Gigabyte Z68X-UD5 vs MSI Z68A-GD65-G3

Phill4321 · 12 Nov 2011 at 12:59

Gigabyte Z68X-UD5 vs MSI Z68A-GD65-G3, which would you choose if you had to pick one and why? I'm looking at both boards and considering getting one today. The gigabyte is £120 today only and the msi is £125 after a rebate.

Slipperz · 12 Nov 2011 at 13:12

I'm having the same dilemma seems quiet on here today!

stulid · 12 Nov 2011 at 13:17

MSI

pros,

Has display outputs on the rear panel to use the onboard GFX.
Has Lucid Virtu and Quicksync.
Gen3 PCI-E switches so both the PCI-E slots are Gen3 when a ivybridge CPU is fitted and next gen GFX card.
2 more SATAIII ports

UD5

Pros,

Three Firewire connectors.
Extra USB3 internal header.
Far more CPU VRM phases to overclock better (20 vs 8)

Two different boards, one has features the other is built to oc better/higher

There are other differences but it starts to get a bit picky

stulid · 12 Nov 2011 at 17:25

Well you may have noticed the prices have gone back up for the motherboards that were on offer, that leaves only the MSI as the winner.

Phill4321 · 12 Nov 2011 at 17:32

Yeah just noticed, Would never bother with the gigabyte for that price. Looks like MSI are the clear winners.

Broken Hope · 13 Nov 2011 at 08:57

The MSI having less CPU phases doesn't tend to make that much of a difference anyway, it will still easily clock to 4.4-4.5GHz.

Phill4321 · 14 Nov 2011 at 07:10

Went for the msi in the end. Cant wait to get my system finished