Intel Z170 Motherboard recomendations

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berlin88

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Oct 23, 2009
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I am going to be upgrading to either a Core i5-6600k or a core i7-6700k, and am currently looking at motherboard options.

I was initially going to go with an Asus Z170-A, but Microcenter doesn't carry that version :(

However, Microcenter carries the Asus Z170-Pro ($189.99).
http://www.microcenter.com/product/456224/Z170-PRO_LGA_1151_ATX_Intel_Motherboard

Would this be a good alternative choice for a motherboard?

Microcenter does have Z170-A model for MSI, but I don't have much experience with MSI boards.

Due to a prior bad experience some years ago, I am reluctant to buy my CPU / motherboard online, hence my purchasing a motherboard / CPU from Microcenter.

I guess my question, would be which of the available Z170 motherboards sold my Microcenter, would people recommend I get?


 
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Rogue Leader
The Z170A and Z170-PRO are basically the same board, the pro has slightly faster memory support you likely won't use, and swaps in an extra PCie x1 slot vs the Z170A's legacy PCI slot, it also has better onboard sound and a few smaller details are different (ports and stuff, mostly minor and legacy support related).

For a new build the Z170 PRO is a great choice.
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Rogue Leader

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The Z170A and Z170-PRO are basically the same board, the pro has slightly faster memory support you likely won't use, and swaps in an extra PCie x1 slot vs the Z170A's legacy PCI slot, it also has better onboard sound and a few smaller details are different (ports and stuff, mostly minor and legacy support related).

For a new build the Z170 PRO is a great choice.
 
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berlin88

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Excellent, then it looks like the Z170-Pro is the way to go then.

Micro Center currently charges $199 for the i5-6600k and $299 for the i7-6700k, with the Asus Z170-Pro for $189.99, with a $30 discount for buying both a CPU / motherboard at the same time. That comes out to $359 + tax or $459 + tax, depending on what board I get.

Given that Black Friday is only a few weeks away, I may wait to see if Micro Center has any Black Friday deals on my desired CPU / Motherboard, before buying.

For memory, I will likely just get the DDR4 version of the Gskill Ripjaws series, since I have had the DDR3 version for the past year or so, and it worked well with my FX-8320 / Asrock 990FX Extreme 4.
 
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Rogue Leader

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Heres the thing with Black Friday, its highly unlikely that stuff will be on sale, BF deals are usually for last years equipment, that said it is possible and its not like the price is going to go up, so if you can wait the time it may be worth waiting for.
 
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berlin88

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I got my previous FX-8320 processor for $99 as part of a Black Friday special, but I don't really expect to see the i5-6600k or i7-6700k have any major Black Friday bargain.

When browsing the selection at Micro Center, I noticed they also had the Asus Z170 Sabertooth S-Tuf Series. Its $150 after bundle discount, which would make it the same price as the Asus Z-170 pro.

Would the Asus Z-170 Sabertooth offer any advantages over the Asus Z-170 Pro?
 
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