Best motherboard for my gaming build?

[Yrors_]

Hi,
I was planning on going with the Asus PRO GAMING mobo with my gaming pc build, but I am now unsure if this motherboard is good enough or if I should choose a different one. Keep in mind that I am going with DDR4 ram and a skylake cpu, I want SLI and overclocking support as well.

Part List: http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/4qyJJx

Thanks!

 

[jollypirate]

That motherboard Should be good enoug, it has everything you need, you could go for something a bit more expensive for better overclocking and stabilty but if you are on a tight budget it will do.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I have found the Asus RoG line to be grossly overpriced and that ya can get the same features from Gigabyte of MSI for about 2/3 the price with better performance, better newegg user reviews and better componentry. The Asus BIOs is more intuitive but I won't pay that kind of premium for it.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z97_gaming_6_review/10

The ranking is based on setting the board which recorded the highest combined fps in the gaming tests at 100% and ranking the others by fps as a % of the fastest one.

MoBo % of Leader

MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 100.00%
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 99.86%
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 98.96%
Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 96.13%
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 95.00%
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 94.95%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 93.67%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 93.58%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 91.69%
Asus Z97-A - 89.57%
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 88.20%
MSI Z97S Krait SLI - 71.01%

Note how the $125 / $150 MSI / Gigabyte Gaming 5's are outperforming Asus $200 - $300 boards.

Another ranking appears below .... based upon which boards might be best avoided. The % listed are the percent of board owners who posted highly negative (1 egg) user reviews.



Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 3% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132414
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 4% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130765
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 10% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 11% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132136
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 12% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128709
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 14% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128709
MSI Z97S Krait SLI 19% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130801
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 19% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132125
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 26% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132247
Asus Z97-A - 27% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132118
MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 28% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130808
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 29% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128704


Now with Z170, it must be said that all the boards seem to be within 1-2% of one another but again, the price premium on the RoG boards is still running b50% or more above comparable boards from MSI / Gigabyte

Note again that the Asus Pro Gaming has gotten pretty poor reviews from board owners

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132567
22% give it a pretty horrendous 1 egg rating
11% give it a pretty bad 2 egg rating

Look at these Gigabyte boards in the same price range ....THG truncates the link but click on the newegg,com link and then cut / paste the rest after .com which will allow you to view the boards side by side

http://www.newegg.com

/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627&IsNodeId=1&Description=z170%20gigabyte&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-132-567^13-132-567%2C9SIA24G3KG3691^9SIA24G3KG3691%2C13-128-836^13-128-836&percm=13-128-846%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B9SIA24G3KG3691%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B13-128-836%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

Giga's have 2 more SATA 3 ports and 2 more SATA express ports
Giga's have ALC 1150 audio chipset, Asus is hiding what their's is
G1 had dual LAN in case you want to host game server

 

[Yrors_]

I have found the Asus RoG line to be grossly overpriced and that ya can get the same features from Gigabyte of MSI for about 2/3 the price with better performance, better newegg user reviews and better componentry. The Asus BIOs is more intuitive but I won't pay that kind of premium for it.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z97_gaming_6_review/10

The ranking is based on setting the board which recorded the highest combined fps in the gaming tests at 100% and ranking the others by fps as a % of the fastest one.

MoBo % of Leader

MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 100.00%
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 99.86%
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 98.96%
Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 96.13%
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 95.00%
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 94.95%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 93.67%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 93.58%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 91.69%
Asus Z97-A - 89.57%
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 88.20%
MSI Z97S Krait SLI - 71.01%

Note how the $125 / $150 MSI / Gigabyte Gaming 5's are outperforming Asus $200 - $300 boards.

Another ranking appears below .... based upon which boards might be best avoided. The % listed are the percent of board owners who posted highly negative (1 egg) user reviews.



Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 3% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132414
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 4% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130765
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 10% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 11% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132136
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 12% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128709
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 14% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128709
MSI Z97S Krait SLI 19% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130801
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 19% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132125
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 26% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132247
Asus Z97-A - 27% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132118
MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 28% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130808
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 29% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128704


Now with Z170, it must be said that all the boards seem to be within 1-2% of one another but again, the price premium on the RoG boards is still running b50% or more above comparable boards from MSI / Gigabyte

Note again that the Asus Pro Gaming has gotten pretty poor reviews from board owners

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132567
22% give it a pretty horrendous 1 egg rating
11% give it a pretty bad 2 egg rating

Look at these Gigabyte boards in the same price range ....THG truncates the link but click on the newegg,com link and then cut / paste the rest after .com which will allow you to view the boards side by side

http://www.newegg.com

/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627&IsNodeId=1&Description=z170%20gigabyte&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-132-567^13-132-567%2C9SIA24G3KG3691^9SIA24G3KG3691%2C13-128-836^13-128-836&percm=13-128-846%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B9SIA24G3KG3691%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B13-128-836%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

