What motherboard should i get?

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

I am building a gaming PC and i am not sure which mobo i should get. I was planning on getting an MSI z87-g45 gaming mobo, but people have been saying that there are some serious issues with it. I found an ASUS z97-a mobo for about the same price, which one should i get? I like the MSI one b/c the color scheme matches my case, but I dont want to buy it and have it break soon after getting it. My cpu is a i7-4770k (may or may not be overclocking, not sure), and my gpu is a MSI GTX 780. Thanks!

RazerZ · Jun 13, 2014

Well without question I would go with the Z97 simply because it has more features and it's similarly priced.

You might want to take a look at the AsRock Z97X Killer motherboard, it's fairly cheap, OC well, and has a nice red and black color scheme.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157505

Take a look at the reviewers. The ones who rated it less than 5 stars either didn't know what they were doing, or took of stars for silly things.

JackNaylorPE · Jun 13, 2014

I have heard of no **documented** issues with the MSI G45/GD65. Lots of "I knew a guy" stories but nothing you can verify and almost always from years ago.

It's won over 40 awards and is an excellent gaming board. The Asus on the other hand .... and I say this with over 80% of my builds being Asus based ... is currently plagued with a BIOS Clock freeze bug which is well documented. Search the RoG Forums and you'll see just about every board having its own thread on this issue.

Asus to my mind still owns the $275 and up bracket but MSI has really stepped up their game in the $125 to $200 range since Z77 and no on touches them there.....the GD65 matches the Asus Hero feature for feature and component for component and it's $40 cheaper. I do like Asus BIOS better but not enough t soend $40 for it.

The MSi Z97 version of the G45 is $150 about $5 more than the Asus 97-A and that's not an RoG Board. The Asus comes with some RAM combos which save $25 extra which ya should look at if ya go that way.

The MSI Z97-G45 will be $25 cheaper when bought with with a 4770k .... though if this is a gaming rig, the 4670k will get ya just 3-6% less in games and put $80 back in ya pocket.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690298
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690293

One other thing ..... unless there's some large performance difference involved, it really can pay off to have the GPU and MoBo from same manufacturer. Invariably, when you call tech support, the MoBo guys blames the GFX vard vendor and the GFX guy blames the MoBo vendor....saves some headaches and as you mentioned the aesthetic issue is kinda in ya face.

A fix for the Asus BIOS bug is reportedly in the works but a fix was posted once before back in August. The fix was not a fix (worked for few days and then froze again) and now 10 months later peeps with new boards are still popping in and upset that it's not fixed yet.

So ....until I can actually get the BIOS bug fixed on my current builds, I am continuing doing MSI builds with the GD65 and G45 for budgets including $125 - $175 MoBo allowances..... I have put all $200 and up MoBo builds on hold until the BIOS thing gets fixed.

Comparing the Asus Z97-A and MSI Z97 G45 ....

MSI has 6 x SATA 6Gb/s to the Asus 4
Asus has M.2 Socket 3 with M Key
MSI has superior sound
MSI has superior NIC
Asus has display port on MoBo

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

RazerZ :

What about this one? dont mind paying a little more for it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132132&cm_re=ASUS_z97-_-13-132-132-_-Product

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

JackNaylorPE :

I have heard of no **documented** issues with the MSI G45/GD65. Lots of "I knew a guy" stories but nothing you can verify and almost always from years ago.

It's won over 40 awards and is an excellent gaming board. The Asus on the other hand .... and I say this with over 80% of my builds being Asus based ... is currently plagued with a BIOS Clock freeze bug which is well documented. Search the RoG Forums and you'll see just about every board having its own thread on this issue.

Asus to my mind still owns the $275 and up bracket but MSI has really stepped up their game in the $125 to $200 range since Z77 and no on touches them there.....the GD65 matches the Asus Hero feature for feature and component for component and it's $40 cheaper. I do like Asus BIOS better but not enough t soend $40 for it.

The MSi Z97 version of the G45 is $150 about $5 more than the Asus 97-A and that's not an RoG Board. The Asus comes with some RAM combos which save $25 extra which ya should look at if ya go that way.

The MSI Z97-G45 will be $25 cheaper when bought with with a 4770k .... though if this is a gaming rig, the 4670k will get ya just 3-6% less in games and put $80 back in ya pocket.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690298
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690293

One other thing ..... unless there's some large performance difference involved, it really can pay off to have the GPU and MoBo from same manufacturer. Invariably, when you call tech support, the MoBo guys blames the GFX vard vendor and the GFX guy blames the MoBo vendor....saves some headaches and as you mentioned the aesthetic issue is kinda in ya face.

A fix for the Asus BIOS bug is reportedly in the works but a fix was posted once before back in August. The fix was not a fix (worked for few days and then froze again) and now 10 months later peeps with new boards are still popping in and upset that it's not fixed yet.

