Can't Find a Suitable Motherboard for my mid range PC build

Mylesok · Aug 21, 2015

Hi, everyone. Im am in the process of picking all of the parts for a PC i am planning to build (first time) but I am having trouble deciding on a suitable motherboard. I want one that isn't very expensive but i am willing to pay more for something that wont bottleneck my system and die anytime soon (I really dont want to be paying more than $200 AUD). It seems when i look at reviews, most boards have big issues.
Here is a link to my build
http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/BY2vxr
Also, how many watts would you recomend for my power supply? and are there any issues with my build so far you can point out?

Thanks heaps computer people

N3rdR4ge · Aug 21, 2015

issues with your build:

-Can get faster ram for = or less money
-Need a cooler for your i5-4690k. The stock one is insufficient for overclocking. If you are not overclocking the i5-4690k is a poor value and you should pick a different cpu.
-Spending too much on a case for a low end build like this.

Mylesok · Aug 21, 2015

N3rdR4ge :

Thanks for the advice

I went for the i5-4690k because i want to have the option of overclocking in the future (would overclocking it improve game performance much anyway? Im not video edditing or anything). I have done some research and it appeared i didn't need an after market cpu cooler for now if im not overclocking. Ill look into it more.
Any suggestions for the faster ram?

Thanks again

N3rdR4ge · Aug 21, 2015

if you want to overclock later you can use the stock cooler for now. just make sure you swap it with an aftermarket one before you overclock.

same ram, same price, faster
http://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx318c10fbk28

As for a mobo there is always going to be the 1 star complaints everywhere. Find the one that has the specs you need. you will need z87 or z97 for overclocking 97 just had esata and m.2 support. Good brands include Asus, Gigabyte, Asrock, MSI.

your options for a full atx mobo under 200:
http://au.pcpartpicker.com/parts/motherboard/#c=89,99&f=2&X=0,20000&m=7,8,18,27

Mylesok · Aug 21, 2015

N3rdR4ge :

Okay, updated my RAM, did a little research on those motherboards (Decided on the MSI Z97 Gaming 3), put in a 750 watt power supply and changed my case.
http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/sYzJ99
Any issues you can see?
p.s. Im not too sure about the power supply. Any reletivly cheap and reliable oned you can recomend?

Andrei-Florin Gogan · Aug 21, 2015

It look ok now but my god take that Windows 8.1 out of there and if you really want it just buy it from somewhere else much cheaper.

Andrei-Florin Gogan · Aug 21, 2015

I would personally take out the Windows 8.1 and the RAM and get 16GB 1600MhZ and the OS from somewhere else. You could probably even save money by doing that.

Mylesok · Aug 21, 2015

Andrei-Florin Gogan :

The site doesn't have Windows 10 as an option, 8.1 was there to give me a realistic price. Do you know somewhere i can get windows cheaper?

Thanks for the Help

Andrei-Florin Gogan · Aug 21, 2015

It might not have Windows 10 option but It should have the option to not buy any OS. I would choose that option. and if you want Windows 10, just buy any cheap Windows 7 from Ebay and then upgrade for free.

N3rdR4ge · Aug 21, 2015

Andrei-Florin Gogan :

You should only buy Windows in a boxed retail version from reputable vendors or direct from Microsoft.

I do not recommend getting Windows 7 because:

You need to have your hard drive formatted as gpt to take full advantage of a uefi bios. Windows 7 is only capable of being installed on a mbr formatted drive. In order to change to gpt from mbr you need to format. There is no easy way to upgrade win 7 mbr to win 10 gpt. windows 8/8.1 is capable of being installed on gpt and upgraded to windows 10 gpt.

Andrei-Florin Gogan · Aug 21, 2015

N3rdR4ge :

Andrei-Florin Gogan :

You should only buy Windows in a boxed retail version from reputable vendors or direct from Microsoft.

I do not recommend getting Windows 7 because:

You need to have your hard drive formatted as gpt to take full advantage of a uefi bios. Windows 7 is only capable of being installed on a mbr formatted drive. In order to change to gpt from mbr you need to format. There is no easy way to upgrade win 7 mbr to win 10 gpt. windows 8/8.1 is capable of being installed on gpt and upgraded to windows 10 gpt.

You are right but you can still find Windows 8 far more cheaper than he is paying from that site.

N3rdR4ge · Aug 21, 2015

yep thats why i mentioned it =D

madchemist83 · Aug 21, 2015

Why would u ever update to win 10 ? Win 7 ftw.
To OP, u can only buy from center retailer? Can't u order online ?

madchemist83 · Aug 21, 2015

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($339.00 @ Centre Com)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212X 82.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.00 @ Umart)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($225.00 @ Centre Com)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($75.00 @ Centre Com)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.00 @ IJK)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($97.00 @ Centre Com)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 390 8GB Video Card ($549.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($122.98 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Corsair 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($289.00 @ Centre Com)
Total: $1844.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-22 05:53 AEST+1000

Mylesok · Aug 21, 2015

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msaus/en_AU/pdp/Windows-8.1-Pro-Student/productID.288492700
Would buying this and then upgrading to 10 work?

p.s. All this pricing is in AUD

N3rdR4ge · Aug 21, 2015

shouldnt be a problem.

this is what microsoft says:

"Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1"

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-upgrade

scroll to the bottom of the page.

Mylesok · Aug 23, 2015

Awesome, thanks so much for the help

Can't Find a Suitable Motherboard for my mid range PC build

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