How-To Geek

fredfig,

Welcome to HTG.

Any particular reason for choosing a MB with with PCI Slots on it ??

See Comparison

http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....2D818%2DTS

Rick P.

@LF,

Actually this model MB is the most versatile and upgradeable in Asus Lineup.

ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....6813131818

Asus knows this so that's why they keep the price a bit high.

In past years, Asus would have priced a comparable model MB at around $225 - $230.

I have one and can run 24/7 at 4.8GHz using ALL SSDs with a $60 CPU Cooler.

In fact you can run the On-board HD 4000 Video and not even have a video card
if one is not into really heavy duty gaming.

Rick P.

You'll get no arguments from me, Rick. Once I get around to building the beast, I was counting on using the onboard graphics to set it up and use until I'm ready for multiple monitors (right now, I don't have room). I want to set it up bare bones (MOBO, SSD, RAM) so, if I have problems setting it up (knowing my luck, I will; I'm part Irish so Murphy's misbegotten law counts triple), there will be fewer components to check.

The reason I'm drooling over the Premium is I'll eventually need a graphics card and a SATA controller card. A graphics card that will handle the number of monitors I'll be adding (three independent monitors with two TVS cloned to the third monitor) requires a PCI-E x16 slot. I'll also eventually need a SATA controller card; I'm looking seriously at the StarTech PEXSAT34 to give me the additional SATA ports I'll need (1 optical drive, 1 SSD, and up to 6 HDDs; I'll add HDDs as I need them). It could fit into the PCI-E 2.0 x16 (x4 mode) on the Deluxe but I'm concerned that it will interfere with the audio front panel connectors and the USB headers. I would also like to keep that slot clear should I ever want to add a Thunderbolt card. But, if I move the controller card to the other PCI-E x16 slot, both will revert to only 8 lanes and that would, at the very least, hamstring the Vid card, if not shut it down. The Premium board has four PCI-E x16 slots that stay at x16, even if all four slots are used. It also has Thunderbolt already onboard so I don't have to worry about saving a slot (ironic, isn't it?). The extra two SATA 3.0 ports will also be welcome; the extra 200 shekel shell out will not. Sigh!

LF-
Price is indeed a factor – I want to keep the rebuild ~$1,000. Hence, some of the component recycling and my unsure decision on the graphics card.

It does have the dinosaur PCI slot that I will probably never use. It is much like having a spare tire in your garage for a car that you used to have! It is just taking up space and you know you should just bring it to the recycling center. I also like this mobo b/c it has a legacy PS2 port for my keyboard (the keyboard is nothing special, but it is like a pair of my favorite old running shoes)

I like mustard as a condiment, but not as a sandwich. I’d probably save up for a hot dog and go hungry in the meantime…
SSD: Here is one I was looking at: http://www.newegg.com/Product/.....6820167121
I looked at several before this one; many others, even with reputable manufacturers, had many negative comments as to reliability (flakiness is a word that stands out). So I landed on Intel unless you have a suggestion.

Rick,
I think the ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE may be a winner. Amazon has it for $264 (free shipping); New Egg = $279 (free shipping).

Rick,
You are a wealth of knowledge! I did not know newegg matched prices. I'd rather get it all from one vendor. When I am ready, I'll recheck prices and do exactly as you suggest. Newegg does have a solid return policy and I have never had an issue returning anything to them.

@ fredfig. The Intel is a good choice, especially if you aren't a gamer. The size is plenty large unless you run a hundred large programs or so and the Intels have a good reputation. For a boot drive on a non-gaming rig, RAID 0 is a bit overkill, especially when running SATA III.

The Deluxe is a good board. I wouldn't worry about the legacy slots. No one says you have to use them. I suspect they are there to make the board attractive for people who have legacy cards they don't want to replace. Same with keyboards. I used the one that came with my first PC, a Gateway, for nine years, two years longer than I had the Gateway. I just didn't like the next several keyboards as well and kept going back to the Gateway.

I used to go on ketchup sandwich diets when I overspent but now I have to watch my sugar intake. Hence, mustard sandwiches (often without the bread).

Just bought a Logitech G110 (It's setting at my mail service waiting for me to pick it up). It's a gaming board and I'm not a gamer but I got it for the illuminated keys that shouldn't have the letters wearing off. The programable keys should be useful, though.

@ Rick P. You're right about the slots. I was mixing up boards (old age sucks!). Sorry.

Granted, the RAID 0 you proposed is faster with twice the capacity but just a single SSD is so fast, cutting the speed in half isn't really gaining all that much. With RAID 0, if one drive goes south, they are both down, which also means that the chances of failure goes up. The gains for a non-gamer don't really justify the added compexity, expense, and risk, especially if one is on a budget. A RAID also complicates backups.

Nothing wrong with the k120 other than the decals on the keys. I wear those off fairly quickly and I need them.

Ok, points taken.