[SOLVED] Motherboard compatible with i7 6700K and CORSAIR Vengeance LPX

[nogeek86]

Hi there,

Currently, I have below setup

• 
  Intel Core i7-6700K 8M Skylake Quad-Core 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 91W BX80662I76700K Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 530
  
  CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3000 (PC4 24000) Desktop Memory Model CMK16GX4M2B3000C15R
  
  GIGABYTE G1 Gaming GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 (rev. 1.0) LGA 1151 Intel Z170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

The motherboard seems to be broken and it does not work anymore. I most likely need to replace it but since this is an old setup, I am not sure what motherboard could fit the CPU and still be compatible with the RAM.

Can you provide some suggestions, alternatives? Ideally, I will like to get a motherboard that in the future I could upgrade my CPU to one of the newer generations.

Price range around $100-$150 (USD)

Thanks!

 

[Rataan]

If you keep your 6700K, then you want a Z170 motherboard. This is a couple of generations old now and selection for new motherboards won't be great, and many of them would be pricey. You might do better on the used market, like eBay, which would be my recommendation. You can't use your 6700K in a Z370 or Z390 motherboard, so the idea of buying a new generation motherboard and using your old CPU is out.

You could sell your 6700K on eBay and buy a new generatiion CPU and motherboard. Your memory will be useable in a new generation motherboard.

 

[nogeek86]

If you keep your 6700K, then you want a Z170 motherboard. This is a couple of generations old now and selection for new motherboards won't be great, and many of them would be pricey. You might do better on the used market, like eBay, which would be my recommendation. You can't use your 6700K in a Z370 or Z390 motherboard, so the idea of buying a new generation motherboard and using your old CPU is out.

You could sell your 6700K on eBay and buy a new generatiion CPU and motherboard. Your memory will be useable in a new generation motherboard.

I guess any Z170 motherboard will be compatible with my RAM, right?

Honestly, I have never bought anything on Ebay and buy a second hand part seems a little bit risky to me. In any case, what good Z170 motherboards are available besides the Gigabyte one that I would like to avoid?

 

[Rataan]

Yes, your RAM should be compatible with just about any Z170 motherboard, and would also work with newer motherboards. Newegg has this available as an open box item: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132640R&ignorebbr=1

I'm not an expert on Z170 boards since I skipped that generation, but this seems like a well-rounded board and they probably sold a lot of them, which is a good thing. And it costs about as much as you wanted to spend. It may not have as much bling as your Gigabyte board, but it should have all the bases covered.