Noob Needs help choosing Micro-ATX motherboard for PC upgrade

fyrflygrl · Feb 24, 2016

Hi, I'm upgrading my Alienware Aurora (2011 version). I do a lot of gaming and I need to find a reasonably priced Micro-ATX motherboard. My PC has a liquid cooling unit. Here are some specs that I'd like to match. I can do DDR3 if it's too hard to find a good motherboard that supports DDR4. I would appreciate any advice given.

-Intel
-DDR4-2666 MHz
-Windows 7 compatible
-EVGA GeForce GTX 960 2GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+ (or possibly the GTX 970)
-875W PSU

LrnzpKiller · Feb 24, 2016

Are you talking about an intel Skylake CPU?

fyrflygrl · Feb 24, 2016

LrnzpKiller :

I haven't chosen a CPU, yet, because I don't know which motherboard to get. Right now, I have an Intel i7 motherboard that I am going to replace with the new one. I will be getting a new CPU after I decide on a motherboard.

LrnzpKiller · Feb 24, 2016

If you want a skylake CPU and DDR4 (only skylake supported at this moment) then you could go for this one: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gah110ms2hgsm

If you want to spend a bit more:
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gab150md3h

Both Micro-ATX and Skylake supported.

fyrflygrl · Feb 24, 2016

LrnzpKiller :

What about motherboards that take DDR3? Also, my PC is a Quad core with a RAID 0 setup. I don't know if that makes a difference.

LrnzpKiller · Feb 24, 2016

fyrflygrl :

If you take DDR3 you also need to take another CPU, Skylake only supports DDR4.
So you'll probably have to take a Haswell (or other technologies that support DDR3) cpu.
motherboards that support Haswell: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gah87mhd3 (reminder: only 2 ram slots)
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gab85md3h

Edit: Forgot there were Skylake motherboard with DDR3

garyshows · Feb 24, 2016

fyrflygrl :

I'm sorry but i am a bit confused. So you are upgrading to a skylake processor and want a micro atx board?

garyshows · Feb 24, 2016

this is a lga 1151 board that supports ddr3. Honestly if you are going for skylake you should just get ddr4

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gab150md3hddr3

fyrflygrl · Feb 24, 2016

garyshows :

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about Skylake. I need a Micro-ATX because that is the size that fits my computer. Would this be a good motherboard?

MSI Computer Motherboard Micro ATX DDR4 LGA 1151 B150M MORTAR

garyshows · Feb 24, 2016

fyrflygrl :

garyshows :

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about Skylake. I need a Micro-ATX because that is the size that fits my computer. Would this be a good motherboard?

MSI Computer Motherboard Micro ATX DDR4 LGA 1151 B150M MORTAR

what cpu do you have?

fyrflygrl · Feb 24, 2016

garyshows :

I won't be using the CPU that I have now. Once I find a motherboard, I'll select a CPU based on that. The one in my PC right now is an Intel i7 930 2.8 GHz. It is an LGA 1366 socket type, which they obviously don't make anymore. That's why I'm upgrading to a new motherboard, CPU, and Video Card (GTX 960 or 970).

garyshows · Feb 24, 2016

fyrflygrl :

are you gonna be doing any overclocking if not you could get a non K cpu and save some money

this would be a decent build if you dont plan on overclocking i threw in a psu just in case your is not enough 750 watts would be overkill but it is the same price as the 650 watt it is a evga g2 which is a very good psu

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($51.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($319.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $735.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-24 20:13 EST-0500

fyrflygrl · Feb 24, 2016

garyshows :

fyrflygrl :

are you gonna be doing any overclocking if not you could get a non K cpu and save some money

this would be a decent build if you dont plan on overclocking i threw in a psu just in case your is not enough 750 watts would be overkill but it is the same price as the 650 watt it is a evga g2 which is a very good psu

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($51.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($319.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $735.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-24 20:13 EST-0500

No, I won't be doing any overclocking. I never bother with that. Wow, that is so amazing! Thank you so much! You have been so patient with me and I really appreciate it!!

garyshows · Feb 24, 2016

fyrflygrl :

garyshows :

fyrflygrl :

are you gonna be doing any overclocking if not you could get a non K cpu and save some money

this would be a decent build if you dont plan on overclocking i threw in a psu just in case your is not enough 750 watts would be overkill but it is the same price as the 650 watt it is a evga g2 which is a very good psu

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($51.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($319.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $735.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-02-24 20:13 EST-0500

No, I won't be doing any overclocking. I never bother with that. Wow, that is so amazing! Thank you so much! You have been so patient with me and I really appreciate it!!

Just glad i could help!

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