Finding Z77 boards?

[orcinhell]

Hi guys.

 

So I really want to get a new motherboard for multiple reasons but to get to the point it's almost impossible to find any. Every normal online shop I visit have no stock bar one suspect $99 special. And while I fully understand technology is always moving forward I feel frustrated because my 3770k is still strong as hell and in no way is an upgrade worth it considering the cost of a new cpu vs the added benefit for gaming.

 

Is there any way to find boards? and if so what are some good places/sites to track them down.

 

Thanks for any help!

[Paralectic]

You could go for a second hand one.

[orcinhell]

Yea been looking around, hoping there was a website i missed like parts picker but for second hand.... Might have to bite the bullet and wait until next gen and then buy a new CPU and Motherboard.

[orcinhell]

-snip-

 

 

Lol it may be old but the fact is it is still keeping up, by a very close margin in gaming. This is telling me I do not need an upgrade. If this is the performance increases I can expect every 3+ years these days then forcing people to upgrade is rubbish. If CPU performance is balancing out that is fine but they should not expect people to replace CPU's that still work great and have comparable performance.

 

I was eager to upgrade my system. But when I saw what was on offer and the small increase in performance was a real let down. If intel could offer something more substantial in terms of performance I would have upgraded already. But to expect people to fork out 400 for a new i7 and a board around 300 to get such a such a small increase in performance is nuts.

 

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2014/07/03/intel-core-i5-4690k-review/5

 

Those are some benchmarks now tell me that is worth 700 dollars.

[TheOriginalTaco]

-snip-

the 3770k is far from inferior and would definitely smack your little 4690k around. a newer cpu? it just does not make sense right now. not with what intel has to offer as of recently. I dont know about you but not everybody has money to just throw away on a new 600-700$ MOBO/CPU setup. 

 

I however have the same problem and am stuck on the b75 chipset. tried ebay... lol never again. but there are some on pcpartpicker from 90$, 130$, 150$, 170$ etc.

[runit3]

Being in Australia poses a pretty significant hurdle for finding used or refurb gear on the cheap.

I got my refurb Z77 Sabertooth @ SabrePC.com They usually have a rotating stock of factory refurbished boards from Z77 up to Z97, for sometimes less than half of what they were new. Their new stuff is insanely overpriced, but I can't pass up a factory refurb unit when compared to most used offerings ebay and craigslist have.

 

As for your current gear, just OC the piss out of the 3770k and it'll beat any i5 Although, if you're looking for a mobo upgrade I guess that might mean you're on H77, and it would be rare (not even sure if it's possible) to OC on that.

[swifty7]

I have a brand spanking new Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 still in the box, never got around making a build with it due to finances and laziness...LOL!!  But I will get around to it eventually!   I have a 2500k @4.4 myself and I don't really feel the need to go with a new cpu unless skylake kicks all kinds of ass. 

 

I really need to get off my ass and swap my old crappy MSI p67 with broken usb. 3.0 ports with the ASrock one.

[TheOriginalTaco]

Being in Australia poses a pretty significant hurdle for finding used or refurb gear on the cheap.

I got my refurb Z77 Sabertooth @ SabrePC.com They usually have a rotating stock of factory refurbished boards from Z77 up to Z97, for sometimes less than half of what they were new. Their new stuff is insanely overpriced, but I can't pass up a factory refurb unit when compared to most used offerings ebay and craigslist have.

 

As for your current gear, just OC the piss out of the 3770k and it'll beat any i5 Although, if you're looking for a mobo upgrade I guess that might mean you're on H77, and it would be rare (not even sure if it's possible) to OC on that.

i could underclock my 3770k and beat a i5 4690k. ever heard of hyperthreading lol...

[TheOriginalTaco]

i5 is an amazing processor tho

[runit3]

i could underclock my 3770k and beat a i5 4690k. ever heard of hyperthreading lol...

For core restricted tasks and overcoming the IPC gap.

[orcinhell]

thanks for the reply guys. Ill have to look at that site SabrePC.com they seem to ship internationally and I am tracking down a Sabertooth myself.. starts to drool... that is one sexy board.