Suggestions for a MB to go with a new 6700K?

[Michael]

I would,like something that is as up-to-date as possible (USB 3.1, for example) and that is dependable in a rig that will be used for gaming and video/audio applications.

Michael

 

[sze5003]

I'm also looking for a mobo to use with the same processor, although I may go with a 6700.

Any of the Asus z170 boards should be good. I have an asrock now and would not kind getting another one but asrock has a bunch of extra features I will not use.

Check out the MSI z170A it should be $130 and includes a usb 3.1.

 

[jtprit]

After lots of research I purchased the Asus z170-Pro Not the pro-gaming one to go with the same cpu. My gear is supposed to arrive today so I can't say anything else about it yet.

 

[Michael]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132640

That is the ASUS Z170-pro, and I have been looking at it. Seems to be pretty feature complete.

Michael

 

[WilliamM2]

I went with the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming a couple of weeeks ago. It's been rock solid so far. Seems to be almost identical to the Z170 Pro, but no bulky shroud over the rear ports. Newegg has had it on sale for $134 a few times in the last couple of months, $124 after rebate. Last sale ended yesterday.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132567

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I went with the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming a couple of weeeks ago. It's been rock solid so far. Seems to be almost identical to the Z170 Pro, but no bulky shroud over the rear ports. Newegg has had it on sale for $134 a few times in the last couple of months, $124 after rebate. Last sale ended yesterday.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132567

I'm not an electronics-tech guy, and as much as we all gather a basic understanding of computer architecture and features as veteran builders and overclockers, we develop rules-of-thumb when choosing our boards.

Since I overclock, I look for a good phase-power design spec of 10 or greater.

So for the basic Z170 Pro board, I found this:

ASUS Digital Power Design:
- Industry leading Digital 8 Phase Power Design

For the gaming version, there's no mention of the spec, but I would guess it's the same.

These boards that have been linked to this thread are all good boards. For various purposes, you can find a good board at their price-point at the Egg.

But for my own forthcoming Z170 system, I'm choosing this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Sabertooth_Z170_Mark_1-_-13-132-639-_-Product

and I'm willing to pay the extra $60 bucks because:

TUF ENGINE! Power Design:
- 8 +4 Digital Phase Power Design (= 12)

It all depends on what you plan to do, what processor you're using, and whether or not you're an overclocking obsessive-compulsive addict.

As for the spec, ASUS had published in its "Overview" of a Z97 board that the spec is irrelevant, and the quality of components is a bigger factor. But the quality of components on the Sabertooth is already top-notch, with a 5-year warranty and a board built to a mil-spec. So the extra expense seems worth it to me.

 

[nerp]

I went with the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming a couple of weeeks ago. It's been rock solid so far. Seems to be almost identical to the Z170 Pro, but no bulky shroud over the rear ports. Newegg has had it on sale for $134 a few times in the last couple of months, $124 after rebate. Last sale ended yesterday.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132567

I have the H170 PRO GAMING, the non OC version of the same board, and it has been solid as a rock for me too.

 

[Michael]

I had a lot of issues with my new build (traced eventually to a bad power supply), and I tried out the ASUS Z170 AR MB. Other than not having a DVI video connection it seems to be quite similar to the Pro and cheaper. It also has 4 chasis fan connections while the Pro only had 2. So I am sending the Pro back.

 

[WilliamM2]

I'm not an electronics-tech guy, and as much as we all gather a basic understanding of computer architecture and features as veteran builders and overclockers, we develop rules-of-thumb when choosing our boards.

Since I overclock, I look for a good phase-power design spec of 10 or greater.

So for the basic Z170 Pro board, I found this:

ASUS Digital Power Design:
- Industry leading Digital 8 Phase Power Design

For the gaming version, there's no mention of the spec, but I would guess it's the same.

These boards that have been linked to this thread are all good boards. For various purposes, you can find a good board at their price-point at the Egg.

But for my own forthcoming Z170 system, I'm choosing this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Sabertooth_Z170_Mark_1-_-13-132-639-_-Product

and I'm willing to pay the extra $60 bucks because:

TUF ENGINE! Power Design:
- 8 +4 Digital Phase Power Design (= 12)

It all depends on what you plan to do, what processor you're using, and whether or not you're an overclocking obsessive-compulsive addict.

As for the spec, ASUS had published in its "Overview" of a Z97 board that the spec is irrelevant, and the quality of components is a bigger factor. But the quality of components on the Sabertooth is already top-notch, with a 5-year warranty and a board built to a mil-spec. So the extra expense seems worth it to me.

Looks like it's $85 more to me. It's a nice looking board, but it seems to me that covering the front and back of the board entirely in plastic would be detrimental to cooling. And make it harder to keep it dust free over the years.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Looks like it's $85 more to me. It's a nice looking board, but it seems to me that covering the front and back of the board entirely in plastic would be detrimental to cooling. And make it harder to keep it dust free over the years.

Actually, a lot of mainstreamers might think that, although I'm not trying to "dis" you with the word.

It is really quite the opposite. The "armor" of the Sabertooth isn't there to protect the board from flying rocks, bullets, epileptic seizures while servicing the computer innards. It is a duct.

When I first came into the forums around '05, there were a lot of blogs on the web for things like "homemade water blocks," "homemade evaporative coolers," and other things -- including cooling ducts.

The idea behind ducting follows: forcing air through narrow apertures at higher velocities will remove more heat from targeted components.

And that's the purpose ASUS had in mind when they put this plastic shield on the Sabertooth. As for the dust and kruft, it would hardly be a factor if the entire computer case is filtered and all the air forced under the armor comes from inside the case. But I think there's a single 40mm intake fan at the I/O plate for the Sabertooth. A simple filter applied there would do the trick.

Of course, one could simply remove the TUF armor plate, apply one's own cooling solutions, and basically -- "it's a motherboard."

But you're correct about my "price calculation" -- it's more like an $85 difference. I'm not so interested in the "armor," but the components and the 12-phase power-design, the adherence to mil-specs, and the 5-year warranty. Especially, the first two of that list.

 

[VilvetkaRT]

I needs one. New or used doesnt matter. It needs to be as cheap as possible.



Thanks guys