New build pros/cons Z97 vs z170?

[SinisterDev85]

Hi all!
Been looking into my options for a new build. Have a budget between $800- $900. However i already have a tower, video card and power supply for the new rig. So i have my whole budget for a mobo, Ram, SSD and CPU.

I've been doing alotta fishing around and keep finding myself debating the pros and cons between a z97 or z170 build . I love my current Hero 6 build . Cant find a hero 7 for any reasonable price in this market atm, but the hero 8 is totally affordable. Ddr4 ram is pretty affordable too. A 16gb kit would cost about the same as the Ddr3 kits ive been considering. But those lga 1151 processors are still really pricey atm. Especially if i want a K processor.( I do love overclocking!) Which is why im apprehensive. A good Skylake would consume half my budget, where I could buy a 4690k for half that price and have more to spend on a better mobo or larger SSD,etc.
I want to build a decently future-proof pc. Something i can upgrade components down the line before resorting to an entirely new build. I know Intel has at least 2 new series of cpus coming down the line after Skylake. Is it just too early to go z170 without needlessly paying extra cash?


I really prefer to stick with Asus, so if i can't find a Hero 7, id probably end up going with a Sabertooth. I do like the idea of long-lasting parts. I don't get to build a totally new pc very often. That Hero 8 does look really sexy... I bought my hero 6 RIGHT before the 7 came out and im still kicking myself for that oversight!

[Nate152]

HI SinisterDev85

Yep I'm impressed with your new 4790k, you got a good one for sure !

You might as well go with the hero viii, you'll be further ahead with z170 vs. z97 and since you're an overclocker the hero viii is a great choice. The prices for skylake cpu's have gone up substantially from the last time I checked but..... why?

Hero viii - 234.99 at newegg or amazon
i7 6700k - 419.99 at newegg
G.Skill Trident Z 16GB (2x8GB) 3000MHz - 99.99 at newegg

Total comes to 754.97 that leaves roughly 150.00 for an ssd. The Samsung 950 pro is the fastest M.2 pcie ssd at the moment and the 256GB is 191.81 at amazon.

You could always go with a sata ssd like the Samsung 850 evo 500GB for 145.00 at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OBRE5UE?ie=UTF8&tag=gosale-20&m=ASRQMAIUVQJZ1

With the 850 evo it comes to $899.97 shipping and taxes may apply.

Do you have a cpu cooler?

[SinisterDev85]

Thanks Nate! I think i will try to go with the z170 build. My wife and i were just doing some research, it would appear that the prices on the Skylakes have gone up because Intel has had a shortage of them for months! Info was release saying that they were hoping to get caught up by this past August.... They didn't lol. They're still short in supply. Can't keep up with the demand.
I was just eyeing those Trident Z's earlier! Haha. So nice! I will probably go with them. I may just order the board and ram and wait for the prices on the Skylakes to drop a bit. They're supposed to be around $350.

I do have a cpu cooler, my old Seidon 120xl. My previous build with the sabertooth that was supposed to be my wife's new gaming rig, ended up getting some parts rearranged and went to my Grandmother instead haha. Her comp died and she needed one pronto for work/bills (and playing some games shes hooked on and watching movies lol) I finally got her into learning and enjoying computers! She bought a crappy (and extremely overpriced) Dell several years ago and hated it, so i insisted she let me build her a pc this time around. So, i kept some of the parts i bought that she would never need for what she uses the pc for, and replaced them with ones that suit her needs. That sabertooth should last her ages! Got a CM 212 evo cooling the cpu. Inexpensive and effective solution. Got AMAZING deals on several of the components during Black friday/cyber monday sales.

So now my wife and i will have the Hero vi rig and what's looking to be a new z170 rig! Now let's hope those skylakes drop in price soon.....

[kkn]

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-VIII-HERO-ALPHA/

go for the alpha when it comes out.
you have the option for 2x U.2 slots and 1x M.2 slot.
on the U.2 you can raid 4+4 drives for example or mount 2 intel750 drives ( up to you but the option is there ).
JJ raided 2x intel drives on it in raid0, he posted to me on twitter about it.

[SinisterDev85]

Oh man! Somethow i totally missed the news about the Alpha! It sounds awesome! Any word on release date or price?! I can't afford it if its going be a $500 board.

[Chino]

SinisterDev85 wrote:
Hi all!
Been looking into my options for a new build. Have a budget between $800- $900. However i already have a tower, video card and power supply for the new rig. So i have my whole budget for a mobo, Ram, SSD and CPU.

If it's going to be a gaming rig, this is how I would spend the money. If you need more firepower for work, then switch the i5 for an i7 and you should still be within your budget.

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($273.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VIII HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston FURY 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston Savage 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $773.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-16 12:16 EST-0500

[SinisterDev85]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Im definitely leaning towards a z170 setup now...

[SinisterDev85]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Im definitely leaning towards a z170 setup now...
Oh, it looks like there are Alphas on sale already on Ebay for around $290! Strange im not really finding them anywhere else yet...

[SinisterDev85]

Wondering if i should pull the trigger on the Alpha, or wait to see if others get it in stock soon and sell it for less? With how much the market has been fluctuating, i dont know if the price will jump up, or go down... One seller has 10 of them available on ebay.

[Nate152]

I wouldn't buy from Ebay unless the box has never been opened. I see at B&H Photo the hero viii alpha is a new item and coming soon, is available for preorder and expected to arrive December 30th so I imagine that will be for all stores too.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1206692-REG/asus_republic_of_gamers_maximus.html