First Time Build LGA1150, Z97, i7 4790k/i5 4690k Please Help with MOBO+RAM

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SpetsnazBeaver

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Mar 25, 2015
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Hii, my 5 year old HP Pavilion Elite 9290f's MOBO (Pegatron IPMTB-TK) got bricked due to a CPU fan error. Likely, BIOS minimum CPU fan speed was set too low. I used to be able to press F2 to bypass but now it won't even allow me to pass anymore so I decided to build a new PC to upgrade the dated hardware (although a solution to this issue could be useful, I still am leaning more towards using as excuse to upgrade). The old hardware I want to transfer over to the new build is:
- Rosewill Armor Evo case with 6 fans (5x12" and 1x23")
- Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO cooler
- ASUS GTX660-DC2O-2GD5 2GB OC
- Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU
- possibly some memory sticks I could carry over (the HP had 3x2GB and 3x1GB sticks DDR3-1066) though I am open to replace memory completely

My needs:
- Work (I'm a business student) but also a LOT for gaming on a single 1050p 60hz monitor most games maxed out more or less (aa can be downed). Not sure if finance programs like stock market clients are intensive and would benefit from hyperthreading.
- Z97 MOBO since apparently that will still be supported for at least one more cpu gen? Please NO X99, I don't think it's worth the investment for me with 2011-3 CPU and too new DDR4.
- Either i7 4790k or i5 4690k. WIth the only difference other than clocks being hyperthreading which correct me if I'm wrong only really helps with intensive stuff like rendering/mining not games this one is a toss up depending on how much I end up spending. My HP was an i7 920 rig so either one will be a nice upgrade. Please NO 5820k or other 2011-3, again not worth it for me.
- Min. 8GB DDR3 RAM (all new memory or re using some 2x2GB sticks+ rest new). Please NO DDR4, same reason as before.
- SLI support for future and OCing ability to push as much life as possible.
- Will get an SSD at some point so should I need M.2? Don't care for USB 3.1 since due to no chipset implementation revision MOBOs takes away from PCIe.
- Enough fan headers for most if not all 6+1(cpu) fans.
- Looks don't matter, also note for pricing I'm in Canada.

I have narrowed down to these 3 boards but leaning more on the 2 latter ones due to price:

$200 https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xud5h
$180 https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xsoc
$160 https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z97a

MSI unsuitable due to too few fan headers, as much as Asrock is getting better still don't trust. Feel free to suggest other MOBOs but also please recommend which of these to get.

MEMORY
There is so much choice I don't know where to begin. What would be my best options for memory? Good sticks but not too expensive. Also I am kind of confused as to voltage. Does lower voltage mean higher overclocking overhead because then why are more expensive rams at higher voltage? What about latency? Is the jump from 11 to 7 big? Heres a list of the ones I've narrowed down by specs/price ratio:

2x8
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f31866c9d16gsr
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c10d16gsr
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32400c11d16gsr
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-bls2kit8g3d1609ds1s00

2x4
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f314900cl9d8gbsr
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl7d8gbxm
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f314900cl8d8gbxm
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32400c10d8gzh
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f317000cl9d8gbsr
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c10d8gsr
https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-blt2k4g3d1608et3lx0

Also might need an extra hdd at least 1tb, would appreciate a recommendation for a good not too expensive hdd.

Thanks for the help and sorry for the wall of text, wanted to be detailed.
 
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SpetsnazBeaver

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An added question. Is it reasonable to be filtering the mobo search in part by fan header quantity. In my search I have been ignoring anything below 4 case fan headers. My case has 6 fans as I've said. My other filtering criterium has been pci slots with anything below 2 pciex16 being ignored.
 
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SpetsnazBeaver

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Are the DIMMS I've linked a good price or a bit high? I tried to sample all DIMM speeds and tried to keep down latency and voltage. Seemed like a lot of the $60s-70s DIMMS had 11-10 latency. Is that a big deal? What's the real world difference in performance between the latencies? DIMM Speeds? Finally for RAM what can you say about voltage? Does lower voltage mean more OC potential or no because the crazy expensive DIMMS seemed to have higher voltage.

Any other motherboards to look at? I kind of ignored boards with 3 fan headers but either way I won't be able to have all fans plugged into board except with the $180 GBYTE.
 
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SpetsnazBeaver

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Any other motherboards to look at? I kind of ignored boards with 3 fan headers but either way I won't be able to have all fans plugged into board except with the $180 GBYTE.

Also, you didn't say whether the DIMMS I've linked are good price or a bit high? What can you say about voltage? Does lower voltage mean more OC potential (crazy expensive DIMMS seemed to have higher voltage)? I heard anything above DDR3-1866 is unnecessary unless for the same price, do you agree?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Was pricing for a client, take a look at these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231587

Typically voltage for 2133 on up is 1.65 which is perfectly fine. As far as anything over 1866 as unnecessary, many believe this and generally in gaming it makes little difference, I use all my rigs heavily, multitasking, video, imaging, VMs, CAD, etc and there is a big difference between lower data rates and higher data rates, I haven't used under 2133 going back to the Sandy Bridge rigs, and better than 90% of my clients go 2133 or better
 
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SpetsnazBeaver

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Took a look at your link and in Canada it works out to be around $85 so in the range my links are in. I don't do video, imaging, VMs, CAD, etc, just intensive games and schoolwork. In terms of overclocking does lower voltage mean more OC potential (crazy expensive DIMMS seemed to have higher voltage)? Some 1866 DIMMS I found are 1.25v or 1.3v (none that low at 2400). So from your article I take it I should disregard CAS?

Should I take a look at 3 fan header mobos (all MSI boards and some GBYTE) since either way I won't be able to have all fans plugged into board (except with the $180 GBYTE)?
 
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SpetsnazBeaver

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1) That's what I'm saying. Should I take a look at 3 fan header mobos as well? That broadens the selection a TON.

2) I don't do video, imaging, VMs, CAD, etc, just intensive games and schoolwork so does the 1866 theory hold true for me?

3) In terms of overclocking does lower voltage mean more OC potential (crazy expensive DIMMS seemed to have higher voltage)? Some 1866 DIMMS I found are 1.25v or 1.3v (none that low at 2400).

4) So from your article I take it I should disregard CAS latency numbers?
 
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SpetsnazBeaver

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1) Further narrowing MOBO selection and looking over 3 fan header boards (none proved economical enough to not go for the 4 fan header ASUS Z97-A) I have come down to:

$160 Asus Z97-A (M.2, 2 less headers than fans, only hispeed memory optimization button)
$180 Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC (no M.2, enough fan headers for all fans, oc buttons)

Which of the 2 do you think?

2) I don't do video, imaging, VMs, CAD, etc, just intensive games and schoolwork so does the DDR3-1866 theory hold true for me?

3) In terms of overclocking does lower voltage mean more OC potential (crazy expensive DIMMS seemed to have higher voltage)? Some 1866 DIMMS I found are 1.25v or 1.3v (none that low at 2400).

4) So from your article I take it I should disregard RAM CAS latency numbers?
 
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