So ....until I can actually get the BIOS bug fixed on my current builds, I am continuing doing MSI builds with the GD65 and G45 for budgets including $125 - $175 MoBo allowances..... I have put all $200 and up MoBo builds on hold until the BIOS thing gets fixed.

i dunno. been seeing alot of reviews talking about the board falling apart, bios issues, ect... and I really do hope those reviews are BS, cuz i really like that board! it has every thing i want, but if what some of the reviews are saying is true, i dont want to buy it. and actually the 4770k goes for 260 bucks at micro center.

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

Thank you both for you answers, and i found a z97 version of the MSI board for the same price, but again there are alot of similar bad reviews...

RazerZ · Jun 13, 2014

Ziggs123 :

It's a good option.

You might want to consider the things JackNayor said. MSI's G motherboard series are actually quite decent and most bad reviews by people on newegg is because they messed up when building on their part, not that the motherboard's faulty.

MSI's new Z97 mobos look really nice and are great for the price.

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

RazerZ :

Ziggs123 :

It's a good option.

You might want to consider the things JackNayor said. MSI's G motherboard series are actually quite decent and most bad reviews by people on newegg is because they messed up when building on their part, not that the motherboard's faulty.

MSI's new Z97 mobos look really nice and are great for the price.

Ok, thanks. I think im going to go with MSI's board, just have to decide if i want the z87 or 97 lel

RazerZ · Jun 13, 2014

Ziggs123 :

RazerZ :

Ok, thanks. I think im going to go with MSI's board, just have to decide if i want the z87 or 97 lel

Yea, the new Z97 motherboards come with features, you may or may not need.

http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/What-is-new-in-Z97-and-H97-561/

JackNaylorPE · Jun 13, 2014

The Sabertooth is a great board, I love it ..... tho not a gaming oriented board lacking features found in the RoG line

If you are willing to pay $180....why not get a $180 Gaming Board

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130769

Well actually $25 less when ya get it ion the combos
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690291
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690296

Check the reviews on the Z87 GD65 .... and note the reference to the Sabertooth

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z87_gd65_gaming/12.htm

MSI has been using components that meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G for some time as part of its Military Class build philosophy. Parts such as Super Ferrite Chokes that run at up to 35 degree Celsius lower temperatures, have a 30% higher current handling capacity, and a 20% improvement in power efficiency; Tantalum filled Hi-C Caps that are are up to 93% efficient; and "Dark Capacitors" that feature Lower ESR and a ten-year lifespan all tied into a PCB with improved temperature and humidity protections as part of the "Military Essentials" package......In the end MSI's Z87-GD65 is a board that comes with an expansive feature set that includes all your basics and the extras that set them apart such as the V-Check points, upper end audio, Dual BIOS ROMs, KIller Network package, Military Class IV package, and a three-year warranty. Couple that with good looks that carry the dragon theme through the board, and you have a winning combination at $189.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z87_gd65_gaming_review/15

Now and again a motherboard appears that is so obviously brilliant, and so affordable, that we wonder if anything will be able to top it. For a while that crown was held by the ASUS Sabertooth, both in X58 and then P67 variants. Then MSI stole the crown with the Z77 MPower. Looking at the Z87 GD65 Gaming we think it's going to take something extraordinary to top it, such is the perfect storm of price, performance, features and looks.

The switch to Military Class 4 has given us an extremely ready overclocker too. You're always thermally limited when overclocking and the i7-4770K is one of the most demanding around. Considering the amount of cooling we're using we think that although the GD65 is capable of bringing 5GHz from our i7-4770K you'd need a proper water loop to make the most of it.

Performance is outstanding. The stock results were a particular highlight. We know a lot of people still just like to put their CPU in and go, without overclocking it first. Despite how easy it is these days we know that the fear factor still exists. So you'll be glad to know that the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming really rocks hard even at stock settings. Naturally the overclocking is blistering too, with some OC3D records broken.

MSI have laid the gauntlet down to all the other manufacturers. Gorgeous to look at, blistering performance and all at a very affordable price, the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming is not only the new benchmark for Z87 motherboards, but probably for all motherboards.

The GD65 is a feature for feature match with the Asus Hero

MSI has extra PCI-1 slot
MSI has 1 x mSATA 6Gb/s
Asus uses modified version of same MSI Audio chipset
MSI has better LAn chipset
MSI has 2 more USB 3 , 1 less USB 2
Asus is $40 more

Again, want to be clear that the Hero is a great board, (well aside from BIOS Clock issue) .... but it's a great $180 board not a great $220 board...... But ya can get $5 of the differen e back in this combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1659459

Are the Sabertooth / Hero affected by Frozen Time Clock Bug tho ?.... yes, it is affected on the Z87's....we dunno about Z97's yet ... too new.

