Motherboard upgrade - Which M-ATX 8700k (9900k)

IT Troll · 4 Oct 2018 at 00:32

The MSI insider livestream featured a couple of new mATX boards on some slides.

MSI MPG Z390M GAMING EDGE AC
MSI MAG Z390M MORTAR

It is not clear from the image if the EDGE has an 8+4 power connector for the CPU. The MORTAR clearly just has a standard 8-pin.

IT Troll · 7 Oct 2018 at 09:31

The Gigabyte Z390 M GAMING is looking promising. They seemed to have really improved their VRM across the Z390 range. It is a shame they went with a Realtek ALC892 codec for audio though rather than the ALC1150 or ALC1220.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z390-M-GAMING-rev-10#kf

Robert · 7 Oct 2018 at 10:05

USB ports are disappointing :/

IT Troll · 7 Oct 2018 at 10:09

True. Seemed to have wasted internal headers on USB 2.0

1 x USB Type-C™ port on the back panel, with USB 3.1 Gen 2 support
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port (red) on the back panel
6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header)
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports available through the internal USB headers

IT Troll · 8 Oct 2018 at 11:15

Better picture of the MSI MPG Z390M GAMING EDGE AC. 8+4 pin CPU Power. USB looks to be the same as the Z370M Gaming Pro.

VincentHanna · 8 Oct 2018 at 16:14

I'd like a board that has a USB C 3.1 front connector. Should they all support that now?

IT Troll · 8 Oct 2018 at 18:45

VincentHanna said:
I'd like a board that has a USB C 3.1 front connector. Should they all support that now?

I don't think that is so common. You'd need to check the spec. I think the above MSI board does though.

IT Troll · 8 Oct 2018 at 19:09

I think this is the complete mATX list now. I'll add the MSI links once they are available.

ASRock Z390M Pro4
VRM: 10 phases? [8 pin]
https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z390M Pro4/index.asp

ASUS Prime Z390M-PLUS
VRM: 8+1 phases? [8 pin]
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-Z390M-PLUS/

ASUS TUF Z390M-PRO Gaming
VRM: 8+1 phases [8 pin]
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/TUF-Z390M-PRO-GAMING/

ASUS TUF Z390M-PRO Gaming Wi-Fi
VRM: 8+1 phases [8 pin]
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/TUF-Z390M-PRO-GAMING-WI-FI/

ASUS ROG Maximus XI Gene
VRM: 10+2 (5 phases across 10 stages) [8+8 pin]
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-XI-GENE/

GIGABYTE Z390 M Gaming
VRM: 10+2 (10 doubled from 5 phases with current balancing) [8+4 pin]
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z390-M-GAMING-rev-10#kf

MSI MAG Z390M Mortar
VRM: 8+1+1 phases (8 doubled from 4 phases) [8 pin]
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-Z390M-MORTAR

MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC
VRM: 8+1+1 phases (8 doubled from 4 phases) [8+4 pin]
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-Z390M-GAMING-EDGE-AC

VincentHanna · 8 Oct 2018 at 19:36

IT Troll said:
I don't think that is so common. You'd need to check the spec. I think the above MSI board does though.

Thanks

Not sure it matters now, at £600 for a CPU, i'm out.

rIcK · 8 Oct 2018 at 22:52

So are any of these much better than my Z370i? Any recommendations or just the cheapest I can find?

IT Troll · 8 Oct 2018 at 23:24

Depends on what you are looking for. All apart from the Gene will offer you more expansion options than your Z370i. The Gene however looks like it has the best power delivery. Others vary by the quality of the on-board sound, Wi-Fi, RGB etc. and their overclocking capabilities.

rIcK · 9 Oct 2018 at 00:10

I notice most of the z390 boards have completely massive shrouds and I have pretty much no space due to my massive HSF, you can see right now it completely covers the entirety of my Mini ITX board..

Look at this monster: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/ROG-STRIX-Z390-I-GAMING/

IT Troll · 9 Oct 2018 at 07:51

I think an AIO would be the only sensible option with that ITX.

chaparral · 27 Oct 2018 at 20:24

ROG Maximus XI Gene Intel Z390 £309 :eek:

for a Micro-ATX motherboard
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus...151-ddr4-micro-atx-motherboard-mb-6cr-as.html

IT Troll · 27 Oct 2018 at 23:23

I think Asus have out-niched themselves with this one.

BTVA · 28 Oct 2018 at 01:07

the Gene is a beast, same VRM as the extreme. 4 M.2 slots.

orbitalwalsh · 30 Oct 2018 at 20:13

Gigabyte matx , cheaper and 12 phase ( 6 doubled - 2h/2l) set up . 650amps plus across the VCore .
Mem won't clock as high as Gene but save small fortune, 4 dims being the main issue but allows cheaper none stacked kits to hit 64GB
And can run AVX without throttling

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming Intel Z390 (Socket 1151) DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard= £129.95

Total: £140.45 (includes shipping: £10.50)

8+4 pin unlike MSI boards

robin66 · 30 Oct 2018 at 20:44

IT Troll said:
I think an AIO would be the only sensible option with that ITX.

Agreed, as that looks really tight in there. :eek:

IT Troll · 30 Oct 2018 at 21:58

orbitalwalsh said:
Gigabyte matx , cheaper and 12 phase ( 6 doubled - 2h/2l) set up. 8+4 pin unlike MSI boards

The Gigabyte mATX is 10 doubled from 5 for the CPU + 2 for memory/chipset. It does have a good VRM, it is just a shame that they skimped on the audio codec.

Midrange MSI boards (MPG) do have 8+4 pin, ALC1220 and SLI. They also come with Assassins Creed Odyssey which you can sell for £28, effectively making the mATX board £130.

orbitalwalsh · 31 Oct 2018 at 09:13

IT Troll said:
The Gigabyte mATX is 10 doubled from 5 for the CPU + 2 for memory/chipset. It does have a good VRM, it is just a shame that they skimped on the audio codec.

Midrange MSI boards (MPG) do have 8+4 pin, ALC1220 and SLI. They also come with Assassins Creed Odyssey which you can sell for £28, effectively making the mATX board £130.

ah apologies , forgot the Gigabyte boards were 2 down from Aorus - shame