Asus H97 Pro Gamer based build vs Asus Z97 Pro Gamer based build - I NEED HELP!

[JCLO]

Hello everyone, I need your knowledge and help!
I have been scouring the interwebs and youtube trying to decide between two builds.
My goal is to play Star Citizen with this machine


Original idea:
MB:ASUS H97-PRO GAMER - Intel H97
CPU:Intel Core i5-4690
RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) Kingston HyperX Fury DDR3 1600 (CAS 10)
GPU: ASUS STRIX GTX 970

The new idea:
MB:ASUS Z97-PRO GAMER - Intel Z97
CPU:Intel Core i5-4690K
RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) Kingston HyperX Fury DDR3 1600 (CAS 10)
GPU: ASUS STRIX GTX 970

The reasons for the new build are:
- The Asus H97 Pro Gamer does not support RAM speed > 1600Mhz ; It does not support OC.
- I assumed that Z97, K CPU and "faster" ram is better...
Price difference = 90 USD

Should I go for it? Will it make a difference? or is this essentially the same thing and I'm just wasting a hundred bucks?

THANKS!

 

[CTurbo]

Can I choose a 3rd option? I do NOT recommend overclocking in budget builds. I also do not recommend the 4690 specifically. You would be better off getting a 4460 or 4590. The 4590 is $31 cheaper than the 4690 and the 4460 $40 cheaper. Performance would be almost identical. Unless you are hell bent on getting an Asus mobo, there are other equal H97 boards that are cheaper.

Don't put much stock in RAM speeds. 1600mhz is plenty. 8GB is also plenty for most gaming.

 

[JCLO]

Can I choose a 3rd option? I do NOT recommend overclocking in budget builds. I also do not recommend the 4690 specifically. You would be better off getting a 4460 or 4590. The 4590 is $31 cheaper than the 4690 and the 4460 $40 cheaper. Performance would be almost identical. Unless you are hell bent on getting an Asus mobo, there are other equal H97 boards that are cheaper.

Don't put much stock in RAM speeds. 1600mhz is plenty. 8GB is also plenty for most gaming.

Thanks for the reply!
I had chosen a 4590, the shop geek told me he had the 4690 at the same price.
I chose asus mobo because of sound card, bios software and plain cool color scheme.
I'm sure I can save bucks here or there picking an asrock or an MSI mobo, I could go amd 8350 with minimal performance loss. But I chose that build because I intend to keep it at least 3 years.

 

[CTurbo]

Well just keep in mind that you need to get an aftermarket cpu cooler to be able to overclock so it'd be more than $90 when the dust settles. I can't tell you if it would be worth it to you. I would buy a ssd with that extra $90.

Getting a FX8350 would be a significant performance loss.

 

[JCLO]

I picked a Samsung pro 850 - 256gb
BTW, for what it'stworth, the asus mobo outperforms similar offering from GB and MSI.

I certainly don't plan to OC on day one, but I ponder whether having the possibility to do so in the future is worth paying extra.
In the words: is OC just a geek/need thing and brings very little to the gaming table or is it really cool and super duper
I will sleep over it

 

[CTurbo]

I promise you that at this level, Asus motherboards do NOT outperform similar offerings from other brands. There is absolutely ZERO difference in performance. Quality? Possibly, that is surely debatable.

Overclocking was "cool" and "fun" and even sometimes "necessary" when I was younger, but it just doesn't make THAT much difference these days with how strong the Intel cpus are. You can look up benchmarks and see if you think it would be worth it for you.

The important question is, if you choose the overclocking option, will you deduct that money from elsewhere in the build, or are all other parts staying the same?

 

[CTurbo]

Look, my opinion on overclocking is very much the minority on this site. Just about everybody else is going to tell you to OVERCLOCK OVERCLOCK OVERCLOCK OMG YOU MUST OVERCLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JCLO]

I promise you that at this level, Asus motherboards do NOT outperform similar offerings from other brands. There is absolutely ZERO difference in performance. Quality? Possibly, that is surely debatable.

Overclocking was "cool" and "fun" and even sometimes "necessary" when I was younger, but it just doesn't make THAT much difference these days with how strong the Intel cpus are. You can look up benchmarks and see if you think it would be worth it for you.

The important question is, if you choose the overclocking option, will you deduct that money from elsewhere in the build, or are all other parts staying the same?

Thanks
I based my comment on Unigine Valley performance vs GB gaming 5: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/asus_z97_pro_gamer_motherboard_review/13

I did check benchmarks, I scoured youtube and internet before I came here The general consensus seems indeed to be that RAM speed does not matter, CPU (other than i5) for gaming doesn't matter and OC, doesn't matter

All my previous builds were financially imposed compromises. Although I still cannot afford a TITAN Z or an I7 I think this build right here is pretty decent for once and I'm trying to maximize it's resell value down the road too