Getting i5 7600k - need a board advice

[Lsstefan]

Greetings.
As the title says, I'm going to upgrade my Haswell CPU to a 7600k. My "dream" is to reach 5GHz and I don't want SLI.

I started with Z170 and coming from Asus experience, I found Asus Z170 Pro Gaming at a decent price. But I searched for Z270, the only Asus in my budget is the TUF Mark 2 and I found 4 boards from MSI.
MSI Krait Gaming
MSI Tomahawk (117 E)
MSI Gaming M3 (137 E)
MSI SLI PLUS (128 E)

The cheapest is Tomahawk and M3 is 20E over. From all the reviews, the M3 is the best, but Tomahawk is not far behind. M3 has better audio and screws for MOSFET heatsinks. Krait has better audio. Krait has plastic jacks, rest have golden. M3 and Krait has some gold at USB type C. I'm sucker for stuff like these, not RGB and colors. M3 has some Killer Ethernet over I219V, but unless I find a way to route 5 m of ethernet cable thru the house, I'll buy a WiFi adapter and not use Ethernet.

They all look so close, but is M3 worth 20E over Tomahawk?
The Asus TUF looks weak compared to the MSI, the Z170 A is very good, but it's a generation older and same price as new.

What do you suggest?
I know you guys have other suggestions and you can post them, but if I can't find them in the same price area of those above, I won't take it into consideration.

Thank you for your time.

edit: I did find from a store here good priced MSI SLI Plus, probably a return. Says presents slight use marks, has warranty so I'll take that into consideration.
Added SLI Plus to list, has screw heatsinks, but plastic jacks, read some stuff about a third M.2 usage, could be a plus I guess.

 

[alexoiu]

For 7600k I'd consider 270 only, cause the 170 might need a BIOS update.
Which 270? Hard to say. I like ASUS, but not the 270 A. For 5 GHz I'd look for something more solid (more expensive also), but... it's just me.

 

[Lsstefan]

Thanks for the reply.
Well all the MSI boards(except SLI I think) in their tests had a 7700k OC-d at 5 GHz. I think the M3 had a comment from a tester saying his 7600k reached 5.2 GHz with ease. Granted silicon lottery, but still, 8+2 power phases should be enough, no?

Thing is, most of the Mobos out of my range(probably better than what I've listed) are also marked "good for mining", thus raising their prices for no reason. I can mine with a pickaxe too, but that doesn't mean I can charge 1000$ for it...

 

[alexoiu]

You're welcome. Yes, it should work. With a very good cooler and a reliable power supply.

 

[Lsstefan]

550W Gold Seasonic OEM and Arctic Liquid Freezer 240.
I should be alright, unless the CPU sucks major ass....

 

[alexoiu]

What graphics card?

 

[Lsstefan]

R9 280x, but would like to change it soon, maybe a GTX 1060/980ti(might be a stretch for ti)

 

[alexoiu]

It should be ok, then.

 

[Lsstefan]

Thanks, but from all of those above? Anyone using them or can recommend one?