My PC upgrading process: New motherboard needed! Budget: €100~150

[winterwonderland]

So. After a success with my previous thread about getting a new PSU and my case-thread where I landed on a R6, I will now try to find a suitable motherboard for my system (check my specs list).

My upgrading process:
- New PSU = Done! EVGA SuperNOVA G3 550W
- New case = Done! Fractal Design Define R6
- New mouse = Done! Razawr Deathadder Elite
- New CPU cooler = Not bought yet, but I will go for Noctua NH-D15
- New motherboard = ???

Budget: €100~150

"Requirements": It'd be nice to have a motherboard that I don't need to change within 5+ years or so, even though I know the technology yaddayaddayadda will be far ahead by then. A motherboard that's also upgrading friendly would be nice too. Naturally, a motherboard that's better than my current would be nice...

My PC usage: I am no hardcore gaming, but sure, I do game every now and then. I am not one who gets all the newest games as they come, so that's all good. I do a lot of video editing and a fair amount of photo editing too. I work with a lot of statistics, so I have like 5 monitors up and running with numbers, loads of documents etc., so naturally, I am browsing a lot! I also watch one too many movies and a big amount of twitch and youtubing.

So. Any motherboard suggestions for me?

 

[phanbuey]

AM4 motherboard then for sure... Intel hasnt had a 5 year motherboard since x59.

I would get a used b450 /b350 and amd r7 1700 / 1600 whichever you can get your hands on then once you have a bit more scratch upgrade. save the money on the cooler that way too - amd procs come with cooler normally but you can get something much more reasonable than a noctua.

The only issue is you will take a hit in gaming from your current setup due to 32gb of slow ranked dimms... Your other option is to get something like https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-Xe...h=item33f91c4478:g:w38AAOSwN5hb5DrH:rk:4:pf:0

ask the seller which mb u need and pick one up second hand.

 

[ebivan]

I just bought a used AB350 pro4 for 50€ and a used 1700x for 150€
I think 200 bucks for an 8 core bundle is not to bad. And seems very possible to upgrade to a 16 core zen2 sometime not too far away

 

[phanbuey]

I just bought a used AB350 pro4 for 50€ and a used 1700x for 150€
I think 200 bucks for an 8 core bundle is not to bad. And seems very possible to upgrade to a 16 core zen2 sometime not too far away

The only issue is b350's have really bad performance and a ton of stability issues with a 4 dimm 32 gb kit (i had to go to a 2 stick 32 gb kit) so maybe a b450 and 2600 would be a better way to go.

 

[kastriot]

Wait for zen 2 and collect some more money until then.

 

[winterwonderland]

Wait for zen 2 and collect some more money until then.

When will that be released then? Is it the one that comes out in march/april? And won't it cost a lot above my budget? And... it's AMD, huh? I had an AMD for about 10 years or so. works fine that, i guess... So. No Intel motherboard recommended then?

 

[Vya Domus]

The only issue is b350's have really bad performance and a ton of stability issues with a 4 dimm 32 gb kit (i had to go to a 2 stick 32 gb kit)

They are only rated for 2133mhz anyway, I am guessing it'll be fine.

 

[phanbuey]

They are only rated for 2133mhz anyway, I am guessing it'll be fine.

The issue is the mobos will randomly crash or only recognize 2 of the sticks. Basically the QVL lists for sticks is large for dual channel but if you go 4 dimms it shrinks to a handful of modules that play nice.

@OP So if you do go the b350 route, make sure ur ram is on QVL for all 4 dimms

 

[winterwonderland]

The issue is the mobos will randomly crash or only recognize 2 of the sticks. Basically the QVL lists for sticks is large for dual channel but if you go 4 dimms it shrinks to a handful of modules that play nice.

@OP So if you do go the b350 route, make sure ur ram is on QVL for all 4 dimms

By the looks of it, i'd be better off waiting few months, huh? I am probably not going to change my RAM considering i got it few months ago. Are you saying they won't be compatible with future motherboards unless i do the change you say i should do, or?

 

[phanbuey]

By the looks of it, i'd be better off waiting few months, huh? I am probably not going to change my RAM considering i got it few months ago. Are you saying they won't be compatible with future motherboards unless i do the change you say i should do, or?

Im saying that going super cheap on AM4 will 1) lose u some single threaded performance (games) and 2) has a solid chance of not being compatible with ur ram setup.

I would say wait and ask for xmas moneys to make a bigger leap to better tech.

 

[winterwonderland]

Im saying that going super cheap on AM4 will 1) lose u some single threaded performance (games) and 2) has a solid chance of not being compatible with ur ram setup.

I would say wait and ask for xmas moneys to make a bigger leap to better tech.

Ah, so my budget of €100~150 is too low for a motherboard, huh?

 

[Vya Domus]

Ah, so my budget of €100~150 is too low for a motherboard, huh?

Not really if you don't plan to get something like 2700X and OC it at crazy voltages. I am on the other side of the fence and think that your RAM will work fine.

 

[phanbuey]

Ah, so my budget of €100~150 is too low for a motherboard, huh?

It's too low for a Mobo + CPU... to be an upgrade over what you have now. If that's just for the mobo then you can get something nice for that.

But you have to buy the CPU and mobo at the same time if you're switching platforms so you would need ~300 to do something that you would notice.

 

[Vya Domus]

Yeah for both it is low, for a motherboard not.

To be honest 2133mhz is bottom of the barrel for Ryzen. What I would do is sell the RAM and get a faster 16GB kit that you will also know it'll work on your motherboard.

 

[phanbuey]

if i had to upgrade that without switching ram, I would go with a x99 used setup for maximum bang for $ but it will only last u 5 years if u keep it that long. It's already old (but performs great),

the only mobo that will last you 5 years is an AM4 - A ryzen would do well with a 2x8 16GB unless you need it for your work (like i did) and a 2x16 32GB 2400 kit even of the cheapest stuff is still expensive.

sell the full thing (cpu/ram/mobo) wholesale add it to your 150 budget and you can pick up a decent AM4 r5 - 2600x setup with 16 gigs.

 

[winterwonderland]

Pardon for not being clear, but the budget i listed in my OP, was for mobo only. i will scrape some extra €€€ for a CPU later on. first, imma need to find a proper mobo, hence why i listed the budget of €100~150

And i will probably not sell my current pc either, cuz i'd like to use it as a backup, just in case anything gets messed up, LAN-parties etc.

 

[Regeneration]

Get ASUS PRIME Z270-P for $99 from eBay + upgraded shipping.

In the future, you'll be able to upgrade to a better CPU that supports overclocking for cheap.

 

[phanbuey]

Get ASUS PRIME Z270-P for $99 off eBay.

That's a dead board tho... current chipset z370 and next gen will be something else.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...VEMpkCh0GgQ5FEAQYAiABEgKNefD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

if you can find that... I didn't like my ASUS or gigabyte (aorus) boards as much