Should I go with the Asus Z170-A or Asus Z170 Pro Gaming ?

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GTWIST

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My rig : GPU: GTX 1070 STRIX ( not oc version )
CPU: Intel Core I7 6700k @ 4.0 GHz
RAM: HyperX Fury 8 GB DDR4 @ 2400 MHz , CL15, 1.2V
PSU: FSP HYDRO G 750, 750W, 80+ Gold ( Modular)
Motherboard : MSI B150 PC MATE
HDD: 2TB Seagate @ 7200 RPM
SSD: ADATA 64GB
Case: Deepcool Dukase V2
CPU Cooler: Stock Intel Cooler ( I know , I'm replacing it with a Noctua NH-C14S )

They both look similar (specs wise) , and so it's very hard for me to decide . I'm going to use it for gaming so the Pro Gaming looks right for the job , but the z170-A looks way better and fits with my color scheme. On the other hand the Pro Gaming has better audio and more usb ports . The z170-A has more features but I don't think I'll need them . It's just too hard to decide .

TL/DR: More usb ports and better sound or visual appeal ?
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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May 25, 2016
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it's up to you.
you already know the differences so you need to decide what is more important to you (i mean what you are going to use).
for example if you use headset with USB connection, sound chip on mother board is not relevant.
or you know for sure that number/type of USB ports on Z170-A is not enough for your setup/use, it becomes irrelevant.
 
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GTWIST

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But are there any major differences ? Ones that can't be fixed with an usb dongle or sound card ? Any differences in the UEFI , overclock capabilities etc.. I don't want to make the same mistake with my current MB . Futuremark ranks the Pro Gaming as the #1 board on their list ( as of this month ) with the z170-A coming in a close 3rd . Motherboard Benchmark ranks the Pro Gaming higher , but other sources rate it pretty low in terms of performance , saying that it under performs . Also on every site it states that the Pro Gaming will go up to 3200 MHz ram , but no mention on the A one . Is there a difference ? Will the XMP negate this , and allow the RAM to run at its 2400 MHz ?
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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Any z170 board should run the ram at 2400Mhz XMP profile.
from what I know, both boards are good and it's exactly about aesthetics and ports. There is supposed to be no difference in overclocking capabilities or system stability between them - they use CPU same power delivery design and components. Both are released some time ago and received BIOS updates that fixed issues.
there is also newer Pro Gaming Aura which replaces the Pro Gaming which i'd go for since i don't like the black/red theme :)
 
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GTWIST

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I would LOVE to pick that one up instead of the regular one , BUT no site or store in Bulgaria has it , and shipping costs way too much to be an option . I suspect a simple dongle would fix the usb issue , and the audio isn't going to make much of a difference since I don't have a high end head set or be able to notice the difference in quality . Might have to go with the A simply because of the black and white theme. Also I can't seem to tell how big the plastic cover is and will it be any problem for cpu coolers . I'm going for the Noctua NH-C14S .
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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I wouldn't put MB from MSI and ASRock into my computer. GB is just a bit better than those. So I do know that asus boards are most expensive, but they come with good quality control, good BIOS support, good SW (like Ai Suite).
the hero would be nice if you had other components taken to the max. at this point, it would be smarter to get larger SSD for example. BTW I'd really recommend to get either Crucial MX300 or SanDisk X400 (whatever cheaper) of at least 240GB
 
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GTWIST

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Yeah , a faster SSD would be nice , but right now i could get the Hero for a lower price than the A or Pro Gaming . In actual fact I can get a Hero a Noctua NH-C14S and a 8gb hyperX ram for only 30$ more than the original Hero price . Just seems too good of a deal to pass .
 
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GTWIST

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The SSD situation can be fixed at any time , the SanDisk x400 isn't that much money but I'd rather go for it maybe next month . No use of getting it now since I'm not going to be able to use my pc for a week or so anyways .
 
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