Need input choosing Skylake motherboard

[MattCookR1]

Hello, as obvious kinda new here . I need your help or input on choosing one of the following mobo for my Skylake rig, it's really complicated to explain every aspect or feature I'm looking for out of the three so to make it simpler I want to hear your input based on your experience which each of the three brands, the one with better preferences thats the one I'll choose. The boards are:

MSI B150M Mortar - Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130890
Gigabyte H170M-U3D - Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128868
ASUS H170M-PLUS - Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014F7BM3M/?tag=tec06d-20

I'm aware the MSI B150M is a worse chipset but Is the only option I have from them, besides other features I'm looking for, as long as it support my CPU and my GPU I'm fine whichever chipset. Btw I only have uATX as option.

 

[dont whant to set it"']

HI and welcome to Techpowerup.
So what features your future motherboard must have?(wildly guesing you are not looking for a z170 chipset you;re either budget constrained or not aiming for a unlocked CPU)

 

[MattCookR1]

I actually already got the unlocked CPU and is for underclocking, I already know it is possible on a non Z-chipset. But yeah is a bit budget constrained, I can go with the most expensive out of the three which is the ASUS model no problem, however it has few things I don't like or like worse compared to the others.

 

[Ebo]

I would take a good hard look at each board, then consider which one has the features that I wants without even looking at the manufacturer. For me it has allways been about getting a board that can do what I want it to do.

I havent had an Asus board, since back in the Y2K days, god thats a long time ago. I know they make good boards, for usually I find them to be a bit pricy.

Gigabyte Ive had since 2006 until 2012, and they have worked absolutely perfect for me.

Since 2012 when I built my old system, I went for MSI, simply to try it out. They have been a very good and stabile match for me, since I have that in my new system today. I just went MSI because, I could get the features that I wanted for a better price than Asus and Gigabyte.

 

[EarthDog]

Honestly, any will be one will be fine... really. Basing decisions off anecdotal evidence and such a small dataset really isn't going to be terribly helpful. Hard to suggest anything without knowing your needs.

 

[P4-630]

I actually already got the unlocked CPU and is for underclocking

Why buy an expensive K CPU to under clock?
You could buy another CPU instead.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I'm a sucker for MSI. I haven't tried any other manufacturer in a long time though. Sad you only have access to a B150 though.

 

[MattCookR1]

Thank you for your inputs!

Why buy an expensive K CPU to under clock?
You could buy another CPU instead.

I know, everywhere I go saying this people always ask the same question it usually end up in an argument in what I should have gone with instead or that an i3 or an i5 should be a more suitable CPU for what I'm looking for. Anyway, simply put I wanted to build a powerful, small, quiet (regardless of load) and maybe as power efficient as a current consoles, PC. Basically my own custom Steambox, something like the i7-6700T and GTX 960 should do the trick but at the moment the i7-6700T isn't yet available so I went with an unlocked i7-6700K to underclock it and try to match it. Also at first it I was going with the Z170M route but few things happened and I had to cut cost on few components. You, as most people, might think this is nuts to expend money on high end hardware to not use it as its fully potential but no one says I can't put it back at stock or maybe get Z-board and overclock it in the future, or maybe put a Pascal GPU in it.

Sad you only have access to a B150 though.

Indeed, the MSI one is the best looking one. I really wish they had a H170M model of these with a M2 SSD port, though I'm leaning more toward that one.

 

[peche]

Thank you for your inputs!


I know, everywhere I go saying this people always ask the same question it usually end up in an argument in what I should have gone with instead or that an i3 or an i5 should be a more suitable CPU for what I'm looking for. Anyway, simply put I wanted to build a powerful, small, quiet (regardless of load) and maybe as power efficient as a current consoles, PC. Basically my own custom Steambox, something like the i7-6700T and GTX 960 should do the trick but at the moment the i7-6700T isn't yet available so I went with an unlocked i7-6700K to underclock it and try to match it. Also at first it I was going with the Z170M route but few things happened and I had to cut cost on few components. You, as most people, might think this is nuts to expend money on high end hardware to not use it as its fully potential but no one says I can't put it back at stock or maybe get Z-board and overclock it in the future, or maybe put a Pascal GPU in it.

ultra pointless underclock an unlocked i7, there is no place in this world to justify it, the best thing you could do for this build is to tell what is made for? how much is your budget and let us know where do you live and also what you already have….


I know that many people have said the same and you seem careless about it, but we tell you for a reason, to take full advantage of that chip in the future with the correct board, and also make the rig a little bit more prepared for lasting more years, ["future proof"]

Indeed, the MSI one is the best looking one. I really wish they had a H170M model of these with a M2 SSD port, though I'm leaning more toward that one.

the best option you may have of the provided list is Gigabyte H170, or you can get a Z170 board...

 

[Static~Charge]

I'm aware the MSI B150M is a worse chipset but Is the only option I have from them, besides other features I'm looking for, as long as it support my CPU and my GPU I'm fine whichever chipset. Btw I only have uATX as option.

You missed the MSI Z170M Mortar. It's a nice-looking board, but at $120, it's a bit more expensive than the others.

 

[MattCookR1]

ultra pointless underclock an unlocked i7, there is no place in this world to justify it, the best thing you could do for this build is to tell what is made for? how much is your budget and let us know where do you live and also what you already have….

Hey! are you forgetting this is your opinion right?

I already told what my goals are. The i7-6700T wasn't (and still isn't) available at the moment of buying so I went with it instead the price difference between the two is like $30 or $40 anyway. And why do I need to give you that information exactly? haven't you read the OP? does it look like I'm asking for advice to build a system or more importantly do I look like I'm clueless?

I know that many people have said the same and you seem careless about it

seem careless about it? what are you talking about? lol

but we tell you for a reason, to take full advantage of that chip in the future with the correct board, and also make the rig a little bit more prepared for lasting more years, ["future proof"]

facepalm, It seems that you are taking me as a complete moron. Maybe you should read again the same previous post you quoted me.

You missed the MSI Z170M Mortar. It's a nice-looking board, but at $120, it's a bit more expensive than the others.

Yeah but it is slightly a bit out of the budget. The B150M Mortar I posted is exactly as that one except that it has an extra USB3.0 header and overclocking capabilities which obviously I won't use. If it had a M2 SSD port, definitely would be top choice.

 

[MattCookR1]

So I decided to collect data from some different sources for opinions, and it doesn't look well for MSI or at least positive opinions/preference overall. Shame as it is a really NICE looking board, if I had the option for an ATX board it would be a different story though or an H170M Mortar model with the darm m2 port would be definitely my only choice... But I decided to go with the ASUS board, it is the worst looking one out of the three I know and has some "useless" connectivity that should of have been used on another type of connections, but whatever.

 

[EarthDog]

MSI leaves something to be desired in AMD land, but I have had zero problems with them on Intel...