Motherboard help... I'm LOST!!

[Scott17818]

I am currently building a new PC I have so far a thermaltake Chasar A71 case and an EVGA G1-750w PSU,

 

I'm certain I want a i7 6700k, and about 16GB ram to start ( looking at trident Z series 2x8gb 3000) and starting with onboard video (dell 1080p monitor) until I scrape together for either a single 970 (with possibility to SLI later, and new monitor) and torn between M.2 boot (would love a samsung 950 pro if I could swing it, but I hear M.2 is glitchy), or Samsug 950 Sata SSD.

 

I am completely lost in reading the plethora of mixed reviews on newegg... some good, some bad.. but I want your honest opinions looking in the $150-200 range with at least 1 M.2 slot (available), front facing Sata ports (dont want vid cards hitting possible cables), wifi would be nice, but not necessary (have add in card),  4DDR4 slots, SLI capable, and a decent UEFI that's easy to work with, not looking to OC the snot out of it, but a modest overclock to 4.5ghtz on air would be nice. was looking at the ASUS Z175, Gigabyte GA-Z170x-UD5, or MSI Z170A Gaming M7.. any others I should seriously look at?

 

I'm way out of this PC building stuff....lets put it this way, last system I built was in 1999 with a MSI KT333 ultra with am AMD 2000+ with 256MB ram.. been running with Dell desktops/laptops since that system died/lost usefulness in 2003...

[HKZeroFive]

Newegg reviews shouldn't be used to determine how good a product is, they represent the small minority of people who unluckily encountered problems. All the motherboards you mentioned above are good, I'd pop in my suggestion of the ASUS Z170-A.

 

I'd go for a M.2. as a boot drive if you're keen on getting it. Haven't heard of any concerns that should prevent you to do so.

 

However, I will say that the EVGA G1/NEX series aren't good, mediocre at best, so try to aim for the GQ/G2 series instead. For one 970, the EVGA SuperNOVA 550 G2 is more than enough, 750W for two.

[Scott17818]

I was actually looking at the G2, but got a misinformed website search & ordered the G1 instead.... (was late and did'nt read specs...) but I've heard some good reviews, some bad, and it looks to be a good unit, so we will see how it fairs, and it it dies I'll replace with a G2 750.

 

mainly it was enabling Raid 0 on M.2 drives, and issues with windows 7& 10 installs on M.2 drives. driver/equipment/dumbass installer....

 

I'm sure I'll be happy with windows 10 on a single M.2 4x....

 

 

[Cyracus]

I have an asus z170-a with a samsung 950 m.2, works beautifully and after my last build that was booting from a hdd, well, there's only one way to describe it https://youtu.be/NP6DXoNKITc

 

[Scott17818]

lol, ok so I'm now looking at the gigabyte Z170Z UD5 it's a decent price. $160, and with the i7- 6700k it'll be just around $500. I do have a question about DDR4 Ram especially XMP modes. 

 

DDR4:

   -can I get a set of 2x8GB sticks trident Z 3000 series and run with 16GB, and upgrade later??? (Get the same 16GB kit, and install it to double capacity? or am I stuck buying a 32GB kit 4x8GB stick kit (looking to save a little money).

 

 

I've been looking and the specs for this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K3G96790&cm_re=M.2_samsung-_-20-147-425-_-Product

are very close, although maybe a bit behind the 950 PRO.

 

2150MBps read, and nearly 1500MBps write, and similar 1,500,000 hours MTBF same as the PRO for about $30 less. 

 

 

[Scott17818]

Ordered the gigabyte z170x ud5...have to wait on the cpu/ cooler or ill piss off the wife..  waiting on tax return and i will finnish the main part of my build....