Do I really need a top-of-the-line motherboard?

[10thmtnarty]

I've been watching a lot of LinusTechTips, and he recently benchmarked two motherboards side-by-side. After watching that video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeuJAOVRoA0), I decided I could probably drop my budget by almost 100.

Anyway, here's my build (I'm currently looking for a different PSU)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.89 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: TUNIQ TX-2 3.5g Thermal Paste ($5.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($199.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($130.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($238.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Constellation ES.3 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB FTW ACX 2.0 Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($334.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB FTW ACX 2.0 Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($334.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake Core V71 ATX Full Tower Case ($130.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($199.99 @ Best Buy)
Optical Drive: Asus BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.89 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Cooler Master Megaflow 110.0 CFM 200mm Fan ($11.99 @ Directron)
Monitor: Samsung S24D300H 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($150.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Samsung S24D300H 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($150.98 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Samsung S24D300H 60Hz 24.0" Monitor ($150.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $2682.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-20 21:47 EDT-0400

I don't plan to overclock the gpu, but do plan to do some minor overclocking to my cpu. Never oc'd before, so I'm gonna take it slow.
Anyway, would this or this do the same job as the asus 7 hero in my build?

 

[Tradesman1]

Looks good, which mobo were you looking at? the Formula?

 

[TheNewGeek420]

Both of them are nice, but the gigabyte z97X gaming-5 is only like 14 bucks more than the gaming three, so here is the link (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97xgaming5), other options are z97-a by asus (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z97a).
However if you want to keep the Z97 VII Hero, which is an amazing board, especially for OCing, then it isn't a bad idea. Your going to start slow and eventually want to test your limits in the future, and this is the right board to do it!

 

[TheNewGeek420]

Looks good, which mobo were you looking at? the Formula?

Just had a question for you, how does that CM V8 GTS work out for you, it seems like a good cooler but I haven't looked into it much. Also nice OC on the 4770K, and I hope the build in progress goes well.

 

[Tradesman1]

Sorry missed your links at the bottom, If going SLI as you show and with the rest I wouldn't go to an entry level mobo, you be putting a load on this and guessing you'll be OCing, the Hero would be far better, better OCing, Power phase control, runs cooler, etc (mine in sig)

 

[10thmtnarty]

Thanks. But if I dropped down to a single GPU then an entry level mobo would be fine even with some minor cpu ocing?

 

[TheNewGeek420]

Thanks. But if I dropped down to a single GPU then an entry level mobo would be fine even with some minor cpu ocing?

yeah but why drop down to single gpu when i seems like you can afford 2 gpus and the VII hero, but yes "entry" level is fine for minor cpu OC and single gpu i guess.

 

[10thmtnarty]

Like I stated, depends on the size of my bonus. And it depends on other factors such as how much I splurge on a second upper for my ar...

 

[Tradesman1]

If OCing anything, I'd stay away from entry level, with a single GPU (or even SLI, you might look at the Asus Z97-A (or the Asus Pro Gamer, both should work well for you and with a savings from the Hero (though you would LOVE the Hero )

 

[10thmtnarty]

Currently using a sabertooth 990fx (amd build), which was probably the equivalent at that time (2011) and I love it. My original plan was to eventually sli it, but you know how that almost always goes...

 

[Tradesman1]

Know the feeling, you'll love intel and have a good component mix, the AMD rig in my sig I just build the end of the year and it's primarily for helping out here and is being used as a test rig for articles

 

[10thmtnarty]

Ya that was before AMD really stopped trying to keep up. They had just come out with their FX series.

 

[10thmtnarty]

I'll be publishing a "final Thoughts" thread soon on both my "budget" build if you can really call it that for under 2k, and this one.

 

[Tradesman1]

Will be looking forward to it