help me choose mobo based on Ram for gaming

WREQD · Oct 16, 2016

im in a bit of a dilemma here .... i want to go for the i7 skylake processor http://ark.intel.com/products/88195/Intel-Core-i7-6700K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_20-GHz and i have 2 motherboards in my mind:

1. H 170 - https://www.asus.com/in/Motherboards/H170-PRO/
2. Z 170 - https://www.asus.com/in/Motherboards/Z170-K/

And i have learnt that In Z model, u can overclock CUP from 4.0 to 4.2 GHz (not a OC person) and it supports DDR4 3466 Mhz. So i thought of going for the H model as i can save few bucks but it supports DDR4 2133 Mhz ..

And yes i know the H model has just 2 Ram slots but i'm pretty sure i can do fine with 16gb DDR 4 Rams ... so the question is should i go for Z model for more Mhz in RAM? and moreover my CPU as you can see in the first link above says it supports maximum 2133 mhz ...

help me in this small dilemma between the Mhz and the CPU ..... i'm thinking i should stick with H model as the CPU doesn't support more than 2133 Mhz anyway ... am i right?

Got a gtx 1060 gpu and planning to go for Intel SSD 600p series for making use of the M2 socket.

Grugbug · Oct 16, 2016

You are going to use a "K" processor which has an unlocked multiplier. The best option for a "K" processor is getting a "Z" model motherboard. The "Z" model motherboards will allow you to use a "K" processor to its fullest.
If you decide to go with a "H" model motherboard you might as well get a standard processor.

geofelt · Oct 16, 2016

If you will buy a "K" processor, buy a Z170 based motherboard.
You need not overclock initially, but it is easy to do and the performance improvement is potentially large.
I say potentially because the stock 4.0 clock rate can be increased considerable, depending on how lucky you are in getting a good chip.

As of 5/2016
What percent can get an overclock at a somewhat sane 1.40v Vcore.

I7-6700K
4.9 2%
4.8 17%
4.7 59%
4.6 93%
4.5 100%
The "K" versions let you pick your cooler.
It need not be expensive, something like a $30 cryorig H7 will do the job, about the best might be a Noctua NH-U14s.

Regardless of the number of ram slots, skylake is always dual channel. A 2 x 8gb kit is good.
Also, there is very little benefit in real app performance or fps for ram faster than 1.2v DDR4 2400 speed.
Here is a report on ram scaling:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html

WREQD · Oct 16, 2016

geofelt :

If you will buy a "K" processor, buy a Z170 based motherboard.
You need not overclock initially, but it is easy to do and the performance improvement is potentially large.
I say potentially because the stock 4.0 clock rate can be increased considerable, depending on how lucky you are in getting a good chip.

As of 5/2016
What percent can get an overclock at a somewhat sane 1.40v Vcore.

I7-6700K
4.9 2%
4.8 17%
4.7 59%
4.6 93%
4.5 100%
The "K" versions let you pick your cooler.
It need not be expensive, something like a $30 cryorig H7 will do the job, about the best might be a Noctua NH-U14s.

Regardless of the number of ram slots, skylake is always dual channel. A 2 x 8gb kit is good.
Also, there is very little benefit in real app performance or fps for ram faster than 1.2v DDR4 2400 speed.
Here is a report on ram scaling:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1478-page1.html

so i go for the Z boards and use 2400mhz rams? but my CPU only supports 2133 mhz ... just 1 last small doubt

Tradesman1 · Oct 16, 2016

Go the Z170 and utilize the OC capabilities. As far as DRAM the CPU is rated to 2133, but most all 6700K can easily run 2666 at astock (and many 6700Ks can run even higher data rates), and with the ability to OC 3000/3200 is really the price to performance sweet spot for DDR4 and Skylake K model CPUs

geofelt · Oct 16, 2016

All DDR4 ram has a default speed of 2133. You are certainly OK there.
Better quality ram will run at 2400 speed at the default 1.2v voltage.

To run faster than 2400 speed, better quality ram can use higher voltage to get better speeds.
This is done by implementing one of the XMP settings imbedded in the ram.
You need not do anything. Any difference in real performance is minor.

WREQD · Oct 17, 2016

Tradesman1 :

alright im going for the Z then ... but one last question ... in my country as of now only the 2133 mhz DDR4 is available in the market ... so i can get 2 x 8 now and then later on after higher mhz rams are out i can get 2 more right? not sure of the ram compatibility i.e. i do not know if i can use rams with different mhz on the same mobo as i have never used up the 4 slots ...

WREQD · Oct 17, 2016

Grugbug :

The stock k model is 4.0 ghz and the website http://ark.intel.com/products/88195/Intel-Core-i7-6700K says max turbo is 4.2 .... so i may not be cloaking it at all .. I have not OC my current i7 - 2600k as well ... which is why i am considering the H board ... what do u mean by "Z" allows u use the "K" to the fullest? anything apart from the OC feature that the H doesn't?

geofelt · Oct 17, 2016

2133 ram is perfectly good, and will perform about as fast as higher speed ram. No problem there.
Replacing with faster ram would be a worthless change.

If you were able to add 2 sticks of faster ram, they all would run at the slower speed.
If it would work at all, that is.

Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when 4 sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
It is safer to get what you need in one kit up front.
I doubt you would benefit from more than 16gb

Apart from the ability to overclock, there is little else to differentiate the H170 from Z170.
Here is a comparison.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1151
The H series will not let you use two graphics cards in cf/sli, but that is not an option I would recommend anyway.

The benefit from faster ram might amount to 2%
The benefit from overclocking is likely to be 15%

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