Help on Motherboard

[LolCxts]

I recently got an i7-4790K

 

Since it is the unlocked version, I was thinking of overclocking it. But Im on a tight budget, and z87 or z97 are expensive (especially since my Rig right now is ITX and i want to keep all of it except the CPU and Motherboard)

 

I did some research and read that you can now overclock on the non z chipsets. Is this true?

 

If this is true, can i get some suggestions on what i should get. I need an ITX LGA1150 motherboard that is capable of OCing my i7 and is not z87 or z97.

I have a budget of around $100 Cad. If I need to get z87 or z97, I can wait a few weeks.

[lani100]

I recently got an i7-4790K

 

Since it is the unlocked version, I was thinking of overclocking it. But Im on a tight budget, and z87 or z97 are expensive (especially since my Rig right now is ITX and i want to keep all of it except the CPU and Motherboard)

 

I did some research and read that you can now overclock on the non z chipsets. Is this true?

 

If this is true, can i get some suggestions on what i should get. I need an ITX LGA1150 motherboard that is capable of OCing my i7 and is not z87 or z97.

I have a budget of around $100 Cad. If I need to get z87 or z97, I can wait a few weeks.

You can use a z87 board but you will need to update the bios with a older cpu first.

Plenty of board to choose form in that budget (might need  20 bucks more) http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/parts/motherboard/#c=99&sort=a7

[Lotus]

I strongly suggest sticking to Z97. Period. There may be workarounds, but a Z97 will be by far the best bet. There are cheaper Z97 ATX boards out there if you don't mind switching cases.

[LolCxts]

You can use a z87 board but you will need to update the bios with a older cpu first.

Plenty of board to choose form in that budget (might need  20 bucks more) http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/parts/motherboard/#c=99&sort=a7

Can i update the bios by using the i7-4790k (without overclocking it yet)

[Faceman]

You will need a Z97 or H97 motherboard.  The other options are not compatible without a BIOS update, and you won't be doing that update without a Haswell CPU.  You have Haswell Refresh.

 

While it is possible overclock on very few ASRock H97 motherboards, it is far from ideal because it is not as fully manual overclock, it is a preset, 4.2/4.4/4.6 overclock, and if you have a bad chip, or need more voltage, or less cache for stability, any number of variables can arise with an overclock.  You want to really have the full menu of options to be able to extract the most performance out of the chip as possible. I highly recommend Z97 over those other motherboards.

 

Also, because of the small form factor, this is going to limit your choices, and make the motherboards more expensive.  If you are absolutely stuck on ITX, you will have to save up more money to about the $150 CAD range.

 

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97mitxac

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz97nwifi

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97iac

 

If you weren't limited to ITX, you can get a Z97 motherboard for as cheap as $75.

[lani100]

Can i update the bios by using the i7-4790k (without overclocking it yet)

No you will need an older chip like a 4770k but why not get a z97 board I gave you enough to pick from.

[Faceman]

Can i update the bios by using the i7-4790k (without overclocking it yet)

Nope.  You need a true Haswell CPU, non-refresh.

[LolCxts]

I strongly suggest sticking to Z97. Period. There may be workarounds, but a Z97 will be by far the best bet. There are cheaper Z97 ATX boards out there if you don't mind switching cases.

I thought of swtiching cases too but thats like buying and itx z97 too. A case is like 40+ and an ATX z97 is like 100 so its like 140 or something, and ITX z97 boards are like 150 unless there is a sale.

[Faceman]

I thought of swtiching cases too but thats like buying and itx z97 too. A case is like 40+ and an ATX z97 is like 100 so its like 140 or something, and ITX z97 boards are like 150 unless there is a sale.

So you already have an ITX case?

 

I did just find an ASRock H97 ITX Motherboard for $103 after $25 MIR.  You will need to do your research to make sure that this motherboard has the "non-Z OC" feature.  But again, this is not anywhere close to the ideal way to overclock, and I think the most you could do is 4.6Ghz because they limit the OCs you are able to achieve.  It is in your best interest to buy a full fledged Z97 motherboard if you really want to overclock.

[Lotus]

I thought of swtiching cases too but thats like buying and itx z97 too. A case is like 40+ and an ATX z97 is like 100 so its like 140 or something, and ITX z97 boards are like 150 unless there is a sale.

Actually, mITX Z97 boards are around $110+

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/motherboard/#c=99&f=8&sort=a8

 

And you can find ATX Z97 boards for $70.

This is assuming you're in the US.

[LolCxts]

So you already have an ITX case?

 

I did just find an ASRock H97 ITX Motherboard for $103 after $25 MIR.  You will need to do your research to make sure that this motherboard has the "non-Z OC" feature.  But again, this is not anywhere close to the ideal way to overclock, and I think the most you could do is 4.6Ghz because they limit the OCs you are able to achieve.  It is in your best interest to buy a full fledged Z97 motherboard if you really want to overclock.

Is overclocking really worth it? If i decide not to OC, and get something like H81 chipset: I am still able to use my CPU right?

[LolCxts]

Actually, mITX Z97 boards are around $110+

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/motherboard/#c=99&f=8&sort=a8

 

And you can find ATX Z97 boards for $70.

This is assuming you're in the US.

Sadly I live in Canada

[Faceman]

Is overclocking really worth it? If i decide not to OC, and get something like H81 chipset: I am still able to use my CPU right?

In some games it is worth it, in most, no.

 

The i7-4790k is incredibly strong out of the box, so overclocking is not necessary really except in those select games that really benefit from overclocking.  But again, the i7-4790k comes with a 4.4Ghz Turbo Boost, so this is already considered an average overclock.  Overclocking is not necessary by any means, but since you bought such a high end "k" series chip, it makes sense to get the most out of your purchase.

 

Again, you need a compatible Haswell Refresh motherboard.  Not H81. And again, your select is even further limited by the small form factor. You need either an H97 or Z97 motherboard to be compatible with the i7-4790k without a BIOS update.  That H97 ITX ASRock motherboard I linked above is the least expensive motherboard that is ITX and compatible with your i7 without a BIOS update.

[LolCxts]

In some games it is worth it, in most, no.

 

The i7-4790k is incredibly strong out of the box, so overclocking is not necessary really except in those select games that really benefit from overclocking.

 

Again, you need a compatible Haswell Refresh motherboard.  Not H81. And again, your select is even further limited by the small form factor. You need either an H97 or Z97 motherboard to be compatible with the i7-4790k without a BIOS update.  That H97 ITX ASRock motherboard I linked above is the least expensive motherboard that is ITX and compatible with your i7 without a BIOS update.

Wow, so i cant use it unless i get a haswell refresh mobo which is z97? This sucks

[Faceman]

Wow, so i cant use it unless i get a haswell refresh mobo which is z97?

Or H97.

 

Yea.. thats what I've been saying.

[LolCxts]

Or H97.

 

Yea.. thats what I've been saying.

Thanks for the help.

[Lotus]

Thanks for the help.

H81/H87/Z87 boards CAN work, but they need a bios update. The catch-22 is for most boards you need a working CPU to do a bios update, and your CPU won't work until you do a bios update, so you're left with two potentially compatible parts with no way to make it work unless you borrow a second original haswell CPU.

 

I'm actually in that boat as I won a Z87 board in a raffle when I worked at a computer store, and the MicroCenter near me carries the i5-4690k at a steep discount (but out of stock of the i5-4670k), but I can't make it work unless I buy two CPUs and then return one, and it's just a hassle I don't want to deal with since I no longer have access to the parts I did when I worked at that store.