best RAM for MSI Z97 Gaming 5

Solution
1) The E3-1231 V3 is not the best choice, nor is the i7-4790.

The E3-1231 V3 costs slightly more than an i5-4690K. While it is hyper threaded it ends up slightly slower for gaming where a bottleneck even exists due to the i5-4690K's higher frequency (4.2GHz on simple XMP profile).

That's ignoring any further overclock which is easily done though I'd just stay at 4.2GHz (or possibly 4.3GHz) with the XMP or slight-overclock method (see motherboard manual).

2) DDR3 memory:
16GB isn't needed yet, but if you want to future proof that's fine. You won't see a noticeable benefit beyond 1866MHz CAS9, plus I'd get whatever is cheapest of the same model 4x4GB or 2x8GB.

THIS is slightly cheaper, possibly more stable, and will perform in the...
Hmmm...i7 4790 and Z97 gaming 5?
i7 4790 is not for OC but the mobo is for OC.
I would downgrade the mobo to H97 and consider an E3-1231V3.
You will get similar performance but cheaper.
E3-1231V3 is an i7 4790 but without the iGPU, only 100MHz slower but costs less (i5 4690k's price).
 


Can you send me a link for the E3-1231V3 ?
 
E3-1231V3? You live in Spain (Europe)?
http://www.alternate.es/Intel%28R%29/E3-1231-v3/html/product/1129073?

I know it is officially spec-ed for server but it is also a good gaming proc and alternative to i7 4790.
It should be around €70 cheaper than i7 4790.
http://www.alternate.es/Intel%28R%29/i7-4790/html/product/1128181?
Some more info on the difference between i7 4790 and E3-1231V3:
http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-E3-1231V3-vs-Intel-Core-i7-4790
The one thing you must remember is that E3-1231V3 does not have the iGPU like i7 4790 does.
 
1) The E3-1231 V3 is not the best choice, nor is the i7-4790.

The E3-1231 V3 costs slightly more than an i5-4690K. While it is hyper threaded it ends up slightly slower for gaming where a bottleneck even exists due to the i5-4690K's higher frequency (4.2GHz on simple XMP profile).

That's ignoring any further overclock which is easily done though I'd just stay at 4.2GHz (or possibly 4.3GHz) with the XMP or slight-overclock method (see motherboard manual).

2) DDR3 memory:
16GB isn't needed yet, but if you want to future proof that's fine. You won't see a noticeable benefit beyond 1866MHz CAS9, plus I'd get whatever is cheapest of the same model 4x4GB or 2x8GB.

THIS is slightly cheaper, possibly more stable, and will perform in the real-world as good as 2400/C10 memory:
http://www.pccomponentes.com/g_skill_ripjawsz_ddr3_2133_pc3_17000_16gb_4x4gb_cl9.html

3) Motherboard:
If you haven't yet bought a board I suggest the Asus Z97-A for the same cost instead which is likely higher build quality:
http://www.alternate.es/ASUS/Z97-A/html/product/1138758?tk=7&lk=8726
 
Solution
E3-1231V3 and i5 4690k do not fall into the same category.
i5 4690k is OCable and runs slightly faster but without HT.
E3-1231V3 is not OCable, runs slightly slower but has HT.
E3-1231V3 is interesting for people who want to buy i7 4790, do not need iGPU, no plan for OC and have the more or less the budget of i5 4690k.

If you do not want to OC my picks are: i5 4590 and E3-1231V3
If you want to OC: i5 4690k
i7 4790k is special, even if you do not want to OC, this baby runs 500Mhz faster on stock than i7 4790. The downside is the price.
 

gaztesk

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Nov 11, 2014
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No, I have not bought it yet so we are still on time :p

Why do you think Asus Z97 is better than the msi ?

Actually the Asus one is 20€ more expensive than the MSI , do you think that is worth paying that?

Thank you very much

Your help is much appreciated as I am new with all this