Giga's have 2 more SATA 3 ports and 2 more SATA express ports
Giga's have ALC 1150 audio chipset, Asus is hiding what their's is
G1 had dual LAN in case you want to host game server

I think I will go with the Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI. I would select you as best answer if I could reselect.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Yrors_]

I have found the Asus RoG line to be grossly overpriced and that ya can get the same features from Gigabyte of MSI for about 2/3 the price with better performance, better newegg user reviews and better componentry. The Asus BIOs is more intuitive but I won't pay that kind of premium for it.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z97_gaming_6_review/10

The ranking is based on setting the board which recorded the highest combined fps in the gaming tests at 100% and ranking the others by fps as a % of the fastest one.

MoBo % of Leader

MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 100.00%
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 99.86%
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 98.96%
Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 96.13%
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 95.00%
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 94.95%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 93.67%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 93.58%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 91.69%
Asus Z97-A - 89.57%
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 88.20%
MSI Z97S Krait SLI - 71.01%

Note how the $125 / $150 MSI / Gigabyte Gaming 5's are outperforming Asus $200 - $300 boards.

Another ranking appears below .... based upon which boards might be best avoided. The % listed are the percent of board owners who posted highly negative (1 egg) user reviews.



Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 3% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132414
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 4% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130765
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 10% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 11% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132136
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 12% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128709
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 14% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128709
MSI Z97S Krait SLI 19% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130801
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 19% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132125
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 26% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132247
Asus Z97-A - 27% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132118
MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 28% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130808
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 29% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128704


Now with Z170, it must be said that all the boards seem to be within 1-2% of one another but again, the price premium on the RoG boards is still running b50% or more above comparable boards from MSI / Gigabyte

Note again that the Asus Pro Gaming has gotten pretty poor reviews from board owners

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132567
22% give it a pretty horrendous 1 egg rating
11% give it a pretty bad 2 egg rating

Look at these Gigabyte boards in the same price range ....THG truncates the link but click on the newegg,com link and then cut / paste the rest after .com which will allow you to view the boards side by side

http://www.newegg.com

/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627&IsNodeId=1&Description=z170%20gigabyte&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-132-567^13-132-567%2C9SIA24G3KG3691^9SIA24G3KG3691%2C13-128-836^13-128-836&percm=13-128-846%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B9SIA24G3KG3691%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24%3B13-128-836%3A%24%24%24%24%24%24%24

Giga's have 2 more SATA 3 ports and 2 more SATA express ports
Giga's have ALC 1150 audio chipset, Asus is hiding what their's is
G1 had dual LAN in case you want to host game server

Does the Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI support overclocking?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

http://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-z170xp-sli-motherboard-review/13/

Overclocking capacity of the board was strong, and impressive given the modest price tag. We had no problem taking our 6700K processor to 4.8GHz while pushing 1.40V through the chip, and Gigabyte’s LLC setting even reduced the VCore level to 1.38V under load but maintained stability. Our CPU cache frequency was held stable at 4.5GHz, too, and this was all alongside four DIMMs of 3200MHz DDR4.

 

[Yrors_]

http://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-z170xp-sli-motherboard-review/13/

Overclocking capacity of the board was strong, and impressive given the modest price tag. We had no problem taking our 6700K processor to 4.8GHz while pushing 1.40V through the chip, and Gigabyte’s LLC setting even reduced the VCore level to 1.38V under load but maintained stability. Our CPU cache frequency was held stable at 4.5GHz, too, and this was all alongside four DIMMs of 3200MHz DDR4.

Do you think the MSI Z170A KRAIT GAMING is worth the money?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The MSI Z97 Krait was a bomb, even worse than the Asus boards, much worse. From above post:

MSI Z97 Gaming 9 - 100.00%
MSI Z97 Gaming 5 - 99.86%
MSI Z97A Gaming 6 - 98.96%
Asus Z97 TUF Sabranco - 96.13%
Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 5 - 95.00%
Gigabyte Z97X SOC Force - 94.95%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Hero - 93.67%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Formula - 93.58%
Asus Z97 Maximus VII Gene - 91.69%
Asus Z97-A - 89.57%
MSI Z97 Mpower MAX AC - 88.20%
MSI Z97S Krait SLI - 71.01%

Of course that doesn't mean the Z170 version is . But I'd want to see a review before I'd go there after what we saw w/ Z97, It would seem however that all the Z170 boards are pretty close gaming wise ... so far. Sure does look great tho

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/msi_z170a_krait_gaming_review,14.html