Bios Update

[Guest Storm10]

Would I need a different CPU to update the BIOS if I use a Kaby Lake-S CPU on a Z170 chipset?

[Krillingt75961]

3 minutes ago, Storm10 said:

Would I need a different CPU to update the BIOS if I use a Kaby Lake-S CPU on a Z170 chipset?

Some are already updated to a newer bios and some don't need a cpu to update the bios. What board are you looking at?

[Guest Storm10]

4 minutes ago, Krillingt75961 said:

Some are already updated to a newer bios and some don't need a cpu to update the bios. What board are you looking at?

Asus Z170 PRO GAMING

[Krillingt75961]

Just now, Storm10 said:

Asus Z170 PRO GAMING

I believe the Pro Gaming/Aura replaced the Pro Gaming. Both boards do need a bios update and need a Skylake Cpu to do so. You can pick up a cheap Celeron for around $50 USD. That being said there is no real reason to go with Kaby Lake if you can get a Skylake for the same or cheaper price on this board. What are you planning on going with?

[Guest Storm10]

Just now, Krillingt75961 said:

I believe the Pro Gaming/Aura replaced the Pro Gaming. Both boards do need a bios update and need a Skylake Cpu to do so. You can pick up a cheap Celeron for around $50 USD. That being said there is no real reason to go with Kaby Lake if you can get a Skylake for the same or cheaper price on this board. What are you planning on going with?

 

Kaby Lake.

[Krillingt75961]

Just now, Storm10 said:

Kaby Lake.

I mean an i5 or i7? I see your planned build is a Z270 board. You could get a 6700k and use it since the performance difference is very small and you don't get any Kabylake features on Z170. That way you don't have to buy another cpu or see if someone can do it for you to update.

[Guest Storm10]

Just now, Krillingt75961 said:

I mean an i5 or i7? I see your planned build is a Z270 board. You could get a 6700k and use it since the performance difference is very small and you don't get any Kabylake features on Z170. That way you don't have to buy another cpu or see if someone can do it for you to update.

 

I'm going to get a i3 and if I don't have enough money, if I do have enough money then I'm getting a i5.

[Krillingt75961]

Just now, Storm10 said:

I'm going to get a i3 and if I don't have enough money, if I do have enough money then I'm getting a i5.

Don't get an i3. Whats your budget and location?

[Guest Storm10]

1 minute ago, Krillingt75961 said:

Don't get an i3. Whats your budget and location?

Under $250 and CA.

 

[Guest Storm10]

3 minutes ago, Krillingt75961 said:

Don't get an i3

Why shouldn't I get an i3?

[Krillingt75961]

Just now, Storm10 said:

Why shouldn't I get an i3?

It really isn't the best for gaming. Is there any way you can save up more for buying? shoot for an i5 now and try to get an i7 later?

[Guest Storm10]

Just now, Krillingt75961 said:

It really isn't the best for gaming. Is there any way you can save up more for buying? shoot for an i5 now and try to get an i7 later?

 

I can.

[Krillingt75961]

1 minute ago, Storm10 said:

I can.

Alright. That will help you game with less issues for longer before you can pick up a i7 or whatever later on down the line. Might want to ask around some of the local computer paces and see if they can flash your bios for you though if you want to go Kaby Lake now.

[ATFink]

Technically skylake works on the 200 series motherboards (z270, h270, b250), but you won't be able to use the extra features these motherboards provide, so you'd be throwing money away. Kabylake will also work on 100 series motherboards (z170, h170, b150, h110), but you may need a BIOS update that would require a skylake CPU in the first place (not always the case, sometimes they can be shipped with an updated BIOS, but I don't know how to determine if this is the case... ask @Yatin for more details about his purchase of a kabylake CPU on a 100 series motherboard).

 

Any letter after the numbers like h270I, h270m, b250m, and whatnot are fine. Just make sure if the motherboard you select has an itx form factor that you buy an ITX case. An m at the end usually means microATX form factor and that is fine in an ATX case, it'll just look oddly small. Sometimes a letter at the end means the motherboard has built in wifi. This is something you'd want to look up or ask about before purchasing if you aren't sure.

 

NOTICE:

If you're buying a kabylake processor and you want it now (before more money is available) go with a Pentium (G4560) instead of an i3. The i3 is a dual core with hyperthreading just like the Pentium. The only difference is the i3 has a slightly higher clock speed (7100 @ 3.9 GHZ, G4560 @ 3.5 GHz). The Pentium is $50 cheaper, so it's definitely not worth the extra money to get the i3.

 

If you decide you don't want to wait for more money to get the more powerful processor, do not get a motherboard with a z chipset (z170 or z270). I'd recommend (if you are going with kabylake) to get a b250, or h270. If you are going with skylake I'd recommend getting b150, or h170. H110 is available, but I would not recommend that unless you are on a REALLY tight budget.