So, about X99 boards - can someone help me understand the issues?

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm still contemplating picking up one of the 5820K processors that Fry's has on sale and building a new rig around it. However, I've read some things about the X99 boards that make me a bit nervous and wanted some feedback:

1. USB issues seem to be prevalent across all manufacturers - is this still the case or has that largely been corrected? I've got some weird, intermittent USB issues with my current P8Z68-V Pro board and I seem to remember similar issues with the previous X48 board, so maybe it is just the nature of USB; however, I'd like to avoid issues if I can.
2. I know Asus was having issues with voltage regulation and frying CPUs. I think it was somehow related to their "OC socket." Is the best advice still to steer clear of Asus? I've also read many bad things about them recently in terms of support.
3. If not ASUS, who has the best X99 board? Let's say $300 or under; I'd even go to $350 if there is a huge difference.
4. I know Broadwell-E will use X99. I am assuming that with a BIOS update, just about all of the current X99 boards will support it, correct?
5. Opinions on Z170 vs X99? Does the feature set of the Z170 contain major innovations over the X99 or is it "meh"? (DISLAIMER: yes, I know the 5820K will only go in an X99 board; however, I'm still not 100% sold on the 5820K and am considering the 6700K too).

Thanks!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

No comments from X99 owners?

 

[maddogchen]

i bought both the 5820k and an MSI X99 Gaming 7 motherboard from Frys for really cheap recently. $280 for the chip and $100 for the motherboard. That basically decided for me to go with the 5820k over the 6700k.

I chose the MSI over the Asus just because the MSI is on sale every other week and the ASUS never went on sale. You can get good deals on the MSI Kraits, or the X99S SLI Plus if you watch out for them, usually for around $100.

No issues with USB but I've had it for less than a month.

Most good Z170 boards had USB 3.1, but not always with the X99. If you want USB 3.1 you had to pay extra and they are usually not on sale.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

i bought both the 5820k and an MSI X99 Gaming 7 motherboard from Frys for really cheap recently. $280 for the chip and $100 for the motherboard. That basically decided for me to go with the 5820k over the 6700k.

I chose the MSI over the Asus just because the MSI is on sale every other week and the ASUS never went on sale. You can get good deals on the MSI Kraits, or the X99S SLI Plus if you watch out for them, usually for around $100.

No issues with USB but I've had it for less than a month.

Most good Z170 boards had USB 3.1, but not always with the X99. If you want USB 3.1 you had to pay extra and they are usually not on sale.

Yeah, I noticed that Newegg has 15% off selected motherboards and a few X99 boards were in there:

1. GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD3P
2. MSI X99S SLI Krait Edition
3. ASRock Fatal1ty X99X

Also, the board I would get if I go the 6700K route (Gigabyte Gaming 7) is also on sale.

I think I have until Saturday to go pick up a 5820K (assuming supplies last) at the $277 price point, so I've been wrestling pretty hard with the decision. I just read a lot of bad things about the X99 boards last night but in fairness, most were within the first 3 or 4 months of release and I'm hoping those issues have been resolved.

Just out of curiosity, have you overclocked your 5820 and if so, what speed did you get?

 

[maddogchen]

You have to be careful about supply of the 5820k, I miss the sale twice because the stores around me went out of stock quickly when it went on sale. But maybe they got a large shipment recently...don't know.

This was my first try overclocking. I was able to overclock to 4.5 ghz on 1.3 volts with a Noctua nh-d15 air cooler. Highest temps were 75 degrees C. But idle was a bit high for me at 37-39C. So I'm only running it at 4.3 ghz at 1.95v and idle now is around 33.

 

[maddogchen]

If you are looking at Z170 Gigabyte Gaming 7, it has an Intel Alpine ridge controller for thunderbolt which is unique and different from other Z170s and not available in X99. Have not really read anything about it though.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

If you are looking at Z170 Gigabyte Gaming 7, it has an Intel Alpine ridge controller for thunderbolt which is unique and different from other Z170s and not available in X99. Have not really read anything about it though.