Hero - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33895-Hero-Time-Clock-Problem
Sabertooth - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?35490-Sabertooth-Z87-Bios-Clock-Issue

I was supposed to be doing this build this weekend .... kid has $1200 budget .... but now he wants Z97 and a MSI 780 Ti

.... GD65 so prolly by end of month .... he'll need another paycheck .... or 2

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

JackNaylorPE :

The Sabertooth is a great board, I love it ..... tho not a gaming oriented board lacking features found in the RoG line

If you are willing to pay $180....why not get a $180 Gaming Board

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130769

Well actually $25 less when ya get it ion the combos
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690291
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690296

Check the reviews on the Z87 GD65 .... and note the reference to the Sabertooth

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z87_gd65_gaming/12.htm

MSI has been using components that meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G for some time as part of its Military Class build philosophy. Parts such as Super Ferrite Chokes that run at up to 35 degree Celsius lower temperatures, have a 30% higher current handling capacity, and a 20% improvement in power efficiency; Tantalum filled Hi-C Caps that are are up to 93% efficient; and "Dark Capacitors" that feature Lower ESR and a ten-year lifespan all tied into a PCB with improved temperature and humidity protections as part of the "Military Essentials" package......In the end MSI's Z87-GD65 is a board that comes with an expansive feature set that includes all your basics and the extras that set them apart such as the V-Check points, upper end audio, Dual BIOS ROMs, KIller Network package, Military Class IV package, and a three-year warranty. Couple that with good looks that carry the dragon theme through the board, and you have a winning combination at $189.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z87_gd65_gaming_review/15

Now and again a motherboard appears that is so obviously brilliant, and so affordable, that we wonder if anything will be able to top it. For a while that crown was held by the ASUS Sabertooth, both in X58 and then P67 variants. Then MSI stole the crown with the Z77 MPower. Looking at the Z87 GD65 Gaming we think it's going to take something extraordinary to top it, such is the perfect storm of price, performance, features and looks.

The switch to Military Class 4 has given us an extremely ready overclocker too. You're always thermally limited when overclocking and the i7-4770K is one of the most demanding around. Considering the amount of cooling we're using we think that although the GD65 is capable of bringing 5GHz from our i7-4770K you'd need a proper water loop to make the most of it.

Performance is outstanding. The stock results were a particular highlight. We know a lot of people still just like to put their CPU in and go, without overclocking it first. Despite how easy it is these days we know that the fear factor still exists. So you'll be glad to know that the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming really rocks hard even at stock settings. Naturally the overclocking is blistering too, with some OC3D records broken.

MSI have laid the gauntlet down to all the other manufacturers. Gorgeous to look at, blistering performance and all at a very affordable price, the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming is not only the new benchmark for Z87 motherboards, but probably for all motherboards.

The GD65 is a feature for feature match with the Asus Hero

MSI has extra PCI-1 slot
MSI has 1 x mSATA 6Gb/s
Asus uses modified version of same MSI Audio chipset
MSI has better LAn chipset
MSI has 2 more USB 3 , 1 less USB 2
Asus is $40 more

Again, want to be clear that the Hero is a great board, (well aside from BIOS Clock issue) .... but it's a great $180 board not a great $220 board...... But ya can get $5 of the differen e back in this combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1659459

Are the Sabertooth / Hero affected by Frozen Time Clock Bug tho ?.... yes, it is affected on the Z87's....we dunno about Z97's yet ... too new.

Hero - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33895-Hero-Time-Clock-Problem
Sabertooth - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?35490-Sabertooth-Z87-Bios-Clock-Issue

Yea i think im gunna go with either the z87-g45, or the z97-g45. but looking at the reviews on the z97-g45, people are saying there arent any 3 pin fan connectors, and i think the fans on my case need 3 pin fan connectors...

saszcaz · Jun 13, 2014

I would go with Z97 any day...

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

JackNaylorPE :

The Sabertooth is a great board, I love it ..... tho not a gaming oriented board lacking features found in the RoG line

If you are willing to pay $180....why not get a $180 Gaming Board

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130769

Well actually $25 less when ya get it ion the combos
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690291
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1690296

Check the reviews on the Z87 GD65 .... and note the reference to the Sabertooth

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z87_gd65_gaming/12.htm

MSI has been using components that meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G for some time as part of its Military Class build philosophy. Parts such as Super Ferrite Chokes that run at up to 35 degree Celsius lower temperatures, have a 30% higher current handling capacity, and a 20% improvement in power efficiency; Tantalum filled Hi-C Caps that are are up to 93% efficient; and "Dark Capacitors" that feature Lower ESR and a ten-year lifespan all tied into a PCB with improved temperature and humidity protections as part of the "Military Essentials" package......In the end MSI's Z87-GD65 is a board that comes with an expansive feature set that includes all your basics and the extras that set them apart such as the V-Check points, upper end audio, Dual BIOS ROMs, KIller Network package, Military Class IV package, and a three-year warranty. Couple that with good looks that carry the dragon theme through the board, and you have a winning combination at $189.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z87_gd65_gaming_review/15

Now and again a motherboard appears that is so obviously brilliant, and so affordable, that we wonder if anything will be able to top it. For a while that crown was held by the ASUS Sabertooth, both in X58 and then P67 variants. Then MSI stole the crown with the Z77 MPower. Looking at the Z87 GD65 Gaming we think it's going to take something extraordinary to top it, such is the perfect storm of price, performance, features and looks.

