Gigabye X370 Gaming K5 vs MSI X370 Pro gaming Carbon

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raisonjohn


Both Gigabyte and Msi are similar that they have the:

Same memory configuration at 4x DIMM slots, up to 64GB, supports 2133MHz to 3200MHz (OC)
Same number of PCIe slots at 3x PCIe x16 (2 are PCIe3.0 and 1 is PCIe2.0) and 3x PCIe x1 slots
Same multi-GPU support at 2-way SLI, 2-way CrossFire, and possibility of 3-way CrossFire (depending on PCIe use)
Same audio controller using ALC1220 and 5x 3.5mm rear audio jacks with 1x optical S/PDIF out
Same number of internal USB headers at 2x USB2.0 headers and 2x USB3.0 headers
Same number of PS/2 rear port keyboard/mouse combo port at 1x
Same RGB LED header support at 1x
Same PSU power...
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raisonjohn

raisonjohn

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Both Gigabyte and Msi are similar that they have the:

Same memory configuration at 4x DIMM slots, up to 64GB, supports 2133MHz to 3200MHz (OC)
Same number of PCIe slots at 3x PCIe x16 (2 are PCIe3.0 and 1 is PCIe2.0) and 3x PCIe x1 slots
Same multi-GPU support at 2-way SLI, 2-way CrossFire, and possibility of 3-way CrossFire (depending on PCIe use)
Same audio controller using ALC1220 and 5x 3.5mm rear audio jacks with 1x optical S/PDIF out
Same number of internal USB headers at 2x USB2.0 headers and 2x USB3.0 headers
Same number of PS/2 rear port keyboard/mouse combo port at 1x
Same RGB LED header support at 1x
Same PSU power supply ATX / ATX12V requirement at 1x 24-pin and 1x 8-pin
Same size and almost same color scheme (except for layout and subjective aesthetics)

What differentiates the Gigabyte and the Msi are:

Gigabyte uses Realtek GbE LAN Controller | Msi uses Intel I211AT LAN Controller
Gigabyte has 10x total USB rear ports (6x USB3.0, 3x USB3.1-A, 1x USB3.1-C) | Msi has 8x total USB rear ports (2x USB2.0, 4x USB3.0, 1x USB3.1-A, 1x USB3.1-C)
Gigabyte has 5x total fan headers (2x CPU Fan, 3x Sys. Fan) | Msi has 6x total fan headers (2x CPU Fan, 4x Sys. Fan)
Gigabyte has no Debug LED but has an OC button | Msi has a Debug LED for troubleshooting but no OC button
Gigabyte also boasts its DualBIOS support | Msi has none
Gigabyte has 8x SATA III headers | Msi has 6x SATA III headers
Gigabyte has 1x M.2 socket | Msi has 2x M.2 sockets
Gigabyte has its PCIe2.0 x16 [x4-mode] sharing bandwidth with some PCIe2.0 x1 slots, making it run only in [x2-mode] if such PCIe2.0 x1 slot is in use, which makes 3-way CrossFire not available | Msi has its PCIe2.0 x16 [x4-mode] sharing bandwidth with one of the two M.2 slots, that if such M.2 slot is running in PCIe-mode, the PCIe2.0 x16 [x4] is disabled which also makes 3-way CrossFire not available
Gigabyte can fully use all 8x SATA slots + 1x M.2 socket | Msi has one of its SATA III slot sharing bandwidth with one of the two M.2 slots, that if such M.2 slot is running in SATA-mode, that SATA III slot is disabled decreasing the total SATA III slots to only 5x.

The choice of which is "better" would depend on the above features you need (or don't need). I, personally, would go for the Gigabyte X370 Gaming K5 for my own use and preferences.
 
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Solution
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Adrian Matuszczyk

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I have the same problem - which MB to choose?

I would like to buy G.SKILL 16GB 3200MHz Ripjaws V Black CL16 (2x8192), but it will be ok with this MSI or Gigabyte?

Gigabyte is very good in Tom's Hardware review, but users review is not good (Gig has dual bios, it's cool for me).

MSI hmm, better or not?
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Is that true? I thought it was the same across both Z170/270 and X370 is that if an M2 slot was occupied, the SATA 0 port is disabled. So why would it be that way on one manufacturer vs. the other? That's the way it works on my Z170X Designare, which is a Gigabyte board.
 
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raisonjohn

raisonjohn

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Let me qualify (add to) the statement I previously made:

"Gigabyte can fully use all 8x SATA slots + 1x M.2 socket", when such M.2 socket is in PCIe-mode. If the M.2 socket is in SATA-mode, one SATA III slot (i.e., the SATA3_3 slot) will be unavailable, thus, leaving the Gigabyte X370 Gaming K5 with 7x SATA ports. | "Msi has one of its SATA III slot sharing bandwidth with one of the two M.2 slots, that if such M.2 slot is running in SATA-mode, that SATA III slot is disabled decreasing the total SATA III slots to only 5x." If such M.2 slot (i.e., the M2_2 slot) is either in PCIe-mode or not occupied, then, all the 6x SATA III ports in the Msi X370 Pro Carbon will be available for use.

For Gigabyte X370 Gaming K5,
M.2 in PCIe-mode: All 8x SATAIII ports (from SATA3_0 to SATA3_7) are available.
M.2 is unoccupied: All 8x SATAIII ports (from SATA3_0 to SATA3_7) are available.
M.2 in SATA-mode: SATA3_0/1/2/4/5/6/7 are available. SATA3_3 is disabled.

For Msi X370 Pro Cabon,
Both M2_1 and M2_2 in PCIe-mode: All 6x SATAIII ports (from SATA1 to SATA6) are available. PCI_E6 disabled.
M2_1 in SATA-mode | M2_2 in PCIe-mode: All 6x SATAIII ports (from SATA1 to SATA6) are available. PCI_E6 disabled.
M2_1 in PCIe-mode | M2_2 in SATA-mode: SATA1/2/4/5/6 are available. SATA3 is disabled. PCI_E6 is available.
Both M2_1 and M2_2 in SATA-mode: SATA1/2/4/5/6 are available. SATA3 is disabled. PCI_E6 is available.
M2_1 in PCIe-mode or SATA-mode | M2_2 is unoccupied: All 6x SATAIII ports are available. PCI_E6 is available.

Thanks for the heads up :)
 
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g-unit1111

g-unit1111

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Yeah I thought that didn't sound right. Good to have a clarification though.
 
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