I5 4690K motherboard choice

GamerLackingKnowledge · Oct 12, 2014

Hey Guys,
what is the best choice of motherboard for the i5 4690k if im wanting to game and dont want to spend much on a mobo?

Also what is good cheap ram that would go with that Mobo?

want to spend around $100 on the RAM and another $100 on the Mobo.

thanks guys

zeyuanfu · Oct 13, 2014

These would be my choices, coming in at 212$:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($137.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($73.80 @ Newegg)
Total: $211.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-13 14:25 EDT-0400

Vic 40 · Oct 13, 2014

Other choices for a motherboard,
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/compare/asrock-motherboard-fatal1tyz97xkiller%2Casrock-motherboard-z97pro4/
i would go for the fatal1ty,but the other will do fine too if your not going for sli.

The ram is a good choice anyway.

Do you already have that cpu?
Do you want to overclock?

zeyuanfu · Oct 13, 2014

The Z97-A is THE BEST motherboard under 150$ and maybe under 160$.

StupidComputers · Oct 14, 2014

What is the difference between the Z97-A and the Z97-AR? and the Fatal1ty z97 and z97x?

zeyuanfu · Oct 14, 2014

StupidComputers :

The AR is a greyish color and has fewer on-board video-outs while the A is a gold-brownish color.
The Fatal1ty Z97X has more features (including 3 PCIe 3.0 x16 slots) than the Z97:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=-1&IsNodeId=1&Description=fatal1ty%20z97&bop=And&CompareItemList=-1%7C13-157-505%5E13-157-505-TS%2C13-157-501%5E13-157-501-TS&percm=13-157-505%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B13-157-501%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

kingcarlos89 · Oct 14, 2014

currently using MSI H97 gaming 3 since no OC. so all depends on your need

StupidComputers · Oct 15, 2014

zeyuanfu :

Thanks, i'd already figured out the A vs AR diff, AR looks sick btw, but the fatality, does it have more pcie lanes? any features that matter?

StupidComputers · Oct 15, 2014

zeyuanfu :

Thanks, i'd already figured out the A vs AR diff, AR looks sick btw, but the fatality, does it have more pcie lanes? any features that matter?

Vic 40 · Oct 15, 2014

StupidComputers :

There's a bit of a different board design,but the most important difference between the two imo is that the Z97X has the option for sli.The second pcie slot with this one works at x8 while from the Z97 (no X) works at x4. If you want sli (or even crossfire) in the future would i get the Z97X version.

If you will have no crossfire/sli in the future is the Z97 Pro4 imo already good enough and still have nice features.The Fatal1ty boards fo have a better soundchip though.

zeyuanfu · Oct 15, 2014

Actually, I'd stick with the Z97-A as THE BEST board under 150$ and possibly under 160$, as I said before.

Zerk2012 · Oct 15, 2014

GB Z97 UD3H low end Asus boards are well low end.

zeyuanfu · Oct 15, 2014

The UD3H is actually a bit worse than the Z97-A.

tiny voices · Oct 15, 2014

I would also go with the Z97-A. VERY good board for the money. Highly regarded.

zeyuanfu · Oct 15, 2014

If they made the Z97-A in more gamer colors, that would be nice...

tiny voices · Oct 15, 2014

Anyone who buys a board based on colors is missing the whole point. Lol

If the best board for my needs was yellow and hot pink I would buy it.

zeyuanfu · Oct 15, 2014

I actually would pay ten bucks to get a red and black or any cool color Z97-A

tiny voices · Oct 15, 2014

I think it looks good as it is. I like simple boards. Not a fan of the BLACK RED BLUE GAMING !!111!! motherboards. I prefer a simple all black or black/grey board.

zeyuanfu · Oct 15, 2014

The MSI MPower is actually a shade of yellow, which I think is pretty cool.
You know, it's not every day you see a yellow motherboard. I was about to buy it but changed ideas.

Zerk2012 · Oct 15, 2014

You really need to do some hard looking at the 2 boards compared, the Asus uses cheap caps on all their low end boards and all their high-end boards are overpriced.
Asus Z97 A Yageo sealed ferrite-core chokes, and 5K-hour solid electrolytic capacitors.

tiny voices · Oct 15, 2014

That really doesn't matter. No one really has any issues with caps on modern motherboards. The Z97-A is a GREAT board.

Zerk2012 · Oct 15, 2014

The GB Z97 UD3H uses all higher quality parts and is a GREAT board.

tiny voices · Oct 15, 2014

The both have the same power phasing. In reality they will both perform exactly the same.

Zerk2012 · Oct 15, 2014

Or you could look at the 5K caps vs the 10K caps. Higher quality parts for the same price.

tiny voices · Oct 15, 2014

You know that doesn't really matter. There is WAY more to how they are used than 5k vs. 10k. There are 10+ more factors that will affect the caps an just 5k vs 10k. We are arguing for no reason. Both are great boards.

I5 4690K motherboard choice

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