The switch to Military Class 4 has given us an extremely ready overclocker too. You're always thermally limited when overclocking and the i7-4770K is one of the most demanding around. Considering the amount of cooling we're using we think that although the GD65 is capable of bringing 5GHz from our i7-4770K you'd need a proper water loop to make the most of it.

Performance is outstanding. The stock results were a particular highlight. We know a lot of people still just like to put their CPU in and go, without overclocking it first. Despite how easy it is these days we know that the fear factor still exists. So you'll be glad to know that the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming really rocks hard even at stock settings. Naturally the overclocking is blistering too, with some OC3D records broken.

MSI have laid the gauntlet down to all the other manufacturers. Gorgeous to look at, blistering performance and all at a very affordable price, the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming is not only the new benchmark for Z87 motherboards, but probably for all motherboards.

The GD65 is a feature for feature match with the Asus Hero

MSI has extra PCI-1 slot
MSI has 1 x mSATA 6Gb/s
Asus uses modified version of same MSI Audio chipset
MSI has better LAn chipset
MSI has 2 more USB 3 , 1 less USB 2
Asus is $40 more

Again, want to be clear that the Hero is a great board, (well aside from BIOS Clock issue) .... but it's a great $180 board not a great $220 board...... But ya can get $5 of the differen e back in this combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1659459

Are the Sabertooth / Hero affected by Frozen Time Clock Bug tho ?.... yes, it is affected on the Z87's....we dunno about Z97's yet ... too new.

Hero - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33895-Hero-Time-Clock-Problem
Sabertooth - http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?35490-Sabertooth-Z87-Bios-Clock-Issue

I was supposed to be doing this build this weekend .... kid has $1200 budget .... but now he wants Z97 and a MSI 780 Ti

.... GD65 so prolly by end of month .... he'll need another paycheck .... or 2

Also, that build is similar to the one im gunna build

except i got a CM storm scout 2 advanced case, and i was going to get a Seasonic M12, but seen alot of videos showing it having pretty bad coil whine, so i bought a corsair HX750.
ill just list out my full build lol

CM storm scout 2 advanced
I7 4770k
MSI gtx 780
msi z87 -g45
8gb (2x4 gb) Corsair Vengeance ram (1600mhz)
Evo 212 cooler
Corsair HX750
120gb Samsung EVO ssd (for windows and a few fav games)
1tb WD black HDD
an extra disk drive a friend gave me for free
antec formula 7 nano diamond thermal compound
windows 8.1

JackNaylorPE · Jun 13, 2014

Ziggs123 :

I gotta warn ya tho .... sumthin about the MSI MoBos makes ya forget how to work on computers .... for whatever reason my son has to keep watching this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvNnv7nh2Es

Suggestions ya might consider

MSI switched to Elpida memory on 780 ... MSI 780 Ti still uses the good stuff

Check Mushkin Redline 2133 is same price as 1600, Mushkin still using Hyix memory, Corsair switched.

7 - 10C cooler with Phanteks

1tb WD black HDD 0 Seagate is 30% faster
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/desktop-hdd.15-st4000dm000-4tb,3494-3.html

Consider Shin Etsu - tops charts and is $7 on newegg
http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=12

Ziggs123 · Jun 13, 2014

JackNaylorPE :

Ziggs123 :

I gotta warn ya tho .... sumthin about the MSI MoBos makes ya forget how to work on computers .... for whatever reason my son has to keep watching this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvNnv7nh2Es

Suggestions ya might consider

MSI switched to Elpida memory on 780 ... 780 still uses the good stuff.....consider Asus

Check Mushkin Redline 2133 is same price as 1600, Mushkin still using Hyix memory, Corsair switched.

7 - 10C cooler with Phanteks

1tb WD black HDD 0 Seagate is 30% faster
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/desktop-hdd.15-st4000dm000-4tb,3494-3.html

Consider Shin Etsu - tops charts and is $7 on newegg
http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=12

Hahaha yea i forget what to do some times to and watch the same vid

and yea ill certainly check those out, besides the thermal compound, mainly cuz i already bought it lel

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