Help me pick a Motherboard

ralphgaming · Jul 6, 2015

Hey guys! What do you think is the best motherboard for this build?CPU
-Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0Ghz Quad Core Processor
-Corsair h110i GT

Motherboard
-MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

Memory
-G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 32GB (4 X 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory

Storage
-Seagate Barracude 1TH 3.5” 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

Video Card
-MSI GeForce 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card

Power Supply
-Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply

Optical Drive
-2x LG WH14NS40 Blue-Ray/DVD/CD Writer

Should I stick with the MSI 297-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard?
I would love a Motherboard near the price of the MSI Z97

And if you have suggestions about other parts please feel free to comment cause I'm still picking parts

Darkbreeze · Jul 6, 2015

This board is just as good, and probably actually better, and has the same features for a bit less. It's also one tier up from the MSI Gaming 5 as seen here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2383187/motherboard-tier-list-z97-chipset.html

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $115.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-06 22:59 EDT-0400

cin19 · Jul 6, 2015

You can get either ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer or Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H.

And I don't know why you need 32GB, maybe video/photo editing? if you have to buy the 32GB RAM, you should buy 2X16GB kit in 1600Mhz cl8/cl9 or 1866Mhz, usually you need 16GB like 2X8GB will be enough.

Also the CX600 Semi-Modular is just OK, because I don't know what is your budget, if you are in USA you can get Antec High Current Gamer 620W or EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold, or in UK area like Antec High Current Gamer 620W, XFX 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular.

Darkbreeze · Jul 6, 2015

I didn't even pay attention to the other specs since he was only asking about the motherboard, but yes, the RAM is probably wrong in both regards. Unless you're running VM's or the very highest end professional applications, there's no way you could ever need, or use, 32GB of RAM. 16GB is more than enough for 90% of all machines, and 8GB is enough for any current gaming system. 16GB is ok though. Not too overkill and may be a good thing to have in some circumstances. I certainly wouldn't use 1333mhz modules though, as Cin19 has indicated. At minimum I'd want 1600mhz, and since the prices are generally very close I'd probably opt for 2133mhz, which IS supported by that chip and motherboard.

On a high end machine like that I'd agree that the CX series PSU is a bad choice. Are you planning to overclock the CPU or the GPU card?

ralphgaming · Jul 7, 2015

Darkbreeze :

I didn't even pay attention to the other specs since he was only asking about the motherboard, but yes, the RAM is probably wrong in both regards. Unless you're running VM's or the very highest end professional applications, there's no way you could ever need, or use, 32GB of RAM. 16GB is more than enough for 90% of all machines, and 8GB is enough for any current gaming system. 16GB is ok though. Not too overkill and may be a good thing to have in some circumstances. I certainly wouldn't use 1333mhz modules though, as Cin19 has indicated. At minimum I'd want 1600mhz, and since the prices are generally very close I'd probably opt for 2133mhz, which IS supported by that chip and motherboard.

On a high end machine like that I'd agree that the CX series PSU is a bad choice. Are you planning to overclock the CPU or the GPU card?

No because I don't want to risk damaging the CPU and the GPU

ralphgaming · Jul 7, 2015

cin19 :

I plan to use this pc for the next 5-6 years thats why i picked the 32GB RAM

ralphgaming · Jul 7, 2015

Darkbreeze :

Should I stay with the Z97 Gaming 5 or go with the MSI Z97 GAMING 7?

Darkbreeze · Jul 7, 2015

Then you don't need a Z97 board unless you plan to run memory faster than 1600mhz or use Crossfire/SLI at some point. An H97 board would be fine and this would be a good choice if you go that route:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-HD3 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $69.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 00:06 EDT-0400

This would be a much better PSU as well:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $64.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 00:08 EDT-0400

ralphgaming · Jul 7, 2015

Darkbreeze :

Then you don't need a Z97 board unless you plan to run memory faster than 1600mhz or use Crossfire/SLI at some point. An H97 board would be fine and this would be a good choice if you go that route:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-HD3 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $69.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 00:06 EDT-0400

This would be a much better PSU as well:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $64.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 00:08 EDT-0400

I'll just stay with the Z97 cause I plan to upgrade my Graphics Card as time goes by..

Darkbreeze · Jul 7, 2015

Upgrade, or add a second card? You can upgrade your graphics card later, but for SLI you need the Z97. That Gigabyte Gaming 5 is a really good choice, for cheap, if you stay with Z97. Six months ago that board was like fifty bucks more. It's got the ALC1150 audio codec, which is about as good as you could want for gaming sound. I'd definitely avoid the CX, CS, RM and VS Corsair power supplies though. You want something Tier 1 or 2 here:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

And since you'll be using the 4790k and a Z97 motherboard, I'd probably go with this RAM which will be plenty for several years to come, if not longer. I run some pretty demanding applications and games, and have never had a memory issue:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $109.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 00:27 EDT-0400

If at any point down the road you feel you need more RAM, which is pretty doubtful, you can always add another matched set of modules to increase your memory to 32GB but unless you plan to run professional video editing, CAD, virtual machines or some kind of high end RAW audio editing of very, very large files, I doubt you'll ever need more than 16GB and certainly not more than 16GB for gaming.

ralphgaming · Jul 7, 2015

Darkbreeze :

Upgrade, or add a second card? You can upgrade your graphics card later, but for SLI you need the Z97. That Gigabyte Gaming 5 is a really good choice, for cheap, if you stay with Z97. Six months ago that board was like fifty bucks more. It's got the ALC1150 audio codec, which is about as good as you could want for gaming sound. I'd definitely avoid the CX, CS, RM and VS Corsair power supplies though. You want something Tier 1 or 2 here:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

And since you'll be using the 4790k and a Z97 motherboard, I'd probably go with this RAM which will be plenty for several years to come, if not longer. I run some pretty demanding applications and games, and have never had a memory issue:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $109.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-07 00:27 EDT-0400

If at any point down the road you feel you need more RAM, which is pretty doubtful, you can always add another matched set of modules to increase your memory to 32GB but unless you plan to run professional video editing, CAD, virtual machines or some kind of high end RAW audio editing of very, very large files, I doubt you'll ever need more than 16GB and certainly not more than 16GB for gaming.

Thanks bro!

Darkbreeze · Jul 7, 2015

Anytime at all. It's my pleasure to help.

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