Question Looking for Advice on a New Motherboard

Moondoggy

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Jun 18, 2004
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I'm looking for some advice on motherboards and I know that folks may have differences of opinion but I have not researched this stuff in years and I fear that my system might fail so I want to move quickly while limiting my potential for error.

Here's a few decisions that I've already made so I'm hopefully this might narrow things down a bit.

My new system is going to include an Intel Core I5-13600 processor, DDR5 memory and a WD 1 TB SSD. My local parts shop suggested a Gigabyte Z790 UP AC motherboard but I don't know if that's a good motherboard or whether there's a better model/brand of motherboard to use in this new rig. My existing system has lasted well past it's prime but at the time was built with some of the best parts available and that's pretty much what I'm looking for in this build. I'm looking for a board that will hold up over time that's not going to have some weird incompatibility issue with Window's upgrades and patches or have some glitchy issue with software. I don't want to rule out any kind of hardware upgrades over time but for the most part what I anticipate is that this is going to be a "once and done" build. Any and all opinions are welcomed and appreciated.
 
The UD AC is a bottom of the barrel motherboard compared to most other Z790 models. It is the lower end of the budget class. I personally would not advise going with that model unless your budget strictly allows for no other options.

How much can you ACTUALLY afford to budget for the motherboard itself?

What country are you in?

Keep in mind as well that especially these days, much more since the advent of DDR4 and including DDR5, but also to some degree back when DDR3 was common although not to the same extent as has been the case since DDR4, you NEED to make every effort to buy memory based on motherboard model. That means buying memory that is either on the motherboard QVL list or is validated by the memory manufacturer which basically means sticking to either G.Skill, Corsair or Crucial since they are pretty much the only memory manufacturers who offer a somewhat comprehensive memory compatibility utility on their websites. Just buying "DDR5" that is within the speed/frequency specifications dictated by your motherboard is often not good enough as many memory kits won't work, or will work but will have random problems, with certain motherboards, depending on things like how many ranks or rows each module has, which ICs (memory chips) are used on that module, etc.

So pick your motherboard before you buy any memory and then make sure it is a memory kit (And buy ALL your memory in ONE kit, do not buy individual DIMMs even if they are the same model, thinking they will automatically play nice together because OFTEN they will not. Buy ONE kit, with ALL the memory you need, so that all DIMMs have been tested for compatibility with each other AND for the board you are using.) that is validated for your board model.
 
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Can your "local parts shop" order any motherboard within your budget?

Or are you forced to choose from what is actually on their shelves right now?

What other choices are on their shelves right now within your budget?

There are plenty of motherboards "better" than that particular Gigabyte, but you can have future issues with any of them.
 
There are plenty of motherboards "better" than that particular Gigabyte, but you can have future issues with any of them.
True, but the chances of that happening go down rapidly as the quality of the board goes up. Even a halfway decent mid tiered board is much less likely to develop problems at 2-4 years old than one of the lowliest budget models.

For example, any of the Steel legend boards, which are not particularly high end and are at the lower end of the mid tiered boards usually, are generally MUCH better in terms of features and quality than, say, an HDV board from the same brand, yet the difference in price is probably not terribly hard to swallow. I'd always recommend shooting for a good mid tiered board if possible. But I agree that problems can happen with ANY board, even the flagship models, it's just that in general it's much less likely especially in the long term.
 
The UP AC is a bottom of the barrel motherboard compared to most other Z790 models. It is the lower end of the budget class. I personally would not advise going with that model unless your budget strictly allows for no other options.

How much can you ACTUALLY afford to budget for the motherboard itself?

What country are you in?

Keep in mind as well that especially these days, much more since the advent of DDR4 and including DDR5, but also to some degree back when DDR3 was common although not to the same extent as has been the case since DDR4, you NEED to make every effort to buy memory based on motherboard model. That means buying memory that is either on the motherboard QVL list or is validated by the memory manufacturer which basically means sticking to either G.Skill, Corsair or Crucial since they are pretty much the only memory manufacturers who offer a somewhat comprehensive memory compatibility utility on their websites. Just buying "DDR5" that is within the speed/frequency specifications dictated by your motherboard is often not good enough as many memory kits won't work, or will work but will have random problems, with certain motherboards, depending on things like how many ranks or rows each module has, which ICs (memory chips) are used on that module, etc.

So pick your motherboard before you buy any memory and then make sure it is a memory kit (And buy ALL your memory in ONE kit, do not buy individual DIMMs even if they are the same model, thinking they will automatically play nice together because OFTEN they will not. Buy ONE kit, with ALL the memory you need, so that all DIMMs have been tested for compatibility with each other AND for the board you are using.) that is validated for your board model.
Thanks for the advice. I live in the United States (Florida). In regard to my budget i wouldn't say it's unlimited but I can certainly purchase something on the higher end of the scale. Because the store also has an in store shop that would build the rig for me I was going to buy parts from them as well. I'm guessing he can probably order whatever I want, I'm just not sure of his markup. I'm also looking at a few other places here in the area that will put a rig together for me.
 
