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Help Me Decide on a MOBO

Discussion in 'PC Discussion' started by Joe's Nemesis, Jan 14, 2019.

  1. Joe's Nemesis

    Joe's Nemesis High Score: 2,058 ~ Prestige ~

    Joined:
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    So, I'm finally able to retire my current desktop. The case is over ten years old (still runs well. The fans are still original, too without any whining. Antec made 900s to last. That's for sure. Anyway, I'm currently on a 4790k chip and an Asus Maximus VII Hero board with 16 GB of Ripjaw Ram at 2203.4 MHz. Here's my upgrade below. Then, my question at the end.

    CPU: Intel - Core i9-9900K 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor ($529.89 @ OutletPC)
    CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-D15 82.5 CFM CPU Cooler ($89.95 @ Amazon)
    Motherboard: MSI - MEG Z390 GODLIKE EATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($565.15 @ Amazon)
    Memory: Corsair - Dominator Platinum 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory ($299.99 @ Amazon)
    Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 1 TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($247.99 @ Amazon)
    Case: Thermaltake - The Tower 900 ATX Full Tower Case ($249.99 @ Amazon)
    Power Supply: Corsair - 850 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($129.79 @ OutletPC)

    (I already own the following and will be putting most of this into the new system).
    Storage: Kingston - Predator 240 GB PCI-E Solid State Drive
    Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 6 TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($159.99 @ Amazon)
    Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 1 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.49 @ OutletPC)
    Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 1 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($81.47 @ OutletPC)
    Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 970 4 GB 100 Million Edition Video Card
    Optical Drive: Pioneer - BDR-209DBK Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($73.80 @ OutletPC)

    The cooler is temporary. I don't know when the I'll get all the parts for my custom waterloop I'm building and didn't want to build the system a month from now only to learn one of the parts didn't work. Speaking of which, here's the loop.

    Fittings: EK-HDC Fitting 16mm G1/4 - Black
    Pump and Reservoir: EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 RGB PWM (incl. sl. pump)
    Cable Splitter: EK-Cable Splitter 4-Fan PWM Extended
    Water Concentrate: EK-CryoFuel Acid Green Concentrate 100 mL
    Radiator: EK-CoolStream CE 560 (Quad) (Radiator)
    Tubing: EK-HD PETG Tube 12/16mm 500mm (2pcs) (3 packages)
    Fans: EK-Furious Vardar EVO 140 BB (2500rpm) (4 fans)
    Base Plate and Water Block" EK-Velocity RGB - Nickel + Plexi
    24 Pin Bridge: EK ATX Bridging Plug

    In a few months I'm going to switch out my MSI 970 GPU for a 20xx (not TI as I don't really game). At that point, I'll put a second loop in the system... because bad reasons (read, I want to geek out. Might as well be honest).
    ____________________
    So, my question.
    I should be getting everything tomorrow. However, I'm still not sure about the MOBO. I've gone back and forth about whether I should return it and get something else. If I did, It'd be one of the following:

    Asus Maximus Extreme: I know my way around the UEFI very well. I've had ASUS ROG boards since I was running an I7 940 on a Rampage III Formula. So, why am I hesitating? This board has 10 phases (real is 5x2 using IR3555). It's also the most expensive at $599. On the other hand, memory is supposed to overclock better here.

    Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme: It runs 8 + 2 VRM with a doubler. Other than that, it's pretty similar across the board except for little trinkets and doodads. It's $50 cheaper, but impossible to find right now. I think there's one auction on Ebay offering it (money-back on electronics makes it non-risk if buying from major sellers).

    ASUS WS Z 390 PRO: The draw here is that it has a PLEX chip so it will run true 3.0x16, x16 on lanes slots 1 and 3. using three slots it drops to x8, x8, x16 with x16 on the third slot. the VRM is the same as the Extreme. AND... Sadly, I'd have to use an external WIFI and bluetooth or by a card. Of course, this one has the lanes to do it without hesitation. This board is the cheapest.

    Compare that with what I have coming now.

    MSI Z390 Godlike: 8 VRM doubled + 2 for memory. That second 2 is something I really like because it'll provide stability. Other than that, it's about the same as the other boards.

    So... suggestions? I use my computer as a workstation but I also do video rendering at times. I'll also do GIMP editing quite a bit when I'm making lectures as I'm pretty heavy on visuals. I tend to push the overclock because, well. I like to. No other reason than that (see water loop).

    tl;dr Would anyone switch out the board for one of the other boards listed above and if so, why.