The LK has this PCI Express 3.0 x16 2 (x16/0 or x8/x8)
The LX has this PCI Express 3.0 x16 1

The LX is a fair bit more cut back and looks more cheaply built to boot. Only has two full size PCI-e slots. I'd spend the extra $5 personally.

Thanks ... and it is $20 more

No SLI support and the bottom slot is PCI-e 2.0 only and only 4 lanes at that. I'd *definitely* avoid.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_ ... ifications

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_ ... ifications

LX is off my list. The LK is definitely a decent board that would work. However, perhaps i can use my z68 mobo and save $150. i will investigate further.

Thanks for your help!

If you run across a cheaper MB, please LMK.

Forget it.

(thank-you very much for your research, suggestions and efforts to help with this!)

No, it isn't ideal to use Z68 but there is absolutely no time for me to get a new MB and setup windows and 20-some games and many benchmark tools; it would not arrive until late Tuesday afternoon if everything goes perfectly - even by paying for overnight shipping!

However, i can use my i3-2105 right now and do a brand new OS install tonight on my ASRock Z68 Extreme Gen3 MB today. It will be ready for Monday and i will have tested the new OS install for stability.

i will probably have a most unique evaluation and it will be quite valuable to those who may be doing the very same thing. At the end of the month, we can see what an EVGA Series 7 motherboard brings over my ASRock Z68.


Best of all, i will be $200 less poor; plus i will sell my Z68 MB after i get my flagship platform set up while it is still worth about $100 used. And i will be able to sell my i7-920 platform and buy more AMD video cards, if necessary. What i will be selling, i bought out of my own pocket. So we can keep relevant benching going on at ABT

The newest chipsets are only going to bring new features, not performance.

Intel motherboards are so expensive. I think I did well buying mine used, although I do have to RMA it.

This one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128533

Seems to be the most "curious" motherboard among the enthusiasts today. If you could in any way get one, a thorough review of everything on the mobo (on-chip X-Fi chip, wi-fi card, headphone amp, etc..) and especially the O/C potential after the BIOS is updated (which is necessary as per the recall that caused VRMs to fail or even catch on fire) - while some are saying that the BIOS updates kill the OC potential.

Any word on this expensive but "slick" mobo?

That is for the eXtreme CPUs. i won't be getting one of those Chips

Think LGA 1155 ...

Wow, a $400 motherboard.

It looks nice, but 3-way Crossfire is overkill.

I wish they would hurry up and give us x16/x16 for dual cards. I guess with PCI-E 3.0 we effectively get that but I want more.