While it doesn't help you now (you'd have to travel to Georgia), next year there should be a Microcenter in Florida.

They do have an in-store shop and famously good CPU and motherboard combo deals that are lowest in the world--but unfortunately in-store only. And unlike the defunct Fry's, these deals include a motherboard you would actually choose and want to use.

May be worth looking at online scans of the local ads or the deal sites to see if it'd be worth the trip, as it could pay for itself and anything you'd buy could then be serviced next year in-state.
 
True, but the chances of that happening go down rapidly as the quality of the board goes up. Even a halfway decent mid tiered board is much less likely to develop problems at 2-4 years old than one of the lowliest budget models.

For example, any of the Steel legend boards, which are not particularly high end and are at the lower end of the mid tiered boards usually, are generally MUCH better in terms of features and quality than, say, an HDV board from the same brand, yet the difference in price is probably not terribly hard to swallow. I'd always recommend shooting for a good mid tiered board if possible. But I agree that problems can happen with ANY board, even the flagship models, it's just that in general it's much less likely especially in the long term.
Thanks for the reply. Based on what you stated, are there any particular board manufacturers/models that you might recommend that's perhaps in the mid tier? I really don't need that's got a lot of bells and whistles, lights or that's is liquid cooled.. I'm just looking for a board that I would call mainstream by a good manufacturer where I have the least possible chance of having any issues over time.

Perhaps I need to clarify this a bit by stating that I'm probably over building this rig. I've been told that for what I plan to do a Core I3 would be a huge improvement over my current Core-I7-920 on my ASUS P6T board. I'm not a gamer but I want a machine that's performs like a hot rod as over time, I've found that this package and that package just starts sucking the life out of your rig. I'm wanting something that's basically going to last for a LONG time
 
Hot rod is right, as while selecting Intel probably means less compatibility and update issues (it's Wintel for a reason), modern Intel can run >250w at stock, which is coincidentally about the same as your i7-920 would use if overclocked to 4.2GHz. So a large twin-tower air cooler is probably the minimum cooling system to consider.
 
I'm wanting something that's basically going to last for a LONG time

The stronger the CPU, the less likely you will find it lacking a decade from now. They "deteriorate" very little.

But longevity is another matter. A CPU is extremely unlikely to fail in 10 years.

Not true of motherboards. You can speculate that this one will last longer than that one.

I'd buy plenty of RAM, a mid-tier board with the specific features I needed and without the specific features I did not need. Try to anticipate.....you may have only 2 NVMe drives now, but might want a third in 2025, for instance.

The temptation would be to then buy the strongest CPU possible to lengthen the usability of the entire PC.....that's a good idea generally, but you may well get derailed in year 3 or 5 by unanticipated parts failures (not the CPU). Or the latest and greatest doo-dad/feature you can't live without, which might even force you to a new motherboard.

You have to hope and cross your fingers to a greater degree than you'd like. Or remain in limbo and buy nothing.

Pretty tough to turn down a top level i5 when the price differential from a low level i3 is a relatively small percentage of the overall PC.
 
Any of these would be good choices, without trying to get carried away with the budget.

PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($239.99 @ B&H)
Total: $239.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:47 EDT-0400



PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($254.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $254.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:48 EDT-0400



PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: ASRock Z790 Steel Legend WiFi ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $229.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:49 EDT-0400
 
And if you don't require a Z board, which sometimes has some extra features that are useful and not found on the other chipset boards, or overclocking since your 13600 won't be an unlocked part anyhow, then you could even go with one of these and be in very good shape.


PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $199.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:53 EDT-0400



PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: Gigabyte B760 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $169.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:53 EDT-0400



And another Z board that might be a good choice, in fact, I have this exact board and have had zero issues with it.


PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $179.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:55 EDT-0400



Now, if you want to spend more money on a board, there are certainly more expensive options that are good choices, but any of these is a fine choice for that i5, or any compatible CPU for that matter.
 
While it doesn't help you now (you'd have to travel to Georgia), next year there should be a Microcenter in Florida.

They do have an in-store shop and famously good CPU and motherboard combo deals that are lowest in the world--but unfortunately in-store only. And unlike the defunct Fry's, these deals include a motherboard you would actually choose and want to use.

May be worth looking at online scans of the local ads or the deal sites to see if it'd be worth the trip, as it could pay for itself and anything you'd buy could then be serviced next year in-state.

