Spec me a mobo

pc_monkey · 28 Jan 2012 at 11:22

Another spec me a mobo please.
This will be for my third build to go with i3 2120 CPU.
Budget = cheapest possible

I need the mobo to have the following:

USB3 at the back + header

At least 3 fan headers - 1 for CPU, 2 for front and back fans, don't need Power fan header, how many percent of people use that anyway?

Must have at least DVI port

PCIe 2.0 or better

Inbuilt MOSFET sink

support SSD caching

DO NOT need SLI/Xfire support

Thank you

stulid · 28 Jan 2012 at 11:24

Because you want caching it has to be the gigabyte Z68 AP D3 that's on offer.

It may not have a VRM heatsink. Also double check the specs are what you are after as im on a phone.

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3897#sp

pc_monkey · 28 Jan 2012 at 12:41

Big thanks!

Everything on that board looks nice to me except the parallel and com ports. Being a modern board, they shouldn't be there, waste of resources. They could have just put a DVI connector instead of those two.

now time to read some reviews

stulid · 28 Jan 2012 at 12:47

Well here are the reviews,

http://www.kitguru.net/components/m...-z68ap-d3-z68-review-bargain-buy-of-the-year/
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/gigabyte_ga_z68ap_d3_review,1.html
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...herboards/gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-1026263/review
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/10/11/gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-review/1

I'm on the PC now, and it looks like there isnt a USB3.0 internal port.

pc_monkey · 28 Jan 2012 at 13:00

What is the white connector labelled USB next to the otehr blue usb headers? But it doesn't look like a 19pin usb3.

stulid · 28 Jan 2012 at 14:20

Its a 3X power usb2 port for quick charging.

pc_monkey · 2 Feb 2012 at 23:17

I've settled for another ASUS board:
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8H67M_PRO/

I didn't get everything I wanted, but it's the best compromise, I hope it doesn't have any boot issue just like my other 2 Asus boards.