Need help choosing a motherboard & RAM

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

Hello I'm gonna upgrade some things in my system, motherboard and RAM. And I need you guys to compare some products for me, and tell me which one is better and why.

Cdog042501 · Apr 4, 2017

2nd corsiar ram its clocked at a higher speed for mobo just pico the one that fits you needs and price

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

Cdog042501 :

Is that the only differance, is that a huge differance?

Cdog042501 · Apr 4, 2017

Even then the ram dosent boost proformance by much i would go wuth whatever is cheaper on the ram

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

Cdog042501 :

They're the same price.

Cdog042501 · Apr 4, 2017

Then go with the 2800 instead of 2666

JackNaylorPE · Apr 4, 2017

1. Please list the names of the products ... no need for us to get RSI answering your question. Both is fine but if one or the other model names much preferred.

Gigabyte Z270 Gaming K3
Gigabyte Z270M D3H
Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
Gigabyte Z270P-D3

2. What is the purpose of this build ? If it's a gaming box, be aware that all these boards have a substandard audio solution except for the k3 which has ALC 1220. ALC 887 and 892 is a low budget solution where manufacturer doesn't wanna pay for 1220.

3. You can compare all the boards here:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?CompareItemList=280%7C13%2D128%2D985%5E13%2D128%2D985%2C13%2D128%2D986%5E13%2D128%2D986%2C13%2D128%2D975%5E13%2D128%2D975%2C13%2D128%2D978%5E13%2D128%2D978

-The K3 supports RAM speed of 4100, all others 3866
-The 4 boards use 3 different LAN solutions
-Each supports a different number of USB ports
-The Gigabyte Z270M D3H is a Micro ATX board

As for RAM

1. Don't put a single stick in a dial channel board. Dual means **two** sticks

2. This will vary by country and retailer but the cost of RAM rises slowly till it hits a break point where cost increases sharply for each jump in performance from then on. Here in US, that's generally DDR4-3000 to 3200.

If it's just a small jump from 2666 to 2800, take the jump
If it's just a small jump from 2800 to 3000, take the jump
If it's a big jump from 3000 to 3200, stick w/ 3000 ...

In addition look at CAS timings ... lower is better.

2 x 8GB is more than adequate for a gaming box.

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

JackNaylorPE :

It's a gaming machine, and what is that audio you were talking about?

I will just go with the faster RAM, but here is the names of them:

Corsair 16GB (1x16GB) DDR4 2666Mhz CL16 Vengeance LPX Svart

VS

Corsair 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2800MHz CL16 Vengeance LPX Svart

And you already named the motherboards, but here are the ones I really want to compare:

Gigabyte Z270 Gaming K3

VS

Gigabyte Z270P-D3

VS

MSI Z270 TOMAHAWK

VS

MSI Z270 PC MATE

I know a lot about other components in a computer, but RAM and motherboards is a grey area for me, as in the past I havent really cared about these two.

-Thanks

JackNaylorPE · Apr 4, 2017

The MoBo is, in effect, in control of how well those other components work. If it doesn't do its job, the other components won't live up to their potential.

As you can see in previous post, one of the boards is mATX so rule that one out. The K3 is the only one with ALC 1220 so I'd drop the other two. Any other question you might have should be answered by the link provided

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

JackNaylorPE :

What which one is maATX?

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

JackNaylorPE :

1. Please list the names of the products ... no need for us to get RSI answering your question. Both is fine but if one or the other model names much preferred.

Gigabyte Z270 Gaming K3
Gigabyte Z270M D3H
Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
Gigabyte Z270P-D3

2. What is the purpose of this build ? If it's a gaming box, be aware that all these boards have a substandard audio solution except for the k3 which has ALC 1220. ALC 887 and 892 is a low budget solution where manufacturer doesn't wanna pay for 1220.

