering? I’ll be using the system for video/photo editing, games (Call of Duty series), MS Access work, & surfing the net.

Thanks,

sms1295

 

[abekl]

The specs you listed are a good start. One thing you might want to do is count up all the USB devices you might have hooked up at one time, and make sure that the board has at least that many USB ports. Also, if you're going to run an external drive for backup and storage at some point, you want to make sure the board has an ESATA port.

 

[HostileDonut]

Make sure you have enough USB ports and that it will support all the hard drives/optical drives. Since you are running an LGA1155 CPU, you will also need an LGA1155 motherboard. Pretty simple to find. Now you just have to make sure that it supports your memory type/speed and all of your video cards. If you are running SLi/CFX, make sure it supports it. If you want to OC, make sure it has decent heat sinks and a good amount of power phases. Also, make sure it is the correct form factor, like a ATX board in an ATX case, not an m-ATX case. A m-ATX board will fit in a ATX case though.

 

[sms1295]

I see Z68 and H61 chipsets listed for with the Intel Socket 1155 MOBO. How does chipset come into play as deciding on a MOBO?

Thanks,

sms1295

 

[HostileDonut]

There are h61, h67, q67, p67, and z68 chipsets. With a k series chip you want a p67 or z68 chipset, as they allow OCing. To OC you need a p67 or z68 board with a k series CPU. You have the k series CPU, now you just need the right board. Also, p67/z68 board allow for RAM faster than 1333Mhz. I believe z68 has some USB3 controller that the others don't too. z68 is the best LGA1155 platform. What is your budget?

 

[abekl]

These will help you understand the 2 most popular chipsets, the Z68 and H67:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/h67-express-chipset-2nd-gen-core-brief.html?wapkw=performance%20desktop%20chipset
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/mainstream-chipsets/z68-express-chipset.html

 

[sms1295]

There are h61, h67, q67, p67, and z68 chipsets. With a k series chip you want a p67 or z68 chipset, as they allow OCing. To OC you need a p67 or z68 board with a k series CPU. You have the k series CPU, now you just need the right board. Also, p67/z68 board allow for RAM faster than 1333Mhz. I believe z68 has some USB3 controller that the others don't too. z68 is the best LGA1155 platform. What is your budget?

My budget is up to $200.

 

[HostileDonut]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128507&Tpk=gigabyte%20z68%20ud-4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271&Tpk=ASROCK%20extreme3%20gen3

I own the ASROCK and love it, but the GIGABYTE would be better. For the average OCer and adding a video card, the ASROCK is enough though.