i7 4790k, which one of these motherboards (msi/gigabyte), link inside!

[Triforce]

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97-GAMING-5.html#hero-overview

or

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4959#ov (40 usd more expensive)

 

[AndrewCarter]

As a person who hasn't used any gigabyte products yet I don't know what to say about it. If we go to the MSI side though I use a Z97i Gaming which is one of the best mini-itx motherboards Ive seen in a long time. The build quality is amazing but the only thing I did not like was the BIOS. I suggest you to go with the Asus ROG maximus VII hero which is on sale for 200 bucks on Amazon.

 

[geofelt]

Is there some feature of either that attracts you?
I am dubious about any product that advertises "gaming"
You will likely do as well with any Z97 motherboard at half the cost and put the difference into a better graphics card or a ssd.

 

[Triforce]

Is there some feature of either that attracts you?
I am dubious about any product that advertises "gaming"
You will likely do as well with any Z97 motherboard at half the cost and put the difference into a better graphics card or a ssd.

I expect them to be "faster" when they put the name gaming in the name.

they also have a modified network card that will optimize your game if im right.

 

[geofelt]

That is called marketing.
The only remotely valid use for "gaming" in a motherboard description is the inclusion of two X8 capable graphics slots to enable sli/cf.

The "killer" lan simply means that some apps, like a game, can get higher priority in your pc. That is irrelevant if there is only the gamer on the pc.

A priority scheme might be appropriate on a router, again, only if there are multiple users sharing the router.

 

[Triforce]

That is called marketing.
The only remotely valid use for "gaming" in a motherboard description is the inclusion of two X8 capable graphics slots to enable sli/cf.

The "killer" lan simply means that some apps, like a game, can get higher priority in your pc. That is irrelevant if there is only the gamer on the pc.

A priority scheme might be appropriate on a router, again, only if there are multiple users sharing the router.

Do you recommend any motherboards?

quick info.

2x8 (16gb) corsair ram.
i7-4790K
Cooler Master Nepton 280L (cpu cooling)
gtx980 graphic card

thanks

 

[AndrewCarter]

That is called marketing.
The only remotely valid use for "gaming" in a motherboard description is the inclusion of two X8 capable graphics slots to enable sli/cf.

The "killer" lan simply means that some apps, like a game, can get higher priority in your pc. That is irrelevant if there is only the gamer on the pc.

A priority scheme might be appropriate on a router, again, only if there are multiple users sharing the router.

Do you recommend any motherboards?

quick info.

2x8 (16gb) corsair ram.
i7-4790K
Cooler Master Nepton 280L (cpu cooling)
gtx980 graphic card

thanks

Again, Maximus VII Hero will worth it, if you give it a try but still if you are strict listening geofelt... go get an Asus Z97-AR

 

[geofelt]

From a functional point of view, the least expensive Z97 motherboard will do.
That might be the ECS Z97-PK(V1.0) @$79.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135389

ECS?? you might say. I don't know about this particular motherboard, but I used ECS on a small build some time back and was impressed. See if you can't find a review for this, or any other candidate motherboard.
It will help you to determine what is important to you.

I happen to like the M-ATX format which I need to fit into a short case.

Really, ASUS, Gigabyte, ASROCK and MSI are the main players, and I would rank them that way with very little differentiation.

A motherboard with lots of reviewers will have been out longer an have already included the inevitable bios updates.

 

[geofelt]

FWIW
I have become a bit jaded on the subject of haswell cooling for overclocking.
How high you can OC is firstly determined by your luck in the bin lottery.
I had high expectations from the Devil's canyon parts and their better thermals.
I found out that the thermals really do not matter unless, perhaps, you are a competitive overclocker.
Haswell runs quite cool, that is, until you raise the voltage past 1.25v or so.
Once you go past 1.3v, then you really do need very good cooling to keep stress loads under say 85c.
But, the consensus is that voltages higher than 1.30 are not a good thing for 24/7 usage.
I have been unable to find any official Intel recommendation on what is a safe vcore limit.
If you are an enthusiast, you can go higher.
Even if you can handle the heat, how much do you really need that extra multiplier from say 4.4 to 4.6?
My thought is that it is better to use the exotic cooling funds for a quieter and less expensive air cooler.
I suggest a good tower air cooler like noctua or phanteks with 140mm fans.