It's back-to-school season again. Although in previous years, there have been devices like laptops and netbooks competing with DIY desktops, this year's back-to-school build market is relatively quieter. The main reason for this is the hard drive price hike that has yet to settle down. It's not wise to build a PC during a price surge, but ignoring the DIY market due to rising hard drive prices could also result in missed opportunities.
Intel will release its third-generation Ivy Bridge (IVB) processors with 7-series motherboards in April. Now is the time when merchants are reducing prices on 6-series motherboards. We have largely confirmed that 6-series motherboards with display outputs can well support IVB processors. Therefore, users looking to buy affordable and good-quality boards paired with IVB processors should consider making a move now. Below, we will discuss some essential knowledge about upgrading 6-series motherboards to IVB processors and recommend some H61/H67 motherboards from the 6-series that can seamlessly upgrade to third-generation i5 processors for students.
The 6-series motherboards were introduced by Intel to pair with second-generation Sandy Bridge (SNB) processors. There are four consumer models, ranging from low-end to high-end: H61, H67, P67, and Z68. For the third-generation Ivy Bridge (IVB), Intel will launch three 7-series motherboards, including H77 and Z75/Z77. The H77 aligns with the H67 in positioning, while the Z75/Z77 corresponds to the P67/Z68. Most specifications between the two series are consistent, both using the LGA 1155 interface, thus allowing compatibility with SNB/IVB CPUs.
Currently, the P67 has almost exited the market, replaced by the Z68. Therefore, only the H61, H67, and Z68 need to be considered when purchasing from the 6-series. The table above compares the specifications of H61, H67, and Z68. The differences between H61 and H67 lie in the support for SATA3.0, and generally, the number of memory slots on H67 is twice that of H61. Compared to H61/H67, the main differences with Z68 are multi-card support and overclocking capabilities. H61/H67 do not support overclocking, and when paired with second-generation SNB processors, H61/H67 can only support up to DDR3 1333MHz. However, when upgrading to IVB processors, they should all support DDR3 1600MHz.
Compared to the 6-series, there are no significant changes in specifications for the 7-series motherboards. The differences between the 6 and 7 series are more functional. Even if you don't use overclocking or special features, the lowest-end H61 from the 6-series should be able to fully leverage the performance of third-generation i5 processors. Thus, choosing a 6-series motherboard paired with an IVB processor is perfectly reasonable. However, users must pay attention to BIOS support. Currently, only first-line and quasi-first-line manufacturers' BIOS can support IVB processors, and the support is still imperfect. Before purchasing a motherboard, users should confirm with customer service whether the product will upgrade its BIOS to support IVB processors.
In terms of pricing, H67 and Z68 are currently being promoted at reduced prices. Z68 typically costs over 700 yuan, which may not fit within the budget of student users. H67 usually costs under 700 yuan, suitable for gamers, while H61 is the cheapest, with regular all-solid-state H61 costing around 399 yuan, and better ones priced at 499~599 yuan, best suited for most student users. Today, we introduce H61 and H67, with prices ranging from 398 to 699 yuan, fitting the actual market situation.
Recommended Product: ASUS P8H61-M LE
Reference Price: 499 yuan
Key Features: EFI BIOS, first-line brand, GPU BOOST automatic overclocking
Drawbacks: Not all-solid-state components
The ASUS P8H61-M LE uses a Mirco ATX small board design based on the Intel H61 chipset, supporting the entire range of LGA 1155 processors. The motherboard provides 2 DDR3 memory slots, 1 PCI-E x16 slot, 2 PCI-E x1 slots, and 1 PCI slot. In terms of disk storage, it offers 4 SATA II interfaces. Additionally, it supports EPU intelligent energy-saving processor, Anti-Surge full protection against power surges, EMI electromagnetic radiation protection, EFI BIOS, and comes equipped with long-life solid-state capacitors, making it quite luxurious.
Power Supply Module:
The ASUS P8H61-M LE adopts a 4+1+1 phase power supply design, with 4 phases dedicated to core power supply, and another 1+1 phases providing independent power supply for the graphics core and memory controller. Combined with the EPU intelligent energy-saving processor, it can provide more stable power supply to the processor while effectively reducing unnecessary losses.
Expansion Slots:
Through the GPU BOOST technology, the ASUS P8H61-M LE motherboard can easily boost GPU performance by 30%, making games run smoother. If you're dissatisfied with the integrated graphics, the motherboard also provides a PCI-E X16 slot for upgrading the graphics card.
I/O Interfaces:
The I/O interface section of the motherboard features a practical design with DVI+VGA video output solutions that meet the needs of most users. The numerous USB ports also enhance user convenience.
Review:
The ASUS P8H61-M LE motherboard incorporates many humanized designs, making it practical and convenient. Additionally, through GPU BOOST technology, it can easily boost GPU performance by 30%. As a first-line product priced at 499 yuan, it offers decent value for money.
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