Upgrading CPU, Mobo and RAM - Gaming! Help yo! :)

[Sensi Karate]

Asrock e4 is cool, and did you check last MSI Z68 mobo with gen. 3.0 pci-E, it's really impressive.

Yeah seen them, they look really good, but unfortunately not stocked at umart. :l

Still contesting on whether to fork out an extra $50 for the ASRock Extreme 4 or just get the Extreme 3. And havent decided on RAM yet. :l

Also forgot to even ask, would a Corsair H50 fit into the Z68 bracket (more specifically, a ASRock Ex4/3)?

 

[Sensi Karate]

Dont know why I didnt see this, but just found:

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 - $155. WOW. So is that an instabuy over the ASRock Extremes?

 

[JrRacinFan]

Dont know why I didnt see this, but just found:

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 - $155. WOW. So is that an instabuy over the ASRock Extremes?

The thing about that board thats somewhat of a con is the very skimpy VRM heatsink, also Ivy Bridge compatibility: unsure on that. The E3/4 Gen3's I'm rather certain will have future support. Just in case you want to drop a more powerful CPU in it at a later date.

EDIT:
For RAM:
Sticking to my guns here with the Gskill 2133 CL9 2x4GB kit.

 

[Sensi Karate]

The thing about that board thats somewhat of a con is the very skimpy VRM heatsink, also Ivy Bridge compatibility: unsure on that. The E3/4 Gen3's I'm rather certain will have future support. Just in case you want to drop a more powerful CPU in it at a later date.

EDIT:
For RAM:
Sticking to my guns here with the Gskill 2133 CL9 2x4GB kit.

Ok cheers for the RAM, I will look into it now. The Gigabyte board is Ivy Bridge compatible. The VRM Heatsink looks better then the one on the Extreme4 board imo. :X

This is the main list atm:

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 - $150
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 $137
ASRock Z68 Extreme4-Gen3 - $180
Asus P8Z68-M PRO Z68 - $143

The gigabyte looks like it has the best features for the price, but I love the ASRock Z68 Extreme 3. Idk much about the ASUS board. :l Still cant decide. T____T

 

[JrRacinFan]

The Gigabyte board is Ivy Bridge compatible.

Oh ok, like I said, wasn't too too sure. I know Gigabyte on AMD stuff is decent, heard they are meh so-so with Intel. Just giving my .02.

Also use the edit button, it will help remove alot of double posts.

 

[brandonwh64]

Intel boards I would go with would be ASROCK, and ASUS. Never had an issue out of those boards as far as stability and OCing.

 

[Sensi Karate]

Oh ok, like I said, wasn't too too sure. I know Gigabyte on AMD stuff is decent, heard they are meh so-so with Intel. Just giving my .02.

Also use the edit button, it will help remove alot of double posts.

Yeah I know about editing, just got out of the habit of using it ever since I stopped going on forums regularly. :L And my current motherboard is a Gigabyte and have had no issues with it so far (just looks crap blue. xD)

Intel boards I would go with would be ASROCK, and ASUS. Never had an issue out of those boards as far as stability and OCing.

Cheers.

 

[JrRacinFan]

my current motherboard is a Gigabyte and have had no issues with it so far

Was referring to current gen stuff. The EP45 lineup was/is solid.

 

[brandonwh64]

Also since the 2700K just released, the 2600K will most likely have price drops so that would be something to look into. Even though I don't need it, I am a HT fan and would probably buy the 2600K if I ever upgraded to SB

 

[Sensi Karate]

Was referring to current gen stuff. The EP45 lineup was/is solid.

Well I havent seen many bad reviews about this Gigabyte board. Care to elaborate? Also it has that nifty Touch BIOS feature.

@brandonwh64: Cheers for the information!

EDIT: MY BAD. Just found out umart doesnt stock the Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P Z68 but rather the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 (NO P DERP, I didnt notice until after I read it over a thousand times! My bad). So yeah idk know. The closest thing to the Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P Z68 is the Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3R-B3 which is $176.

So now I am unsure again.

Asus P8Z68-M PRO Z68 - $143
Asus P8Z68-V LE - $159
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 - $150
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 $137
ASRock Z68 Extreme4-Gen3 - $180
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3R-B3 - $176.

EDIT: (What is the difference between the M and V ASUS boards?)
Only reason that I am resisting the ASRock Extreme3 Gen3 is because I am hearing some people saying that the BIOS software is restricting them past 4.5GHZ on 2500k or 2600k.

WHAT DO?!?

EDIT EDIT @JrRacingFan: Just looked at the RAM again. Is 2133Mhz ovrerkill?

EDIT EDIT EDIT: Just thinking, the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 only comes with 4 USB ports right? I use around 4-6.

FINAL EDIT BE4 SLEEP: Will the Extreme 3 board be able to OC to 5GHZ with a H50 (if it can mount)?
How about the other boards?

I am worried if I get the Extreme3 i will be dissapointed as it wont be able to overclock as far as the extreme4 (http://www.overclock.net/intel-motherboards/1093459-asrock-z68-extreme3-gen3-motherboard.html) <--- people discussing a few weeks back about problems with the BIOS of the Extreme 3 and 4 which wont let them OC that far and stuff. That is my main concern. I want to get my Intel 2500k as far as it can go with my H50 (hopefully above 4.5ghz).

 

[Sensi Karate]

Just to keep people updated, I am about to buy it in a few minutes:

Samsung 22X DVDRW Black SATA
Xigmatek CLF-F1252 120mm Red Fan x 2
Intel Core i5 2500K Processor LGA1155 3.3GHz CPU
G Skill 8G(2x4G) DDR3 1600MHZ PC3-12800 CL9(8GBXL)
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 MB, LGA1155 Intel Z68

About to click accept.

Cheers for the help everyone.