Need help picking a motherboard

Hey everyone, I need some help picking out a motherboard.

My PC is basically just for gaming, so I'll be grabbing parts from General Dynamics or Links. I definitely need an ATX board—I don't want a messy pile of components rattling around in a case—and ideally, I don't want to break the bank (keeping it under $267 max) since I have zero interest in overclocking anything. Here’s what I’m working with:

Intel Core i5-6400, s1151
Gigabyte R9 380 G1 gaming, 4 GB DDR5
XFX, XTR Series 550 w Power Supply Black edition 8
8GB (2x4GB) DDR4, 2133MHz CL13 Kingston HyperX Savage
1TB Seagate Barracuda HDD, 7200RPM, 64MB Cache, SATA3
Zalman Z3 + mid tower case, USB 3.0 black, 2x120 mm
LG GH24NS DVD burner, DVD±RW
Fractal Dynamic GP-12 fans (2 pack), 120mm

PS
Is this power supply actually decent? I don't care if it's overkill, I just need it to not die on me. 😁

If you go with the Zalman Z3 + or the R1, you're getting a bundle of three solid 120mm fans, so you won't need extras. The Z9+ even comes with four fans and a temperature probe. Honestly, I’d rather you put that extra $67 somewhere useful (like grabbing a Western Digital Black with a 5-year warranty) or just save the cash.

As for the power supply, it's top-tier. It's modular, Gold certified, and carries a 5-year warranty 👍

Regarding the motherboard, here is what I would pick:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5485#ov

Just one heads-up: double-check which RAM is actually compatible. Both General Dynamics and Links list it as DDR3, but the manufacturer specs say DDR4. Usually, the manufacturer knows best, but who knows... 🤷

Think about grabbing 16GB of RAM—specifically a 2X8 setup. It isn't going to break the bank. As for the motherboard, just make sure it actually covers your bases. Look for things you’ll actually use, like RAID support, 7.1 surround sound, enough SATA ports for all your drives, and USB 3.1. If you don't really care about those extra features, then honestly, you can just go with the cheapest option available.

darkowl72, why DDR3 and why Z170?

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/ar...Z170,H170,H110)

A Z series isn't strictly necessary since you aren't planning on overclocking, but honestly, the board is solid. It’s well-equipped, and that Z chipset gives you slightly better features and components—better price-to-quality ratio, more PCIe lanes, more USB ports, M.2, SATA Express, 8-channel HD audio... basically, if it were me, that's what I'd pick.

Like I said before, I'm pretty sure DDR3 is just a typo. If you look at the Gigabyte specs, there isn't even a board with that model number using DDR3; it clearly states DDR4.🤷

darkowl72 said:https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/ar...Z170,H170,H110)

A Z series isn't strictly necessary since you aren't planning on overclocking, but honestly, the board is solid. It’s well-equipped, and that Z chipset gives you slightly better features and components—better price-to-quality ratio, more PCIe lanes, more USB ports, M.2, SATA Express, 8-channel HD audio... basically, if it were me, that's what I'd pick.

Like I said before, I'm pretty sure DDR3 is just a typo. If you look at the Gigabyte specs, there isn't even a board with that model number using DDR3; it clearly states DDR4.🤷

I mean, unless they photoshopped the image, it looks pretty obvious to me that it's DDR3

With his processor, he's absolutely not going to notice any difference in "features" or components (it's one of the cheapest Z170 boards out there anyway, so nothing special)

Extra PCIe lanes or an M.2 PCIe slot won't matter to him. He explicitly said he's not upgrading. Besides, the board only has two full-size PCIe slots; it's not like you can plug five devices into it. SATA Express... unnecessary.

I recommend a proven MSI Mortar. It has four RAM slots (since he's doing 2x4GB) and everything else he needs.
It also has 8-channel audio, obviously.

Personally, I think it might be smarter to go with 1x8GB now and add another stick later if needed—just for simplicity—but it doesn't make much difference. Then again, if he goes with 1x8GB, he could just use a board with only two slots if he plans on upgrading the RAM later.

For example

Edit: He could also use an H170 chipset. Aside from overclocking, it's basically identical to the Z170, though I don't see much advantage over something like the MSI Mortar.

