hi everyone

so though ive been trying to figure this out, i still have a question... i want an i5 or i7 sandy bridge. i don't need "gaming" graphics so my next problem is to pick a motherboard. here's my confusion, it doesnt make sense:

h67: on chip graphics, no overclock
p67: external gpu, overclocking
regular sandy bridge: no overclock, 2000 graphics
"K" processor: overclock + 3000 "enhanced" on-chip graphics

so if you put a K processor in an h67, you don't get to overclock, doesnt make sense. and if you put the K in the p67, you don't get the extra 3000 K graphics, also doesn't make sense. the only thing that makes sense is to put a regular sandy bridge in an h67.

so what have i have gotten wrong?

thanks for all the help
-neal

ps another issue, im on linux (debian, but ubuntu would be ok also). from googling it seems linux support for the on-chip graphics wont be ready for some time. not a big deal, but would it matter p67/h67 for the eventual linux setup?

You got it. They are coming out with a new chipset that lets you overclock while using the integrated graphics. I forget what it is called. It starts with an X or Z. If you can wait a few months that might be the solution you are looking for.

Someone, I think it was MikeC, said that for non-3D non-gaming purposes, that the 2000 and 3000 graphics performed the same.

The current 1155 chipset range is

H61 (budget version of H67)
H67
P67

with a further new chipset - Z68 - effectively P67 with onboard graphics support due so it is rumoured in early May.

Phoronix is a good site for Linux-related hardware info. Linked is an article on Sandy Bridge gfx.