And if you don't require a Z board, which sometimes has some extra features that are useful and not found on the other chipset boards, or overclocking since your 13600 won't be an unlocked part anyhow, then you could even go with one of these and be in very good shape.


PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $199.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:53 EDT-0400



PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: Gigabyte B760 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $169.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:53 EDT-0400



And another Z board that might be a good choice, in fact, I have this exact board and have had zero issues with it.


PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $179.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-06-16 23:55 EDT-0400



Now, if you want to spend more money on a board, there are certainly more expensive options that are good choices, but any of these is a fine choice for that i5, or any compatible CPU for that matter.

I'm trying to get up to speed on some of this as I was making the assumption that only boards that contain the Z70 chipset could handle the 13 generation I5 and support DDR5. After seeing B760 in your post found that some B760 boards would handle DDR5 but then there was mention of another chipset called H770 but I can only find mention of an ASUS board out there that has that chipset and one supports DDR5 and another supports DDR4. Is this chipset too new or not worthy for consideration?

Another dumb question is whether I'm cutting myself short by not considering DDR4 vs DDR5? Since this machine will probably be a once and done build how much will I really be giving up if I consider DDR4?

BTW.... Thanks for the suggestions as they will be a great help on my decision making process.
 
There is only, apparently, one H770 board out there so far, since this is a new chipset, and it's a DDR4 board so it would not work for your system anyhow since you wish to use DDR5 and would need a different board that has support for that. Right now for the LGA 1700 socket that means either using Z690, Z790, B660 or B760 boards for the most part. Not sure if any of the "business class" chipsets have arrived yet as I haven't looked but you wouldn't want one of those anyhow.

Using DDR4 is definitely an option but you have to make sure you use a DDR4 capable board. You will probably save yourself some money going with DDR4 but here's the thing, DDR5 has gotten very cheap compared to what it was last year, and if you buy a board that uses DDR4, unless you already have the DDR4, you are selling yourself short because you will be buying memory that you can never use again except on that system or something older. If you buy DDR5, even if the system is "one and done" that DDR5 memory will most likely be compatible with whatever you upgrade to in a couple years. Yes, DDR6 is technically on the horizon, but it's going to be several years before it ever makes it's way to consumer products especially considering we've only been into DDR5 for about a year or so.

If you REALLY have to save a few bucks, then DDR4 is an option, but it's a much better option if you want to be able to use that memory again in the next build, to stick to DDR5.
 
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There is only, apparently, one H770 board out there so far, since this is a new chipset, and it's a DDR4 board so it would not work for your system anyhow since you wish to use DDR5 and would need a different board that has support for that. Right now for the LGA 1700 socket that means either using Z690, Z790, B660 or B760 boards for the most part. Not sure if any of the "business class" chipsets have arrived yet as I haven't looked but you wouldn't want one of those anyhow.

Using DDR4 is definitely an option but you have to make sure you use a DDR4 capable board. You will probably save yourself some money going with DDR4 but here's the thing, DDR5 has gotten very cheap compared to what it was last year, and if you buy a board that uses DDR4, unless you already have the DDR4, you are selling yourself short because you will be buying memory that you can never use again except on that system or something older. If you buy DDR5, even if the system is "one and done" that DDR5 memory will most likely be compatible with whatever you upgrade to in a couple years. Yes, DDR6 is technically on the horizon, but it's going to be several years before it ever makes it's way to consumer products especially considering we've only been into DDR5 for about a year or so.

If you REALLY have to save a few bucks, then DDR4 is an option, but it's a much better option if you want to be able to use that memory again in the next build, to stick to DDR5.
OK, Thanks.
I went back to the store this afternoon and they only have 3 boards that are DDR5 compatible and they are:

GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX LGA 1700 Intel B760 M-ATX Motherboard with DDR5, 2* M.2, PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, WiFi 6E, 2.5GbE LAN, Q-Flash Plus, PCIe EZ-Latch

GIGABYTE Z790 UD AC LGA 1700 Intel Z790 ATX Motherboard with DDR5, Triple M.2, PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C, Intel Wi-Fi, 2.5GbE LAN, PCIe EZ-Latch, Multi-Key

ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E LGA 1700 (Intel 13th&12th Gen) ATX Motherboard (16+1 DrMOS, PCIe 5.0, DDR5, 4x M.2 slots, Intel 2.5 Gb LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Front Panel Type-C, Thunderbolt 4 (USB4), DP, Aura Sync RGB Lighting)

They have the following DDR4 boards:

GIGABYTE B760M Gaming X AX DDR4 (LGA 1700/ Intel/ B760/ M-ATX/ DDR4/ 2* M.2/ PCIe 4.0/ Front USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C/ 2.5GbE LAN/Q-Flash Plus/PCIe EZ-Latch/Gaming Motherboard)

