Mobo for overclocking

[rGhost]

So... I want to overclock the G3258 and (mostly) to play all kind of games till next year (or two years) when I'll upgrade to Broadwell (i5 / i7) but I can't decide on the motherboard. What I want, well... I don't know what I want (or better said, what I REALLY need). First, from what I've read a good VRM with more digital power phase is a must for overclocking but since I'll be trying to oc a fucking dual core shouldn't just 4 phase be enough ? I mean, that chip draws very little power even when overclocked. My budget is somehow tight and I've found two mobos that I like. The ASUS Z97-K and the ASRock Z97 Pro4.

 

The ASUS one seems to be more reliable (big brand, experience and stuff), better built and it has a nicer (and better ??) bios,a better layout (at ASRock the main PCIe slot may block a big cooler like Noctua NH-D14 or NH-C14) a funny and special looking heatsink on the Z97 chip and two PS2 ports (mainly a con for others but I still use PS2 keyboard and mouse but of course I also have usb ones). Also, ASUS has seperated lytography for the audio zone.

 

 

Now, the ASRock one has 6 power phase (2 more than ASUS, although I don't know if they really are digital, ASRock say so), a better look (black PCB and cool blue touches, although ASUS's champagne also looks nice to me), 12K capacitors (asus ones are 5k), M.2 and SATA Express (ASUS only has M.2),a better lan chip (made by Intel), a better audio chip, digital audio port, two more usb 2.0.

 

Now, these mobos have the same price where I live. What should I choose ?

[Raudi_]

Any Z87/97 motherboard in your price rang as they will all overclock the same no matter what.

[runit3]

Any Z87/97 motherboard in your price rang as they will all overclock the same no matter what.

I wouldn't count on every Z87 board OCing or even working as well as a Z97. Every Z87 will require a BIOS update to work with the G3258, and not all manufacturers have released said BIOS's for every line of Z87 board they make. If you're going to go with a Z87 make absolutely sure there is a BIOS release that will allow the G3258 to function. IMO pay the extra $10-20 for a Z97 and don't worry about it.

[Raudi_]

I wouldn't count on every Z87 board OCing or even working as well as a Z97. Every Z87 will require a BIOS update to work with the G3258, and not all manufacturers have released said BIOS's for every line of Z87 board they make. If you're going to go with a Z87 make absolutely sure there is a BIOS release that will allow the G3258 to function. IMO pay the extra $10-20 for a Z97 and don't worry about it.

Your giving sorta false info,

Lets get @ProKoN to expalne this better then I could.

[runit3]

Your giving sorta false info,

Lets get @ProKoN to expalne this better then I could.

What part of that info is false? Gigabyte, ASUS, ASRock, and MSI all have BIOS updates which specifically state the need for them when using Devil's Canyon and G3258 in conjunction with the Z87...

ASRock Extreme 4 http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z87%20Extreme4/?cat=Download&os=BIOS

ASUS Z87-A http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z87A/HelpDesk_Download/ (" BIOS updater for New 4th Gen Intel Core Processors

Before using the new Intel 4th Gen Core processors, we suggest that you first download the BIOS updater for new Intel 4th Gen Core Processors and then update the BIOS using this tool.")

Gigabyte Z87-n http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4600#bios (F5)

MSI Gaming http://us.msi.com/support/mb/Z87G45_GAMING.html#down-bios (Version 1.7)

 

You could spend a bit of extra money to avoid 1 possible fatal problem by bricking the board during the BIOS update, or 1 potential headache if the BIOS update doesn't function at 100% and you encounter errors/incompatibility. If he already had a Z87 lying around that would be one thing, but for a brand new board Z97>Z87 all day IMO (only with DC's and G3258)...if you're not going refresh then it won't matter either way.

[Raudi_]

What part of that info is false? Gigabyte, ASUS, ASRock, and MSI all have BIOS updates which specifically state the need for them when using Devil's Canyon and G3258 in conjunction with the Z87...

ASRock Extreme 4 http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z87%20Extreme4/?cat=Download&os=BIOS

ASUS Z87-A http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z87A/HelpDesk_Download/ (" BIOS updater for New 4th Gen Intel Core Processors

Before using the new Intel 4th Gen Core processors, we suggest that you first download the BIOS updater for new Intel 4th Gen Core Processors and then update the BIOS using this tool.")

Gigabyte Z87-n http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4600#bios (F5)

MSI Gaming http://us.msi.com/support/mb/Z87G45_GAMING.html#down-bios (Version 1.7)

"not all manufacturers have released said BIOS's for every line of Z87 board"

This is false as far as I know there is no motherboard from Z87 that doesn't support Devil's Canyon.

[Wirerat]

Also there are a lot of z87 motherboards that have the same  quality VRM or some even better than the z97 that replaced them.  Not that they OC better but they did step back a bit on some  boards. http://sinhardware.com/images/vrmlist.png

[rGhost]

Guys, keep in mind that I want to upgrade to Broadwell someday so I'd like a Z97 board. From what I've read (and heard from other people) the ASUS VRM is better than ASRock one on those boards and that ASRock doesn't have digital but analog/hybrid so even if pro4 has 6 power phase ASUS should be somehow better in this category. So, you say that all Z97 mobos oc the same ? If that's right, then how is the matter with the LAN chip? ASUS Z97-K has realtek 8111GR while ASRock Z97 Pro4 has Intel I218V. So, is the one made by Intel better ? Will the internet really work better on this chip ? And about the adio chip, ASRock seems again to be better, having as audio codec ALC892 while ASUS has ALC887. I don't know why, but I'd go with ASUS...