Looking for Mobo & Memory

[Xdrone]

Looking for a great gaming motherboard around $230usd

And

Looking for great RAM, 16gb. Around $160usd!

 

Thanks

 

Edit: at the moment I like MSI Gaming M5 Z270 & Corsair Vengeance LED 3200mhz 2x8gb.

Are these good options?

[Gaurav S Rao]

Just now, Xdrone said:

Looking for a great gaming motherboard around $230usd

And

Looking for great RAM, 16gb. Around $160usd!

 

Thanks

 

Edit: at the moment I like MSI Gaming M5 Z270 & Corsair Vengeance LED 3200mhz 2x8gb.

Are these good options?

Both Look Good Choices to me,Which CPU and GPU are you planning to pair these items with?

[stealth80]

i'm guessing this is for a 7700k?

[Xdrone]

26 minutes ago, Gaurav S Rao said:

Both Look Good Choices to me,Which CPU and GPU are you planning to pair these items with?

 

25 minutes ago, stealth80 said:

i'm guessing this is for a 7700k?

7700k, GTX 1070 (Msi Gaming Z)

[Spuriae]

For the motherboard:

 

What are your aesthetics preferences (colors, lights)?

How seriously are you overclocking?

How much do you care for audio quality?

 

For the memory:

 

What are your aesthetics preferences?

How much do you want to overclock?

 

[Xdrone]

Just now, Nimrodor said:

For the motherboard:

 

What are your aesthetics preferences (colors, lights)?

How seriously are you overclocking?

How much do you care for audio quality?

 

For the memory:

 

What are your aesthetics preferences?

How much do you want to overclock?

 

Mobo:

Aesthetics = Red, not over the top. Lights would be nice.

Overclocking = Decent amount, not absolutely earth shattering records. So maybe if there are too many of overclocking features, it might go to waste.

Audio = Yes I care for audio quite heavily.

 

Memory:

Aesthetics = Also red but I don't mind if low profile and simple.

Overclock = Same as mobo answer.

[Spuriae]

Just now, Xdrone said:

Mobo:

Aesthetics = Red, not over the top. Lights would be nice.

Overclocking = Decent amount, not absolutely earth shattering records. So maybe if there are too many of overclocking features, it might go to waste.

Audio = Yes I care for audio quite heavily.

 

Memory:

Aesthetics = Also red but I don't mind if low profile and simple.

Overclock = Same as mobo answer.

The Asus Z270F is cheaper and has a better VRM and slightly better audio than the MSI. The Gigabyte Gaming 5 has a better VRM and different audio (slightly worse onboard, slightly better USB interface for external DAC). The Gaming 5 has more lights. I'd go with either of those instead of the MSI.

 

As for the memory, it looks like Samsung B-die kits aren't too plentiful in Australia. That means you're left with Hynix and E-die as viable overclocking kits. Geil EVO X's are cheap, fit your aesthetics well, and may contain good IC's. Honestly, almost everything around this price range is a mishmash of IC's; just get whatever looks nice.

[Xdrone]

On 18/04/2017 at 7:37 PM, Nimrodor said:

The Asus Z270F is cheaper and has a better VRM and slightly better audio than the MSI. The Gigabyte Gaming 5 has a better VRM and different audio (slightly worse onboard, slightly better USB interface for external DAC). The Gaming 5 has more lights. I'd go with either of those instead of the MSI.

 

As for the memory, it looks like Samsung B-die kits aren't too plentiful in Australia. That means you're left with Hynix and E-die as viable overclocking kits. Geil EVO X's are cheap, fit your aesthetics well, and may contain good IC's. Honestly, almost everything around this price range is a mishmash of IC's; just get whatever looks nice.

What do you mean by 'better vrm'?

Also I don't understand your explanation for the RAM sorry, please reply.

[Spuriae]

4 hours ago, Xdrone said:

What do you mean by 'better vrm'?

Also I don't understand your explanation for the RAM sorry, please reply.

The VRM is what delivers power to your CPU. Better VRM's will let you overclock better and reduce wear on your CPU. 

 

G.skill, Corsair, etc. don't make memory; they buy the memory IC's from (usually for DDR4) Hynix or Samsung and put them into sticks. Some of those memory IC's are better at overclocking than others; in particular, Samsung B-die will consistently overclock to 4000+ with good timings, some Hynix and other Samsung will consistently go to ~3600 with looser timings (though E-die is pretty good), and almost every kit will get close to 3000. If you're going to be paying extra for RAM, you might as well get a kit that overclocks well. It's difficult to tell exactly what IC's a kit will have, but in general tighter timings are a better indicator than higher frequencies of a good IC.