GIGABYTE B760M DS3H AX DDR4 LGA 1700 Intel B760 M-ATX Motherboard with DDR4, Dual M.2, PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, WiFi 6E, 2.5GbE LAN, Q-Flash Plus, PCIe EZ-Latch

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4 LGA 1700 Intel Z690 ATX Motherboard with DDR4, Quad M.2, PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C, WiFi 6, 2.5GbE LAN

GIGABYTE B660M AORUS PRO AX DDR4 B660 Intel LGA 1700 Micro-ATX Motherboard with DDR4, Dual M.2, PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, WIFI 6 802.11ax, Intel 2.5GbE LAN

ASUS PRIME B660M-A D4 LGA 1700 (Intel 12th & 13th Gen) mATX Motherboard (PCIe 4.0, DDR4, 2xM.2 slots, 1Gb LAN, DP, 2 x HDMI, rear USB 3.2 Gen 2, front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, Aura Sync)

Are any of the above decent boards or are they low end? If I wanted to go DDR4 they did have 2 AORUS boards in stock. Unfortunately the owner was out today and won't be back until Monday in the event that non of the DDR5 boards would work. They seem to favor Gigabyte boards so I have a better chance of getting that brand board or an ASUS board vs. any other brand. It's kind of strange as the sales guy today said that if they sold the board and they built the system, all parts and labor carry a 1 year warrant. If I bought a board myself the repair center vs. the build center would still build the rig for me but no warranty.

 
The Z790-A wifi is a pretty decent mid grade board.

The Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is a decent board, and in fact is exactly the board I'm running my 12700k on right now.

The Aorus Pro AX DDR4 is a decent board.

Those are the only boards you listed that I'd want to target out of all those. I mean, there are other boards there that would work ok in a pinch or if the budget allowed nothing else, but they would be inferior to these three.
 
Thanks everyone. I may go with the ASUS Prime Z790-P board as my local parts store has one in stock. I know that there's a few differences between the Z970-P and the Z790-A but I don't think that the difference is significant unless someone says different. I've found a comparison between the ASUS Z790-P and the Gigabyte Aorus Z790 Elite AX and the comparison found at https://versus.com/en/asus-prime-z790-p-vs-gigabyte-aorus-z790-elite-ax says that the ASUS is better. If anyone can give me a reason not to get this board, please let me know ASAP. Thanks.
 
The difference is significant.

The Z790-P has a 14+1 power phase VRM configuration rated for 50 amps.

The Z790-A has a 16+1 power phase VRM configuration rated for 60 amps. The Z790-A is less likely to suffer from thermal throttling than the Z790-P.

The Aorus elite AX has a 16+1+2 VRM configuration with a 70a power stage.


The Z790-A has WiFi 6E. The Aorus Elite AX has WiFi 6E.

The P has no wireless capabilities.


The Z790-A has four PCIe M.2 slots, and the Aorus Elite AX also has four PCIe M.2 slots, while the P has three.


The Z790-A has an Intel onboard ethernet adapter while the Elite AX and P both have a Realtek adapter. Generally speaking, the Intel LAN is usually preferred.


The Z790-A and Elite AX both have onboard Bluetooth 5.3. The Z790-P has no onboard bluetooth.


The Z790-A has Realtek S1220a audio while the Elite AX and P both have a lesser Realtek audio codec.


The Z790-A has an additional case fan header that is lacking on the P.

The Aorus Elite AX has Q-flash Plus, which is the same thing as BIOS flashback, and the Z790-A and Z790-P both lack this feature.

If none of these features matter to you then by all means, go with the lower cost Z790-P.
 
t's been a few weeks and I wanted to let you know that after a lot of research I opted to go with a MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WIFI motherboard. my build and so far I'm very happy with the choice. I went with a Core I5, processor, 32 GB of DDR5 memory, a 1 TB NVMe - Gen4 PCIe SSD and my case now has 3 Noctua fans. Combined, all of these parts created a system that's incredible fast and quiet. I'm sure that I will never stress out this system based on my usage but this was what I wanted in a system and I'm very happy with the choices I made. Thanks for all the help and advice.
 
The best motherboard right now considering the price and specifications is ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus WiFi.
However check this site for further in depth review of the motherboard.
No, it isn't. And although I'd be interested in hearing HOW exactly you came to that determination, it's pretty much a moot point since the OP already moved on from this, in which case, there was really no need to provide this at all.

I just bought a Mustang.

You should really buy a Camaro.

Yeah, well, I just bought a Mustang. Kind of the same. In fact, it's EXACTLY the same.