Z68 or P67??

Aye

Aye

Aye

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Ok so battlefield 3 is coming up :D

I want to build a new system but im confused :confused:
There seems to be 2 chipsets P67 and Z68 and from what I understand Z68 is the latest and greatest and supports additional features and looks to be the same price and in some cases cheaper than an equivalent spec'd P67.

So I suppose what I'm asking is whats the point in P67 over Z68?
 
Will you use Intel Smart Response? (using a small capacity SSD as a cache drive along side a regular mechanical drive).

Will you need access to the IGP of the sandybridge CPUs for encoding increases?

Are you bothered about that Lucid stuff that dynamically switches from the IGP to the discreet graphics card? (Not on all Z68 mobos).

Personally if none of these are required then grab one of the P67 chipsets.
 
But thats what i dont understand, i know the features additions of Z68.
But why wouldn't i go for Z68 when the boards are about the same cost?

Is there a disadvantage at all on a Z68 vs P67?
 
The GD53 that Vader suggested is a very cheap board that offers everything that you will need.

The cheapest Z68 board with similar features would be the Asrock Z68 Extreme4 at almost £30 more.

(when I say similar features, I'm mainly talking about CF/SLI capabilities)
 
Z68's key features are of very limited value:

SSD caching - worthless if you have a proper SSD

Virtu - no power savings to be had unless you use Quick Sync for video transcoding. N.B. Virtu doesn't switch off discrete graphics cards, the card is still in the normal idle state when not being used.
 
Op should read this - http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/05/13/what-is-the-intel-z68-chipset/1

There is one massive advantage that the P67 doesnt have, the ability to still use the PC without a graphics card, I just sold my graphics card, if I didnt have a Z68 motherboard I would not be using the PC now.

If for some reason you need to RMA your discrete graphics card or decide to sell it then you can still do the basic stuff of browsing online, movie playback etc.
 
Good point stulid, although the current iteration of Gigabyte Z68s don't have that ability as you know, I think I heard that Gigabyte plan on releasing new boards with the onboard display.
 
I don't know why Gigabyte did not release the boards with the full features of Z68 in the first place, the crippled ones cost just as much as their competitors that had the full features.

Gigabyte must think were all clueless, I want to buy a Gigabyte Z68 - does anyone know when the full feature ones are going to be in stock?

Even then looking at the new ones they only come with a HDMI connection so resolution only upto 1920x1200.

Think I may as well go for the Asrock Z68 Extreme4 at this rate.
 
This is a debate i'm locked in atm. Z68 costs more but offers more, but the additonal features are not actually that useful...

Right now i'm tempted byt the P8Z68-V Pro which is on offer and cheaper than the p67 conterpart.
 
There are several Gigabyte mobos with graphics connectors, but all at the lower end (Z68X-UD4 and above have no connectors, Z68XP will have... I think).

I have the UD3H, not really an overclocking board (only 7 phase VRM) but has loads of features, inc VGA/DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort. And it's black. :cool:
 
Hmmm thanks for the responses guys.
Seems a few of you are in the same boat as me.

Im going to go down the Z68 route as i would rather have features i might not use than not have features i might use.

Also Nelly I thought HDMI could support higher res's than that....so i checked and HDMI 1.3 which is pretty much standard now supports 2560x1600. In fact they must all be 1.3 as otherwise 3D wouldnt work as the refresh rate on original HDMI is only 60Mhz :)

Again thanks for the help guys.
 
Aye said:
Also Nelly I thought HDMI could support higher res's than that....so i checked and HDMI 1.3 which is pretty much standard now supports 2560x1600. In fact they must all be 1.3 as otherwise 3D wouldnt work as the refresh rate on original HDMI is only 60Mhz :)

Again thanks for the help guys.
Click to expand...
H'mm well I'm not sure, have a look at these links below, from what it says - not really a big deal unless your using anything above 1920x1200.
  • The Gigabyte Z68XP series motherboards have a HDMI display port only, supporting up to 1920x1200 @ 60Hz.
  • Asrock Z68 Extreme4 includes HDMI, DVI display ports supporting up to 1920x1200 @ 60Hz.
  • Asrock Z68 Extreme4 includes D-Sub display port supporting up to 2048x1536 @ 75Hz
  • Asrock Z68 Extreme4 DisplayPort supports up to 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD4 - Intel® HD Graphics 2000/3000 - Source (Manual Download)

gigabytez68xpud4.jpg


Asrock Z68 Extreme4 - Intel® HD Graphics 2000/3000 - Source

asrockhdmietc.jpg
 
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