What Z97 Motherboard

Smoogels · 30 Nov 2014 at 18:28

I've been looking at a few motherboards for a 4690K. I'm mostly leaning towards Gigabyte boards though MSI ones look pretty attractive for the price.

What motherboard is reliable and a decent performer? I'm hoping to overclock a little with the 4690K, though not aiming to break any world records. I'm hoping to keep it for a while and hoping to plop in a second hand i7 in the future.

The computer is used to play games, web design etc and I'm pretty much on it for most of the day as I use it to work as well

My budget is around £100-£120 for the motherboard.

Also, I found Gigabyte has their non gaming series and gaming series. Whats the difference between these two boards?

Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 5
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-493-GI

and

Gigabyte Z97X-UD3H
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-511-GI

Thanks for your help!

stulid · 30 Nov 2014 at 18:32

Do you have the CPU already?

You can get cashback if you buy a CPU+board together at the same place+time.

Smoogels · 30 Nov 2014 at 19:10

stulid said:
Do you have the CPU already?

You can get cashback if you buy a CPU+board together at the same place+time.

Nope, I have not got the processor yet. Does that offer apply to all z97 motherboards models /brands?

Thanks

stulid · 30 Nov 2014 at 19:44

Yeah - https://toptechcashback.com/uk/en/pages/cashback/qualifying

Look at the top promotion date which applies to this period we are in.

So £22.50 of this for example - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-006-GI&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=2858

But the money back is not instant, you have to send of and apply and then wait for it, its all detailed in that link.

Smoogels · 30 Nov 2014 at 22:37

stulid said:
Yeah - https://toptechcashback.com/uk/en/pages/cashback/qualifying

Look at the top promotion date which applies to this period we are in.

So £22.50 of this for example - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-006-GI&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=2858

But the money back is not instant, you have to send of and apply and then wait for it, its all detailed in that link.

Sounds good! What motherboard should I be looking at? They all seem pretty similar and competitively priced in the £100-£120 bracket.

Thanks

stulid · 30 Nov 2014 at 22:59

Smoogels said:
Sounds good! What motherboard should I be looking at? They all seem pretty similar and competitively priced in the £100-£120 bracket.

Thanks

Errr.

That one in that bundle does most things including SLI/Crossfire.

This one has a 5 year warranty if you register it and a free (or pay the difference) upgrade within 3 years as per this link.

This one has creative sound chip and fancy Nichicon capacitors on the audio section.