Motherboard Comparison: Gigabyte Z87X UD4H vs Gigabyte Z87X UD5H (vs some more...)

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not2smart

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I have decide to build a new computer, and the motherboard is still the only part im not 100% sure about, so i thought i would get someone else's opinion. To make it a bit easier, i linked each MoBo to their website where they will tell you everything good about the board and leave out the negatives :)

Main use: Gaming, 3D rendering/animation (potentially), other generic uses...

My Current Build (bottom of this post, not actually built yet) uses the Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H for $269 (Australian Prices), but for an extra $40 i can get the Gigabyte Z87X-UD5H.
So basically, what i'm asking is if it is worth spending the extra $40 to get the next motherboard up.

If you want to go above and beyond and become my new hero (move over Gabe Newell) there are a few more MoBo's (two are the same price as the UD5H, so im assuming it's basically the same board from a different company, and i don't have the patience to look them all over, so i won't be surprised if no-one else does)


My Build:
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($389.00)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($139.00)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($269.00)
RAM: G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($159.00)
SSD: Sandisk Ultra Plus 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($77.00)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($96.00)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($499.00)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($95.00)
PSU: Antec HCG M 850W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($175.00)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($19.00)
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($108.00)
Total: $2025.00 AUD
 
Solution
Genzo
Modular. I meant you can remove the drive cages. Its great for watercooling than the scout 2

Water cooling compatibility:
Front – 240 mm radiators (thick and slim) when HDD cages are repositioned or removed
Top – 240 mm radiators (thick and slim)
Bottom – 120mm radiators
Rear – 120mm radiators

Heres my quick edit for Watercooling capabilities of the R2

15watmp.jpg


NOTE: 120mm rad (NOT DUAL BUT IT CAN BE POSSIBLE THOUGH) be installed at the bottom. i did a mistake there.

Here's a review:
Hardware Canucks Review of Fractal Design Arc Midi r2

The midi r2 is cheaper now
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Mecanicien

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Well the previous comment is really spot-on. Concerning the mb it is more a matter of personal choice, there is very little performance difference between Z87 boards.
The biggest difference is in the features and connectivity options.
Most people will have enough even with a board in the lowest price range.
I run a sabertooth at the moment for all the extras it has but i NEVER going to use all of its possibilities, And i can assure you most people never will.
So keep that in mind and dont overdo what you are getting.
Less ram, more ssd, smaller psu, just like the previous comment said, and get a mb that has what you NEED not what you want and never going to use.

Peace
 
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not2smart

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Okay, thanks for information so far, im thinking ill just stick with the UD3H for now and i can add an adapter in the future if i need more ports, but i'll see if anyone else replies before i go buy it.
I originally had the SSD as 120gb Samsung 840 pro, as i'm only going to use it as a boot drive, i have no plans to put anything else on it, so 120gb is overkill for a 20gb OS. That alllowed me to get 16gb of RAM instead of 8gb, so unless 16gb of RAM can decrease performance i'll leave it. As for the PSU, i may buy another 770 later on, so getting a more power PSU now will prevent me from having to get a new one later on (id rather have more power than not enough).
 
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Genzo

Genzo

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a 750W is enough. SSD? Samsung 840 - 120 GB is enough. Im not against 16 GB ram. 16 GB Ram can help you in rendering and alot of task.
 
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not2smart

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I've changed it down to a 750w PSU, but i don't know that much about them, except that i'd prefer it to be modular/semi-modular. Which of these would be better?

I could get this for $159 (Australian prices)
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-power-supply-tpg750m
Or this one for $176
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-power-supply-evo750mpcgusa

As for what i meant with the SSD, i planned to originally buy the samsung 840 pro 120gb, but decided to get a Sandisk Ultra 60gb. I only plan to use the SSD as a boot drive and noting else, and windows 7 (according to their website) only requires 20gb to install. So by reducing the it to a cheaper and smaller SSD i freed up around $40 to get an extra 8gb of RAM for not much more. I Think thats written a bit better than before...
 