3. You can compare all the boards here:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?CompareItemList=280%7C13%2D128%2D985%5E13%2D128%2D985%2C13%2D128%2D986%5E13%2D128%2D986%2C13%2D128%2D975%5E13%2D128%2D975%2C13%2D128%2D978%5E13%2D128%2D978

-The K3 supports RAM speed of 4100, all others 3866
-The 4 boards use 3 different LAN solutions
-Each supports a different number of USB ports
-The Gigabyte Z270M D3H is a Micro ATX board

As for RAM

1. Don't put a single stick in a dial channel board. Dual means **two** sticks

2. This will vary by country and retailer but the cost of RAM rises slowly till it hits a break point where cost increases sharply for each jump in performance from then on. Here in US, that's generally DDR4-3000 to 3200.

If it's just a small jump from 2666 to 2800, take the jump
If it's just a small jump from 2800 to 3000, take the jump
If it's a big jump from 3000 to 3200, stick w/ 3000 ...

In addition look at CAS timings ... lower is better.

2 x 8GB is more than adequate for a gaming box.

The gigabyte D3 is ATX, where did you read it was micro?

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

JackNaylorPE :

1. Please list the names of the products ... no need for us to get RSI answering your question. Both is fine but if one or the other model names much preferred.

Gigabyte Z270 Gaming K3
Gigabyte Z270M D3H
Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
Gigabyte Z270P-D3

2. What is the purpose of this build ? If it's a gaming box, be aware that all these boards have a substandard audio solution except for the k3 which has ALC 1220. ALC 887 and 892 is a low budget solution where manufacturer doesn't wanna pay for 1220.

3. You can compare all the boards here:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?CompareItemList=280%7C13%2D128%2D985%5E13%2D128%2D985%2C13%2D128%2D986%5E13%2D128%2D986%2C13%2D128%2D975%5E13%2D128%2D975%2C13%2D128%2D978%5E13%2D128%2D978

-The K3 supports RAM speed of 4100, all others 3866
-The 4 boards use 3 different LAN solutions
-Each supports a different number of USB ports
-The Gigabyte Z270M D3H is a Micro ATX board

As for RAM

1. Don't put a single stick in a dial channel board. Dual means **two** sticks

2. This will vary by country and retailer but the cost of RAM rises slowly till it hits a break point where cost increases sharply for each jump in performance from then on. Here in US, that's generally DDR4-3000 to 3200.

If it's just a small jump from 2666 to 2800, take the jump
If it's just a small jump from 2800 to 3000, take the jump
If it's a big jump from 3000 to 3200, stick w/ 3000 ...

In addition look at CAS timings ... lower is better.

2 x 8GB is more than adequate for a gaming box.

So you would recommend the K3 motherboard, and the 2x8 RAM?

JackNaylorPE · Apr 4, 2017

spree01 :

1. I didn't say that it was. See my 1st post, Item No. 3. That's what the "M" stands for

-The Gigabyte Z270M D3H is a Micro ATX board

2. Did you look at the link I provided in 1st post which lists all features and specs side by side ?

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?CompareItemList=280%7C13%2D128%2D985%5E13%2D128%2D985%2C13%2D128%2D986%5E13%2D128%2D986%2C13%2D128%2D975%5E13%2D128%2D975%2C13%2D128%2D978%5E13%2D128%2D978

spree01 · Apr 4, 2017

JackNaylorPE :

I did look at the link yeah, it's just half of the things I dont know what they mean, the D3 and the K3 seems so familiar in so many areas for me, and it's almost 30 bucks more for differances that I cant even understand.

JackNaylorPE · Apr 4, 2017

Again... in order of price

-GA-Z270P-D3 ($109) has extreme low budget audio solution (last generation, Realtek ALC887), weaker LAN (7.8" W)
-GA-Z270M-D3H ($120) is mATX
-GA-Z270-HD3P ($125) has substandard audio solution (last generation, ALC 892) (8.9" W)
-GA-Z270-Gaming K3 ($140) has current generation ALC 1220 which supercedes last generation ALC 1150. It is the only board that is of the fiull ATX size (9.6" W)

Those are the most glaring differences but the K3 also has more USB headers / ports, more fan headers, more connectivity, dual BIOS

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