New build needing help/advice

[thealien]

I am thinking of building a new computer and need some opinions on a motherboard for my build.

This is the processor I plan on using. Microcenter has the best deal anywhere on it and I am 30 minutes from a microcenter.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/388575/Core_i7_3770K_35GHz_LGA_1155_Processor

I have hundreds of movies I own ripped to an internal hard drive and backed up on an external (and a couple of 2.5 inch portables so I can take them with to watch at friends houses). I have eSATA on most of my externals but my laptop has USB 3.0 (and I like the USB 3.0 because with eSATA you still need USB for power). I also have a couple of other drives for music and pictures and of course the OS drive. I also have 2 optical drives one for playing blue ray and the other is a DVD multi burning drive. I really mainly use for HTPC but do some video and photo editing. I also like to plan for the future.

With what I have now I need 6 SATA and at least 1 but 2 would be nice eSATA, I also want at least 4 rear USB 2 and a couple USB 3 ports on the rear and a couple of USB 3 on a front header.

I also use the computer as my DVR so I need slots for my Haupauge TV tuner.

I don't game so except for TV capture and some video editing I dont need a high end video card (using an Nvidia GT 430 now). I don't really need SLI or crossfire capabilities.

I could get a lesser motherboard and add A Raid/controller card to add some SATA ports but I have had issues with hot swap abilities and have to restsart for the drives to get recognised so I would prefer onboard?

Here is a motherboard I am looking at but have read some reviews with issues (and many that love it) but would like to find alternatives. One plus to Micrcenter is they are great with warrantee and returns and can deal with them instead of the motherboard manufaturer.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/388088/SABERTOOTH_Z77_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Intel_Motherboard

And the case with a hot swap drive dock built in (would make backups easier)

http://www.microcenter.com/product/365240/Chaser_MK-I_Full_Tower_ATX_Gaming_Computer_Case

Would love to save a few bucks and am open to any advice, thanks!

 

[Slacker7]

Microcenter is a great place to shop; purchased quite a few parts from them for my most recent build. Personally I think your motherboard choice is overkill.

My suggestion is that since MC has a very knowledgeable staff ask them for their recommendations for your specific needs.

* Let us know what you finally decided upon.

 

[PCunicorn]

I would get this: http://www.microcenter.com/product/386359/GA-Z77X-UD5H_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Motherboard Cheaper, and maybe even better. But the Asus is fine if you are not worried too much about the warranty. The thermaltake case isn't very nice, but it's fine.

 

[thealien]

I would get this: http://www.microcenter.com/product/386359/GA-Z77X-UD5H_LGA_1155_Z77_ATX_Motherboard Cheaper, and maybe even better. But the Asus is fine if you are not worried too much about the warranty. The thermaltake case isn't very nice, but it's fine.

What do you mean by "if you are not worried too much about the warrantee"? The ASUS has a 5 year?

Any other case suggestions with lots of space and a hot swap built in?

 

[Slacker7]

Getting Asus to honor their warranty is often a very difficult process. Don't get me wrong, Asus makes some great boards but if anything ever goes wrong...

Again that Sabertooth board is overkill for what you want/need.