ECS Z77H2-A2X Ultimate Golden Edition Extreme

Conclusion:

I have been using the ECS Z77H2-A2X motherboard for over two months on a nearly daily basis in the Core i7 3770K "Ivy Bridge" test bed and it's been working wonderfully with Linux -- mostly Ubuntu 12.04 LTS -- the entire time. The performance is great and on par with Intel's reference Z77 "Panther Point" motherboard, there are not Linux compatibility problems with this motherboard, and the feature-set is superb. The ECS Z77H2-A2X Golden is currently retailing for just under $230 USD, which is a bit high, but in line with other high-end Z77 motherboards to pair with Intel's splendid Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors. If you're a Linux user looking for a Z77 motherboard and wish for it to have all the bells and whistles, the ECS Z77H2-A2X is certainly worth considering.