Motherboard needed - what brands are good

Rostos · 26 Nov 2016

Howdy folks

I just found out that my motherboard is on the way down, and that it's time for a replacement to be made. I have an ASRock, which I understand it's not quite a good brand. The funny part is that the "specialist" that made my build recommended it 6 years ago, I was not limited by a budget back then. I am now lol.

So, I want to replace it, while also preparing for future upgrades. I have an i7 cpu now, a good video card, etc, I will upgrade them gradually on the medium term, since I have no problems with them, so I am cool with them. I am not a heavy gamer nor my work requires the latest CPU or VC, and nor my wallet supports those :P

So, what brands should I stay away from? What brands are the best? What parts of my actual PC have to be compatible with it?

I have an ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP with an Intel Core i7 3770, and a GTX 660.

Thank you

Berton · 26 Nov 2016

It may be difficult to impossible to migrate parts from your old motherboard to a new one, technology has changed as I can attest to with my 6-year-old and 7-year-old self-built Custom computers. Getting a motherboard that will accept your CPU and RAM is the issue due to age. My computers run Gigabyte boards with AMD CPUs but the sockets are different and the RAM is different, can't interchange. I looked around at newer boards for a possible new Custom but in the end just bought a new computer, an ASUS from their business line as I'm not a gamer. Both of my Customs were Upgraded from Win7 to Win10, one with Win8.1 in between.

essenbe · 26 Nov 2016

For the most part, you should be OK as long as you pick the same chipset, H77 in your case. The biggest concern is your CPU. I have changed boards numerous times and have never had a problem. Some boards are a little picky about ram, but I have never had an issue.

As for brands of boards, you will find a lot of opinions. Almost everyone has a personal favorite. Mine is Asus. I have had good luck with them and tend to stay with what I am familiar with. That isn't to say, other brands are not good. In fact, the most stable board I have ever owned was an Asrock board. It went through 5 or 6 builds and never failed to run well. It was a P67 board and is still running today.

Your biggest problem may be in finding a H77 or Z77 board. They are about 3 generations old now and are hard to find.

Berton · 26 Nov 2016

I forgot to mention about RAM. Even though the boards are the same brand the 7-year-old board uses DDR2 modules while my 6-year-old board uses DDR3 modules, can't interchange between the two. In my shopping I didn't find a new board that would accept the DDR2 modules but there were a lot for the newer DDR4 of which I have none in use just yet.

essenbe · 26 Nov 2016

Berton, you must have picked a board with a different chipset.

Rostos · 26 Nov 2016

Hm, so there is no way I can buy a board for the future while keeping the old stuff. I was thinking about upgrading the MB first, then double the RAM, then change the CPU or VC, etc.

But if there are compatibility problems I cannot get a motherboard that works with what I have now and will work with new tech too.

Thanks guys

essenbe · 26 Nov 2016

Most current Motherboards require a different CPU and Ram. The socket on the motherboard has to match the socket the CPU was made for. To get a 'modern' motherboard you would need a new CPU and ram.

Rostos · 26 Nov 2016

Thanks again. I will have to think about it. Cheers

Berton · 26 Nov 2016

That was kinda my point, a year's time can make a big difference in what hardware is on the market.

Rostos · 26 Nov 2016

Thank you. I will replace the motherboard for this PC, since it is pretty good, but won't get a super MB since I cannot upgrade stuff with new tech. I am already on online shops, but it seems I am kind of limited regarding the hardware part of a PC. My cpu is supposedly a FCLGA1155, an i7 3770, but I see no motherboard with a 1155 socket, only 1150, 1151, 2011, etc.