Upgrading Asus P8H61 Series (LGA 1155) to which motherboard to go for

[eaglewealth]

Which motherboard to replace my ASUS P8H61 Series. To upgrade for Sata 3 and usb 3.0 and which to go for AMD or use same intel i5 to transfer to new upgrade motherboard?

Current motherboard
ASUS P8H61 SERIES

MEMORY: DDR3 1333MHZ (2X8) BRAND NEW

Am only using pc for playing virtual world online and email/browsing tasks and watching movies on youtube.

 

[sonny8888]

What is your budget for the motherboard?

 

[eaglewealth]

Well probably would like to buy around from 100-250!

 

[sonny8888]

I would recommend the ASrock h77 pro4 ($82.55 @Newegg)it has 4 SATA 3 ports, 4 SATA 2 ports and a USB 3 header. I would recommend buying a haswell or haswell refresh instead of buying a new motherboard for your i5. For the AMD i would go with the ASrock 970 Pro3 R2.0 for the FX series CPUS. It has 6 SATA 3 ports and a usb 3 header. If you are going with the latest FM2+ APUs, go with the Gigabyte GA-F2A88X-D3H Motherboard it has 8 SATA 3 ports and a usb 3 header. You don't need a very good motherboard if you are just playing virtual world online and email/browsing tasks and watching movies on youtube.

 

[eaglewealth]

HI

I never had ASrock motherboard before but are they good motherboard? Can I ask what is haswell or haswell fresh what that really mean sorry am not expertise that area.

ok tell me which AMD FX cpu are best to go for Asrock or Gigabyte motherboard?

 

[sonny8888]

ASrock motherboards are good for the price but if you don't trust them just go with something you trust. Haswell is basically a term for Intel's 4th generation Cpus eg: i5-4670K. Haswell refresh is literally a refresh of the haswell. It is the latest haswell cpu eg:i5-4690. For the FX Cpus, i would go with the Piledriver Cpus (Fx X3XX) the 3 means its piledriver(which is the latest Fx Cpus). For your usage of the computer, a Fx 4300 ($99 @Amazon) would do the trick. However if you would want to use you computer for gaming, i would recommend the Fx 6300 ($110 @NCIX) It has 2 more cores than the FX 4300(4 Cores) and would be better if you can afford it, but for your current needs, it will not be necessary.

 

[eaglewealth]

oh thanks for helpful information. I will go for as rock or gigabytes motherboard and FX 6300. I didn't know there new intel 4 generation out and it pricey.

 

[sonny8888]

Ok good luck with building your system

 

[sonny8888]

Btw, you may need to update the bios on the motherboard if your system is not working

 

[eaglewealth]

So that mean with asrock or gigabytes motherboard to go download bios update from website and install it. Sorry not expertise this area too :x

 

[sonny8888]

If you are buying a fx 6300, you can't put the cpu in that gigabyte motherboard. But you will need to download bios from their websites if your system dosen't work

 

[sonny8888]

If you would like a asus motherboard, the Asus M5A97 R2.0 would be a good choice at $88.79. It has 6 SATA 3 ports and a usb 3 header.

If you like a gigabyte motherboard, the Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P would be good at $72.24. It has 6 SATA 3 ports and a usb 3 header.

 

[JOOK-D]

Which i5 do you have?

An FX 6300 is [strike]possibly[/strike] probably a downgrade.

 

[Obnoxious]

If you want to keep your costs extremely low, and simply want SATA 3 and USB 3.0; you should use your current i5, RAM and all other components. In that scenario, you'd need a motherboard with the same socket 1155 (Sandy Bridge and/or Ivy Bridge.) However in doing so, you will not be able to upgrade to the latest Intel 4th generation; you'll still be on the same gen; Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge are 2nd and 3rd generation respectively, which are compatible with the same motherboard (most of the time.)

If you desire an Asus motherboard, whilst retaining your CPU and other component compatibility, I'd recommend the Asus Z77-A for $79.99.

All the best.

 

[logainofhades]

Asrock boards are fine for Intel. I own P67 extreme4 and a z77 extreme4, myself. Unless you have some USB 3.0 devices, you don't need to mess with it. For Sata3, I would just pick up an inexpensive, but decent add on card for it. That would get you by for awhile.