Best motherboard between MSI Z97M Gaming and Asus Ranger VII

chris2665 · Aug 3, 2014

I'm trying to decide which motherboard would be best between MSI Z97M Gaming and Asus ROGs Ranger VII. I have no experience with MSI products and I'll need the pc to last a fair few years (my current pc was built back in 2008). Both of these boards are similar in price and features.

The PC is used mostly for gaming and will likely have a mild overclock (intel core i5 4690k). I'll continue using my existing videocard (GTX 560ti) but may wish to run SLI/ Crossover in the future.

Any advice/ opinions are appreciated.

Dark Lord of Tech · Aug 3, 2014

Asus ROGs Ranger VII < No contest , the ASUS is the board you should go with.

MSI has QC issues . The Ranger is the best in that price range.

Tradesman1 · Aug 3, 2014

____________________

+1 Go Asus, I won't touch MSI due to the poor QC

lowdamage · Aug 4, 2014

I use msi Z97M Gaming with i5 4670k now,it is fine.i love msi and asus.i feel msi QC is fine now.

Tradesman1 · Aug 4, 2014

It may be improving...but I still get more trouble calls on MSI mobos than any two other manufacturers put together...

lowdamage · Aug 4, 2014

QC is important problem. so the manufacturers will focus on QC. i hope so

msi z97M Gaming using now......

chris2665 · Aug 5, 2014

Thanks for the responses, I had been leaning towards the Asus board and this confirms my decision.

Dark Lord of Tech · Aug 5, 2014

You can't go wrong with an ASUS board.

Tradesman1 · Aug 5, 2014

Drop us an update on how things are going

chris2665 · Aug 6, 2014

I'm just waiting on my tax refund to pick up the new bits. I'll provide an update then.

I'm looking forward to it, I'm still running a core 2 duo e8500 (overclocked) and ddr2 ram.

I'll match the Asus board to the Core i5 4690k with a CM Hyper 212x cooler and 16gb of 1866mhz Kingston Hyperx Fury ram. Any thoughts/ comments on the build?

Tradesman1 · Aug 6, 2014

You'll love it, might rethink the DRAM, and if going 1866 look for a CL9 set rather than the Fury's CL10, just a thought

chris2665 · Aug 6, 2014

Any recommendations on what ram to use? I'd had a look for a CL9 set of ram but there's a big price jump between the Kingston ram and any CL9 ram.

Tradesman1 · Aug 6, 2014

Well at the Egg they have the 16GB 2x8GB Snipers at the same price as the Furys ($169.99) then at $10 less they have a set of RJs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231615

chris2665 · Aug 7, 2014

I have never used Newegg given that I'm located in Australia, the shipping is a killer. So far as the ram goes here, I could consider either of the following sets:
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=18953&cPath=218 - Although I'd prefer a 2 x 8gb set up or
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=186_538_913&products_id=26910, or I could consider a faster set with slower timings: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=186_538_913&products_id=21329

Let me know your thoughts. I'm trying to keep my total build price under $750 Aud

Tradesman1 · Aug 7, 2014

I'd go the RJ Z, it's a 2x set so less stress on the MC (memory controller), better price and most GSkill DRAM tends to have more OC headroom than Corsair, so slightly stronger sticks

chris2665 · Aug 7, 2014

Okay, thanks for the advice. So the 2133mhz G Skill ram with the higher timings (11-11-11-31) would out perform the crucial ram at 1866mhz with 9-9-9-27 timings?

Tradesman1 · Aug 7, 2014

They'd be real close, the RJ would have higher bandwidth

chris2665 · Aug 10, 2014

I've had a bit more of a look and I can get either the G. Skill Ripjaws 2133mhz with cl 11 timings for $209 (Aud)

http://www.cplonline.com.au/g-skill-ripjaws-z-f3-2133c11d-16gzl-2x8gb-16gb-ddr3.html

or I can get the G. Skill Trident 2133mhz with cl9 timings for $211,

http://www.cplonline.com.au/g-skill-16gb-2x8gb-2133mhz-trident-x-f3-2133c9d-16gtx.html

The Trident's need 1.6volts however. Any suggestions? Is there an issue with running 1.6volts over a long period of time?

Tradesman1 · Aug 10, 2014

Nope, and the Tridents are great, I've been running the 32GB set of 2400 sticks (1.65) since they were released back around May of 2012 on my IB (in sig) rig, it goes 24/7. Also Inel certifies DRAM up through 1.65, the 1.5 recommendation is for 1600 and under sticks (though I generally extend it to 1866 sticks except for high performance/Low CL sets)

chris2665 · Aug 10, 2014

Thanks for the feedback, the tridents it is then, I think all that's left to do now is make the purchase, hopefully in the next fortnight. I'll let you know how it all goes.

Thanks again.

Tradesman1 · Aug 11, 2014

Will be waiting to hear

chris2665 · Sep 2, 2014

So I finally got all the parts today and after swapping everything over I can't get the PC to boot (not even to BIOS), the motherboard has indicator lights on what the issue is and it appears to be the ram, I have tried testing each stick individually and no ram at all to try and see if I could get into BIOS. Any ideas on what the issue could be? I've tried using the 'Memok' button and the CMOS button but each time I get the same error.

I have a friend coming over to try a stick of his ram but I'm worried it might be more than ram.

chris2665 · Sep 2, 2014

My friend and I tried a stick of his ram and it booted straight away, so we changed the voltage settings in BIOS to 1.6v and my ram booted fine. The new set up works a treat. Thanks for your help on this one. Now to the games!

Tradesman1 · Sep 2, 2014

Glad to hear, have fun

Best motherboard between MSI Z97M Gaming and Asus Ranger VII

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