Building a new computer, need help deciding a motherboard.

[DatBoiDave]

Hi everyone.

I'm mainly looking to find a motherboard for this build, and I'm having a really hard time.

I've been using these resources to help facilitate my decision, but I haven't come to any sort of conclusion yet:

https://us.hardware.info/reviews/6390/4-mid-range-z170-motherboards-review

https://us.hardware.info/reviews/6388/z170-motherboards-of-approximately-110-pounds135-dollars-review

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-motherboards,3984.html

 

I don't mind making changes here and there to make an optimal gaming build.

Budget: $1700 Canadian all parts included.

 

Looking for this to last 4+ years, and on the 4th year, extreme overclock the CPU to have it keep up as much as possible (will likely be replacing GPU in 3 years).

Aiming for:

144hz (144fps+) 1080p Gaming. Medium - Ultra, depending on the game.

I value frame rate above graphics quality and resolution.

Link to my current build-in-progress.

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/qsptpb

 

Link to the 1070 I was looking to get:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126111&cm_re=strix_1070-_-14-126-111-_-Product

 

I will only ever be gaming on 1 GPU -> So Crossfire/SLI Compatibility is irrelevant

 

Value proposition is important

Longevity / Reliability is a must

Good OC-ability is a must.

 

ATX Motherboard preferably, but I wouldn't mind switching to mATX if I could find a case comparable to the NZXY S340

 

THIS IS STRICTLY A HEAVY GAMING MACHINE -> Anything that doesn't facilitate that is not necessary. (Like lots of USB ports, sata ports)

 

Bonus: USB 3.1 Type-C, Realtek ALC1150 or similar audio chip (not needed though)

 

Thanks!

[HKZeroFive]

For 144Hz 1080p gaming, the i5 6600K will bottleneck the GTX 1070. I suggest the i7 6700K instead.

 

As for motherboard recommendations, the ASUS Z170-E is a good barebones one.

[Kantor]

this could work.

 

https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/product/fcqbt6/asrock-motherboard-z170pro4s

[Cyracus]

10 minutes ago, HKZeroFive said:

bottleneck

that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.  

 

Your build looks great, a 6700k would be better as games get made to use more cores, but the 6600k will perform about the same at the same clocks otherwise

[HKZeroFive]

7 minutes ago, Cyracus said:

that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.  

 

Your build looks great, a 6700k would be better as games get made to use more cores, but the 6600k will perform about the same at the same clocks otherwise

No, it means what I wanted it to mean. The GPU will not fully function at 100% whilst the CPU will be maxed out at 100%.

 

@legacy99's own testing has proved this:

 

[PRTI]

As @HKZeroFive said,a i7 is HIGHLY recommended for 144Hz,144FPS+,and as he said again a Asus Z170-E is a great choice,also the ASrock Z170 Extreme 4

[Cyracus]

2 minutes ago, HKZeroFive said:

@legacy99's own testing has proved this:

care to share the thread, have quite a few thoughts as to why/how that could happen

[Skiiwee29]

1 minute ago, Cyracus said:

care to share the thread, have quite a few thoughts as to why/how that could happen

 

[Skiiwee29]

just to reiterate this, because of this issue, I personally upgraded from my i5 4690k to the i7 6700k. 

[sarfraz]

1 hour ago, HKZeroFive said:

For 144Hz 1080p gaming, the i5 6600K will bottleneck the GTX 1070. I suggest the i7 6700K instead.

 

As for motherboard recommendations, the ASUS Z170-E is a good barebones one.

I think gtx 1080 with i7 6700K is the best solution. 

[HKZeroFive]

Just now, sarfraz said:

I think gtx 1080 with i7 6700K is the best solution. 

Assuming OP can afford a GTX 1080 on top of a i7 6700K...

 

With a $1700 CAD budget, doubt it.

[Cyracus]

49 minutes ago, HKZeroFive said:

The GPU will not fully function at 100% whilst the CPU will be maxed out at 100%

 

31 minutes ago, legacy99 said:

just to reiterate this, because of this issue, I personally upgraded from my i5 4690k to the i7 6700k. 

Looking at many screenshots I find it hard to differentiate between graphics settings in witcher screen shots beyond some density and coloring, otherwise it all just looks like smeary crap, and I don't personally own the witcher 3 to even try to find that spot to inspect the scene personally at different graphics settings, but it looks like the graphics settings are turned down and that would simulate a cpu bottleneck. And if that 42 under cpu4 is fps then there's something very odd going on. Then there's this video with the 1070 pinned at 99% even when the cpu hits 100. 

And from what I can glean from the interwebs raising resolution is more gpu intensive even in the cpu intensive game that it is, 1080p nowhere near its limits and the 1070 nearly maxed.

 

To me a 6600k looks pretty decent with a 1070 

 

 

 

 

[Skiiwee29]

I had mine maxed out. Definitely not turned down. 

[DatBoiDave]

With everything considered, I've decided to go for an i7 6700k.
That being said, that kinda constrains my budget a little bit, still want to stay within the $1700 range.

After looking at some recommendations, I'm leaning toward something with more headers.
The Asus, for example, only has 4.
1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
2 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (2 x 4 -pin)

 

On a similar note, should I even care how many fan headers the motherboard has?
I was thinking about doing a Dual Front Intake, Top 2-Fan Radiator Exhaust, and 1 Rear Exhaust.

Thanks for your feedback, I look forward to hearing some more!