Best i7 Gaming PC Motherboards 2012

If you've been keeping an eye on the incredible advancements in CPU technology that have been released this year, then you are certainly familiar with Intel's flagship CPU for the year the core i7 2600k. The 2600k was released in early January of 2011 and quickly overcame Intel's i7-950 which was the bestselling processor of 2010.

There are two versions of this Sandy Bridge CPU that are in the mainstream - the i7-2600 and the 2600k. The "k" simply means that the processor is fully unlocked and allows for complete control by the user.

A key component of this CPU is Intel's all new Sandy Bridge which creates a bridge which is both faster and more power efficient between the CPU and all of the other components attached to the motherboard.

Hyperthreading

The 2600k also takes advantage of Intel's Hyperthreading technology which allows its 4 cores to operate under 8 core functionality when necessary for multitasking.

Turbo Boost Technology 2.0

Another great feature to the 2600k is Intel's Turbo Boost Technology which allows the CPU to redirect power in order to increase performance when necessary. Without manually overclocking it this CPU can boost up to 3.8Ghz. Gaming aficionados have reported speeds up to 4.8Ghz!

On a Budget? Consider the Core i7 2500k

If you can't quite afford the i7-2600k or want to stick with a budget, then consider Intel's i7-2500k for your gaming rig. You still get full control with its unlocked features and 4 core processing power.

P67 vs. H67 - What's the difference?

If you are looking for a great motherboard you may come upon the question that many builders have about LGA 1155 socket motherboards - what's the difference between the p67 and h67 chipsets? A basic definition would be that the P67 is made for PC builders looking to have a dedicated graphics card and the h67 is built more for those looking to use an integrated graphics card. In summary, the P67 design allows for performance tuning and overclocking and doesn't support onboard graphics while the h67 does support onboard graphics but does not support performance tuning.

*Video - For more information about the 2600k and the difference between h67 and p67 I highly recommend the video to the right.

If you are looking to purchase the 2600k you most likely want a p67 motherboard so that you can take advantage of its unlocked features. If you don't care about performance tuning/overclocking, then consider the i7-2600 which is generally $20-30 cheaper. The i5-2500k is also available without the unlocked feature for a similar discount.

Z68 Motherboards

If you're looking for the best of both the P67 and H67 chipset and are willing to pay a slight premium, then consider the Z68 chipset which combines the overclocking ability of the P67 with the integrated graphics options of the H67. The Z68 also has Intel Smart Response technology which allows you to dedicate a solid state drive (up to 64GB) to "cache". This in turn gives you solid state drive-like performance for your entire hard drive. I've listed a few of the best Z68 motherboards to the right.

Other 1155 Motherboard Specifications to Consider:

USB 3.0

USB 3.0 can transfer data at a rate up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0. If you've ever waited an hour for your files to transfer, then you know how nice this upgrade is. One downside to USB 3.0 is its not backward compatible with USB 2.0. If you have lots of USB 2.0 equipment make sure that your motherboard still has a few USB 2.0 slots.

DDR 3

All LGA 1155 socket motherboards include DDR3 technology. Make sure to check the timing on your motherboard as well as speeds to make sure that you make the most of your ram.

Sata 6Gb/s - SSD vs HDD

Another powerful technology to consider is Sata 6Gb/s which can provide transfer speeds up to twice as fast as conventional hard drives. Sata 6Gb/s or Sata Version III as it is known by some provides faster speeds for both HDD and SSD making multitasking faster and boot times virtually non-existent. Since Seagate has mentioned that SSD probably won't completely overtake HDD for many years, it's important to consider a hard drive with Sata 6Gb/s capability for your new computer.

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I hope you've enjoyed this review of the best 2600k motherboards for 2012. If you have, then please leave a comment in our feedback section below.

Did you find what you were looking for?

If you didn't find the motherboard CPU combo that you were looking for, then consider one of my other hubs on the best 1155, 1156, 1366, AMD AM3, 775, and Micro ATX Motherboards for 2012.