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TheBigTroll

TheBigTroll

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the only difference between the ud4h and the ud5h is the extra NIC and the extra IO provided. the vrm is the same

if i were you id get a ud3h. the only difference between the ud3h and the ud4h is the ud4h has the 8 phase power delivery system doubled. its technically a 8x2 phase system so you dont necessarily see a huge benefit.

the asus boards dont even compare in quality. the only thing that asus has that is better than gigabyte is the higher quality chokes found on their ROG series. the rest is equal
 
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Genzo

Genzo

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I dont trust ThermalTake PSUs. Either get a Corsair AX or HX or TX. Or a Seasonic Or XFX.

They are the best quality brand of PSUs
 
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not2smart

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Thanks for advice, i think i will get the ud3h then, it'll save me some money.
 
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not2smart

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I'll go for a corsair PSU in that case (i thought Thermaltake was a good brand...)
 
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not2smart

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The new PSU i have selected is the Corsair HX750v2 ATX Power Supply Unit (hopefully its a better choice...)

My build is basically finished now:
(Just to provide you guys with some closure...)
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($389.00)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($145.00)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($229.00)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($175.00)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.00)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($479.00)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($95.00)
Power Supply: Corsair HX750v2 ATX Power Supply Unit ($185.00)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($19.00)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($108.00)
Total: $1923.00 AUD
I decided to get rid of the SSD boot drive because it saved about $100
 
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not2smart

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MSY don't stock XFX or SeaSonic so i'll settle for the Corsair, as for the SSD, i don't mind waiting a little bit longer for programs to load. Since i have 16gb RAM, most of the program will be loaded into memory anyway, so it will only have a longer initital load/it wont need to replace the information in memory as often as it would if i had 8gb RAM and an SSD, so it kind of balances out. Though I will eventually buy an SSD down the track when i have a bit more spare cash, i've just had to spend $500 on textbooks for uni...
 
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Genzo

Genzo

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How about a 60 GB SSD for boot. Like an adata ssd.

60 gb is enough for an os and a few important apps.

And its better to change your case. The scout 2 doesnt have watercooling capabilities and not a modular cage. Either get a fractal design ar midi r2 or r4
 
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not2smart

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First off, what do you mean by it doesn't have a modular cage?
Secondly, i don't know much, nothing really, but looking at the two cases (the storm scout 2 and Arc R2) the storm scout has 2 holes for water cooling (may be for a custom one) and the R2 does not, and both appear to have the same size exhaust fan mount.
Just to be safe, i'm going to put this in another forum post because i would prefer to use the storm scout 2 if possible, it's cheaper it looks pretty good (in my opinion). If i do have to change the case, i'll get a carbide 300r or 400r, it'd be pretty stupid on corsair's behalf if they made their own products incompatible.
 
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Genzo

Genzo

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Modular. I meant you can remove the drive cages. Its great for watercooling than the scout 2

Water cooling compatibility:
Front – 240 mm radiators (thick and slim) when HDD cages are repositioned or removed
Top – 240 mm radiators (thick and slim)
Bottom – 120mm radiators
Rear – 120mm radiators

Heres my quick edit for Watercooling capabilities of the R2

15watmp.jpg


NOTE: 120mm rad (NOT DUAL BUT IT CAN BE POSSIBLE THOUGH) be installed at the bottom. i did a mistake there.

Here's a review:
Hardware Canucks Review of Fractal Design Arc Midi r2

The midi r2 is cheaper now
 
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not2smart

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Great idea using a picture, really helps to clarify. Also, you get best answer/solution for going to the effort of making a picture.
 
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TheBigTroll

TheBigTroll

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doesnt exaclty work like that in the picture. you can fit a 120mm rad in the front, but not on the bottom. in fact, you cant fit anything on the bottom as the psu will be blocking it and the front radiator will be blocking that as well

the to dual 120/140 mount will barely fit. you must use super thin rads and hope that your fans wont collide into motherboard heatsinks

the back 140 mount will work, but the whole point of getting a R4 is not to watercool it. it was meant for silence. if you wanted to watercool, you are better off with a arc midi r2
 
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Genzo

Genzo

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Well. the bottom is not. you cant fit a dual rad. My mistake there.

And R4 is a silence optimized case. And Midi r2 is a sleek good case with optional for watercooling.
This is the advantage of NZXT and Fractal Design. Modularness of a case.
 
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