First PC Build - Did I get it right?

[Ketchup]

If you can, buy a monitor from a store where you can actually see it. I have bought screens before that other people seem to love, and have excellent specs, but still failed to impress me.

 

[Austin126936]

Based on the listed specs alone, I'd pick the IPS, yeah. "5ms" is almost always nonsense, and it's likely the TN panel has slightly lower input lag and response time, but everything else an IPS screen brings is easily worth it to my eyes.

Thanks very much for the help! I really appreciate it!

 

[mfenn]

Based on the listed specs alone, I'd pick the IPS, yeah. "5ms" is almost always nonsense, and it's likely the TN panel has slightly lower input lag and response time, but everything else an IPS screen brings is easily worth it to my eyes.

Exactly right. There are a ton of different ways to measure response time, and of course the manufacturer will choose the way that shows their product in the best light.

In my opinion, any standard 60 Hz monitor is going to be roughly the same as far as response time goes. It's only when you get into monitors that can take a 120Hz+ you can really start to get benefits from quicker response times.

For anything other that fast-paced gaming, I would personally take the better colors and contrast levels of a 60Hz IPS over the potentially slightly better response times of a 60Hz TN.

They might be a little more, but not significantly. I haven't watched motherboard prices too closely. The bigger issue is DDR4 - it's a new(ish) tech and has a premium over DDR3, because not much uses it yet. I'd still go Skylake, personally, but it's more of a question for those who already have a few sticks of DDR3 laying around.

:thumbsup:

 

[vailr]

Motherboards with DDR3L and DDR4:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9411/motherboards-with-ddr3l-and-ddr4-biostar

 

[mfenn]

Motherboards with DDR3L and DDR4:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/9411/motherboards-with-ddr3l-and-ddr4-biostar

As we mentioned before, it is unlikely that the Z-series motherboards will offer both slot types, instead preferring to have 4 DDR4 DIMM slots (DDR3 and DDR4 cannot be used simultaneously).

A full sized ATX-based B150Z5 with both DDR3 and DDR4 slots was also on show. It would seem (looking at the other motherboard manufacturers as well) that this type of hybrid design will not be on the Z170 series of motherboards, and is more resigned to the sub-$120 market. We would expect other manufacturers to come out with similar products as well.