Yeah, that is exactly why I am looking at the Gaming 7 - the Alpine Ridge controller could come in handy. I just need to decide on a platform or maybe decide not to upgrade now and hold out a little longer.

 

[OlyAR15]

I've had my x99 system for over a year with no major problems. Haven't really paid attention to the so-called issues with the chipset, but I haven't heard of too many complaints.

 

[Z15CAM]

You should not have any issues with a X99 platform other updating USB Device Drivers running Win7 SP1 64-Bit.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

You should not have any issues with a X99 platform other updating USB Device Drivers running Win7 SP1 64-Bit.

I'd be running Windows 8.1 x64 or Windows 10, so I assume those would be even better.

 

[biostud]

No problems with my Asrock X99X fatal1ty. I've had it since launch.

I would recommend going for motherboards that supports USB 3.1.

Something like the Asrock Extreme6/3.1 or Asrock X99X fatal1ty/3.1

For me the X99 wins over the Z170, since you get more cores and more PCIe lanes, and only looses a little clock speed and IPC compared to Skylake.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Thanks for the feedback Biostud. I need to make a decision quickly on whether or not to go 5820K, 6700K, or hold out longer to see what Broadwell-E offers. Decisions, decisions. Newegg has a nice Z170 board on sale (the Gigabyte Gaming 7) and a couple of x99 boards on sale, but the x99 boards on sale do not have USB 3.1 unfortunately. I like the features of a few of the Asus x99 boards but Asus seems to be having issues now.

 

[CropDuster]

Extremely pleased with my MSI MPower

 

[maddogchen]

For USB 3.1, if it takes off, get a pci card for it? By then it will probably be cheaper than the price diffference between a regular X99 and a X99 w USB3.1 now.

 

[(OIF1)_Sarge]

Yeah, I noticed that Newegg has 15% off selected motherboards and a few X99 boards were in there:

1. GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD3P
2. MSI X99S SLI Krait Edition
3. ASRock Fatal1ty X99X

Also, the board I would get if I go the 6700K route (Gigabyte Gaming 7) is also on sale.

I think I have until Saturday to go pick up a 5820K (assuming supplies last) at the $277 price point, so I've been wrestling pretty hard with the decision. I just read a lot of bad things about the X99 boards last night but in fairness, most were within the first 3 or 4 months of release and I'm hoping those issues have been resolved.

Just out of curiosity, have you overclocked your 5820 and if so, what speed did you get?

I usually dont have much top say on these. forums but I felt compelled to answer your question, so here we go!

. OK so first off I will tellyou that I have the 5820K and it is a superb chip and heavily overclockable but you will indeed need to go with liquid cooling if your looking to overclock extreme. The 5820K is 3.3Ghz and I have clocked my chip as high as 4.6ghz+before having to shut it down. when I have my system in Gaming mode can run it comfortably @4.1ghz all day long @ at a blistering 38-40deg C . Its really very impressive to me. I will say that I have had quite a bit of stability problems with my motherboard which just happenes to be a Asus X99 Deluxe. Right now my intire system is down do to being attacked by. hackers and haveing my system totally destroyeds by some sort of insane Malware that attacks the sytem bios and pretty much eats it alive and doesnt go away... Anyways i would go with X99 man simply put because when its dialed in and working right! ie... OC 4.1ghz + 32g Corsair vengance OC to 3000 andan ssd with M2 x4 card installed it a dream come true and nothing can touch it exceot for another bigger intel chip. Its the best build I have ever made hands down but do be ready to spend some money and forsure steer clear of asus because they have problems right now and the have NO NADA NONE customer service and I mean None!! My next choice would be MSI either GAMEING 7. 9. or GOD LIKE GAMEING which has gotten great reviews...So Goodluck to you !