Eric Garay

First, Let’s Break Down the Pricing

There appear to be three different prce levels of P55 motherboards seperated by only $30 in some instances. The most affordable P55 boards start at $150 with basic audio, connectivity, as well as dual graphics support. The next performance tier is $180.00, which tends to offer better quality audio, plenty of connectivity, and dual graphics support. Then there is the extreme tier where you’ll spend $210 or more for  things like maximum overclocking, plentiful expansion, good integrated audio, and tri-SLI or CrossfireX video card support.

If you’re a gamer, graphic expansion and support is essential. Of all the features available at every price range, anyone of these levels will crush video games with at least one seriously capable video card. And, it won’t matter if it’s a Core i5 750 or Core i7 860. It’ll get the job done.

Some Boards That Fit the BuildIn the first tier, I’ve got two full sized ATX recommendations based on function form and design. These would be the MSI P55-GD65 and ASUS P7P55D Pro motherboards. While both motherboards are neat looking, the GD65 is slightly less colorful and offers a nice dark theme. The GD65 also offers onboard OC Genie overclocking buttons which work great for those who like it easy.However, Pro is no slouch when it comes to stability and features. It overclocks equally well and does so with less needed voltage tweaks. Plus, the Pro’s VIA Vinyl HD audio quality is a notch above the GD65. It’s a little richer, but doesn’t quite measure up in depth. The average gamer will probably be content with its performance.The only tier 2 board tested so far is the ASRock P55 Deluxe. It’s not the prettiest of the bunch, but it isn’t ugly by any means either. It’s a fully feature loaded ATX motherboard very similar to some Tier 3 boards which include power, reset, and CMOS buttons. It’s overclocking is comparable to the GD65 and Pro as well. And, it offers arguably the best audio solution of any P55 motherboards tested with the ALC890 Codec.