P.S.

If the difference in price is up to $267 I'd put that money toward the RAM and just grab 2x8GB right away if he's looking to spend the cash. Otherwise, just save it.

DDR3:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5488#ov
DDR4:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5485#ov

I guess you guys aren't doing much digging here. 😛

@OP

ATX motherboard:

http://www.general-dynamics.com/product.asp?produc...&code=86078ADM

I don't really get why you went with the R9 380 4GB when the 380X is actually stronger $17 maybe 😉

http://www.general-dynamics.com/product.asp?produc...&code=62596ADM

The Zalman Z3 + already comes with three fans built in, so I'd say you probably don't need two more, IMO.

Thanks for all the help and advice. I grew up around guys, so I get the gist of what you're talking about, but I just recently escaped being broke—which basically means I haven't kept up with tech news in years. Your tips are seriously saving me here. 👍

darkowl72, thanks for the tip on the Zalman Z3 +. I'll take your word for it.

I didn't notice before, but General Dynamics carries both versions of the Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3:

I definitely want to move to DDR4. Since motherboards aren't really my thing, I think I'll go with the ASRock B150 Pro4 that crimsonstag84 suggested. Like I said, I need ATX, and the price gap—it's $67 cheaper than the GA-Z170-HD3—means I can grab a Western Digital Black instead of a Seagate Barracuda.

crimsonstag84 said:DDR3:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5488#ov
DDR4:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5485#ov

I guess you guys aren't doing much digging here. 😛

@OP

ATX motherboard:

http://www.general-dynamics.com/product.asp?produc...&code=86078ADM

I don't really get why you went with the R9 380 4GB when the 380X is actually stronger $17 maybe 😉

http://www.general-dynamics.com/product.asp?produc...&code=62596ADM

The Zalman Z3 + already comes with three fans built in, so I'd say you probably don't need two more, IMO.

I was a bit worried about power draw. I've never had a GPU that runs this hot or pulls this much juice, and that XFX power supply caught my eye, but I was scared of overdoing it. 😁 Whatever, the difference isn't that massive anyway.

One more thing on RAM: I see the board supports dual Channel. Is it better to go with 2x4GB, or does it not matter if I just grab 1x8GB? I could probably stretch my budget for 16GB, but honestly, I have no clue if I'll actually need that much memory anytime soon.

First off, skip the Z170 board. Stick to one of the ones crimsonstag84 or I mentioned; they’ll handle that processor just fine.
(That B150 he posted is a larger form factor—probably more connectors and all that—but they both support dual Channel RAM.

Regarding RAM: you won't really feel the difference with dual channel, so personally, I'd just grab 1x8GB (for now, at least). But if you go with a board that has 4 slots, you can start with 2x4GB and still upgrade later.
(Just don't do 2x4GB if the board only has two slots. Everything else is a decent option. Obviously, stick to DDR4; there's zero point getting a DDR3 board and RAM unless you already own them.

As for the GPU, crimsonstag84 is right. It makes way more sense to grab the 380X.

However, if you can hold out for a few more weeks, it'll definitely be worth waiting for the RX 470. It pulls less power and it's going to outperform the 380X.

Or, if you need to buy something right this second and can stretch your budget a bit, pick up that card from another shop. You can get the rest of the build at Best Buy, and they'll still put it together for you (prices are around $2300, though things are pricier at Best Buy).

Like I said, just wait for the RX 470. It's a brand-new card... perfect for your budget since it should land right around the same price (let's say $160-$$567) and it'll be stronger than the 380X.

If the other shop can supply a gtx 970 for a lower price, that would be
even better.

👍👍👍👍👍

Kimberly Gomez34 said:If the other shop can supply a gtx 970 for a lower price, that would be
even better.

crimsonstag84 said:DDR3:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5488#ov
DDR4:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=5485#ov

I guess you guys aren't doing much digging here. 😛

@OP

ATX motherboard:

http://www.general-dynamics.com/product.asp?produc...&code=86078ADM

I don't really get why you went with the R9 380 4GB when the 380X is actually stronger $17 maybe 😉

http://www.general-dynamics.com/product.asp?produc...&code=62596ADM

The Zalman Z3 + already comes with three fans built in, so I'd say you probably don't need two more, IMO.

