Looking for the right mobo

[Stefan Braem]

Hi

I just ordered an Intel i7 7700K, but now I need the right motherboard.

What I need is:
- 1 x PCI16
- 2 x USB 3
- gigabit ethernet
- 1 x SATA 3
- room for 16GB DDR4
- cheapest form factor, but I have an ATX case

Should I take the Z270 chipset? I'm not a gamer so I don't need any fancy features. I'm just a demanding overall user.

Thanks for helping me out!

Stefan

 

[whm1974]

Look at some of the ASRock budget Z270 offerings. You should be able to find something decent without costing you an arm and leg.

 

[LTC8K6]

You might wait for the new boards and chips in October and see what is offered that might suit you better, or what new boards might suit your 7700K.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think BonzaiDuck would recommend an (Asus) Sabretooth (something) Z270 board.

 

[whm1974]

You get a H270 chipset motherboard. They are a bit cheaper then the Z270.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I think BonzaiDuck would recommend an (Asus) Sabretooth (something) Z270 board.

Well, Larry -- I really LIKE this Saber Z170 board. Back in the day of Sandy and Ivy, I had "shined on" the Sabers for some minor reasons. In 2014, I picked up a Sabertooth Z77 bundled with 16GB and an i5-3570K. Lucky for the bundle price I got, when I haphazardly destroyed the socket pins with a careless movement of my hand and what was in it. I passed the carcass on to fellow member PhillyCheese for chump-change.

I could regret not getting the Z170 Deluxe, or one of the Maximus offerings, just for the 16 phase-power design. And Bonzai Blabber-mouth has said this in more than one other thread. But it meets MY needs very well. And I paid half what a top-tier Maximus would cost.

I agree with whm1974 that another contemporary chipset would be cheaper and no less of a value if the OP doesn't ever, ever plan to overclock. I just think I would never, never stick to such a decision myself. So -- yeah -- I'd pick up a Sabertooth Z270 barring some better choice. The offerings and rankings are always changing. But I guess I'm so habitually inclined to ASUS that I'd pick a board from that line-up.

I was flabbergasted, though, when some other poster in a current thread mentioned socket-pin manufacturing-error on a new ASUS board he'd acquired. Maybe it happens to the best -- I couldn't say.

 

[MadOver]

Look at some of the ASRock budget Z270 offerings. You should be able to find something decent without costing you an arm and leg.

True, Pro4 is pretty cheap and quite ok.

 

[whm1974]

True, Pro4 is pretty cheap and quite ok.

I have a ASRock Z87 board myself and never had a problem with it.

 

[jjmIII]

I'm loving my new B250 board: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128988
Was on sale for $75 and I feel is loaded with features and is very stable! I'm running an i7-7700 (non-K) so no comment on OCing.
Runs 4x8gb G.Skill at XMP profile 2400 with NO issues! I like the 65w 7700 and Microcenter had them for $270 on eBay when I bought.

 

[whm1974]

$75 isn't bad at all.