is the Z97 compatible with the GTX 1070?

[SDRider]

Hi, im looking to get a new build with the GTX 1070, will a motherboard such as the Gigabyte Z97-D3H handle the job or would it bottle neck it? if not, any better suggestions for a reasonable price?

 

[okcnaline]

Yeah, why not? There's PCI-e x16 slots on the board.

 

[Rookie_MIB]

^^ Exactly. I'm trying to figure out why people are asking 'is this mobo compatible' when the more likely issues with compatibility are the case and motherboard...

Tiz a puzzler.

PCIe x16 slot (physical and electrical)? check.

That's it for compatibility.

 

[g-unit1111]

Do you already have said motherboard? Because if not there's no reason to buy old hardware with a new graphics card.

 

[Rookie_MIB]

If he's budget-limited, then yes there is a call on occasion to mix older and newer parts. My 'new' build is a Xeon X3470/Asus P7F7-E WS Quad-SLI mobo/GTX-960s in SLI with some additional parts. The money you can save these days on used server grade parts is significant. A hex-core Xeon X5670 is $80.00, a motherboard for it is another $80 and it'll perform just fine.

 

[g-unit1111]

If he's budget-limited, then yes there is a call on occasion to mix older and newer parts. My 'new' build is a Xeon X3470/Asus P7F7-E WS Quad-SLI mobo/GTX-960s in SLI with some additional parts. The money you can save these days on used server grade parts is significant. A hex-core Xeon X5670 is $80.00, a motherboard for it is another $80 and it'll perform just fine.

Yeah but for the same price an i5-6500 is just as good of an investment as a Xeon E3-1275, and is, as much as I hate to use the term, more future proof.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H170A Gaming Pro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($101.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $296.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-31 11:00 EDT-0400

Vs.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1220 V3 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($201.46 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $301.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-31 11:02 EDT-0400

It's really a difference of $5 depending on which motherboard you go with. I say go for the latest and then you get the newer tech that comes with it.

But five year old used server parts for gaming? Huh?

 

[Rookie_MIB]

Yeah but for the same price an i5-6500 is just as good of an investment as a Xeon E3-1275, and is, as much as I hate to use the term, more future proof.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H170A Gaming Pro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($101.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $296.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-31 11:00 EDT-0400

Vs.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1220 V3 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($201.46 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $301.35
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-31 11:02 EDT-0400

It's really a difference of $5 depending on which motherboard you go with. I say go for the latest and then you get the newer tech that comes with it.

But five year old used server parts for gaming? Huh?

Well, I don't see the problem with it, if it can be done at a reasonable price. My core build (CPU/Mobo/RAM) was $200 for everything, overclocked to 4.2 ghz just fine, and can handle (with the mobo I have) up to quad SLI. It's comparable to any i5 Haswell core build at a 30% discount, and even then finding a quad-SLI mobo at any price under $300 for a current gen CPU is highly unlikely (yes, I know SLI scaling means diminishing returns, but I have need for the slots other than graphics).

It's actually a workstation board more than a server board. Regardless, the point is that any CPU from Sandy Bridge on up is still very relevant when it comes to gaming as they are still plenty powerful, and those can be had significantly cheaper than brand spanking new because servers are upgraded on a regular basis and considering that 5 years ago it was a $1500 CPU... to get it for $80 is a deal and a half. The one I mentioned for him (X5670) is a hex core with hyperthreading @ 3ghz and is nothing to sneeze at when he can get that CPU/mobo/RAM for the price of a Haswell i5 all by itself.

Back to the OP - you're not wrong, if it's a choice between Haswell and Skylake, and they're within a few bucks, yes, get newer. However, even still, a Haswell based board will still be perfectly fine for a GTX 1070.