Another picking a MB thread

[Craig234]

I have an ASRock Z97 extreme with I think an i7-4790K for a gaming system.

I think the MB has issues and can't find anyone to straighten pins so plan to buy a replacement MB.

Is it a good idea to just buy the same one again or is there a better pick since I got that one almost 2 years ago?

 

[KittyFish62]

Here, see if you can try to fix the pins yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1H5_FVX9lU

 

[Craig234]

Here, see if you can try to fix the pins yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1H5_FVX9lU

Thanks, but I actually tried that when installing and was not able to do it and probably made it worse.

It says something that both of the local repair shops I asked - one which claims 'if others can't fix it, they can' - immediately said they cannot and will not try to fix bent pins.

As one reviewer of that video said, "In this video, I learn How to damage Mother Pins..."

If I could find anyone who can fix the bent pins, I would do that.

The only resource I found previously was a jeweler who would try - and he realized he couldn't do much but helped a little.

 

[KittyFish62]

Well, at this point you might as well buy a new motherboard. Fixing bent pins is almost just as expensive anyways.

 

[gaius_iulius]

Since the original question was not "How do I repair my motherboard?", but rather "Should I buy the same motherboard again, or is there a superior model available now?" ... let's just answer that question, shall we?

My advice would be to get the same board again.
You know its capabilities and it seems to have served you well in the past. I don't think spending more money on a board with extra features makes much sense, unless you have missed a certain capability on your existing board.
One consideration might be a different chipset, however. You could have a look at Z170 boards, e.g. if you plan to use NVMe storage in the future.

Cheers,
Gaius

Edit / P.S.: I love threads like this. Somebody asks "Should I buy Ryzen 5 1400 or 1600?" ... and without fail there are one or two answers like "Buy Intel i5-7500". Duh.

 

[Craig234]

Just curious - would a Z170 board be compatible with the same CPU and RAM?


Unfortunately there only seem to be used motherboards of the same model for sale, but that's an option.

 

[KittyFish62]

Should be, unless you're still using ddr3 and the motherboard has ddr4 or something like that.

 

[gaius_iulius]

Should be, unless you're still using ddr3 and the motherboard has ddr4 or something like that.

Ummm, no.
Z170 mobos are socket 1151, they don't support Gen4 CPUs, which are socket 1150.
At least I've never heard of a Z170 board for LGA1150 CPUs.

As for memory, some support DDR3, like the ASUS Z170-P D3 or the GigaByte GA-Z170-HD3, but most require DDR4.

 

[KittyFish62]

oh sorry, I not very familiar with intel chipsets.