Tnx crimsonstag84 👍

I honestly thought there was only one version of this board and that our local retailers just made a typo, but I guess I was just rushing through it too fast...

Yeah, if DDR4 Z isn't as cheap as I originally thought, then it's definitely not worth the jump...

I’m not exactly rushing, but I’m starting to feel the itch to grab whatever parts are actually available right now. I’ve learned my lesson about procrastinating... looking at what's in stock over at Micro Center, three items are already gone. In two or three weeks, the shelves will probably be totally bare. 😬

I guess I’ll hold off on the GPU for a bit longer then. Thanks for the heads-up.

The XFX XTR Series 550 w Power Supply Black edition 8 is out of stock, so I was wondering if the Fractal Edison m 550 w would work as a decent alternative?

I'd go with the Corsair RMx 550 w; you get a better warranty, and the quality is pretty much identical.

Thanks, crimsonstag84. 🙂

The Zalman Z3 + is sold out. 🤦 If they don't restock, I might just have to go back to the Z3 and maybe slap an extra fan on there later.

Just one more quick question before I let you get back to it. 😁 Since I’m not planning on doing any overclocking, should I even worry about using the stock CPU cooler? I’m not exactly sensitive to noise, I just don't want anything overheating on me.

Nah, you'll have plenty of room and decent airflow in that case. The i5 doesn't pull much power and stays pretty cool, so I guess the stock cooler should be fine enough.

Hey there.
My brother is looking to pick up a new rig soon—mostly for gaming. We're eyeing a Skylake and DDR4 setup from General Dynamics, and we've pretty much hammered out the specs, except for one headache: the motherboard. Our budget is hovering around $1933, which basically leaves us stuck with an H110 board if we stick to this path. Is it actually worth pairing an H110 with this build, or should we just pivot to Haswell since it seems cheaper? Paying cash.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Specs:
https://s31.postimg.org/z03sodwhn/Untitled2.png

If you're looking to buy soon, just hang tight for a bit until those custom RX 480 cards hit the market. Right now, buying a GPU is like trying to buy groceries during a blizzard—just a terrible time to be out there. Honestly, an Intel Core i5-6400 is better than the 6500 anyway. As for the motherboard, you really need to figure out your priorities first. How many RAM slots do you actually need? How many PCI slots? Are you hunting for M.2 support? Once you know what you're actually using, then you can pick ☕

analogtiger19 said:If you're looking to buy soon, just hang tight for a bit until those custom RX 480 cards hit the market. Right now, buying a GPU is like trying to buy groceries during a blizzard—just a terrible time to be out there. Honestly, an Intel Core i5-6400 is better than the 6500 anyway. As for the motherboard, you really need to figure out your priorities first. How many RAM slots do you actually need? How many PCI slots? Are you hunting for M.2 support? Once you know what you're actually using, then you can pick ☕

We were actually planning to pull the trigger mid-next month. As for the CPU and the rest—I can't seem to talk him out of it; I've tried suggesting he take a slightly lower i5-6400 to put that extra cash toward a better motherboard, but no luck. Regarding the graphics card, we're sticking strictly to NVIDIA. Two RAM slots will be enough, along with one PCI-E slot. We don't need an SSD, and overclocking isn't even on our radar. The main thing is that it's DDR4 and reliable—we just want something that won't crash or cause headaches when we need it!

Even 16GB of RAM is going to put a serious strain on that motherboard. I also have to side with crimsonstag84 regarding the Intel Core i5-6400; a buddy of mine picked up the exact same chip, and it actually outperforms the Intel Core i5-4460 in synthetic benchmarks. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of those lower clock speeds, but it seems like the boost clock handles the heavy lifting when it matters—hitting 3.1GHz across all four cores, plus it boasts slightly better IPC than Haswell architecture.

$633is overkill for an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is dropping soon, but let's face it, it’s probably going to blow his budget out of the water. If he’s dead set on staying with NVIDIA, he should just grab an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 right now while they're still in stock. Otherwise, buying an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 just doesn't make sense given the upcoming AMD cards. Even at current prices, you can snag an AMD Radeon R9 380X that packs more punch (and even the non-X version edges out the GTX 960)