Need help choosing a motherboard

[Gears]

I am new to this forum and I am from the states. I have been a fan of Tom’s builds for a long time and decided to get a forum account. Enough about me, I have decided to build z170 gamming/art rig and need some advice choosing a mother board. I would like to have a white and light blue theme for the build, but I am ok with other color schemes. The three boards I am looking at are Asus Sabretooth, Asus Hero Alpha, and MSI Xpower Titanium.

Asus Sabretooth – looks like a great board. I could use a steam punk color scheme (would go great with my Cosmos II Case).

Asus Hero Alpha – has everything I need including wifi, but I burned out of black, red, and white color scheme.

MSI Xpower Titanium – I love the color of this board but it seems a bit gimmicky to me.

Again, I am building a gamming/art rig and need to choose a motherboard. Any advice or thoughts from the three above?

 

[Excalabur50]

Firstly Welcome to the OC3D forums and of the three I'd say either the Sabretooth or Titanium both are great boards but the Asus may be a bit better, but it just comes down to which will look the best offer the features that you need VS the prices for the units you are going to buy also when you say art do you mean rendering and heavy CPU usage because if so you may be better off going X99 instead

 

[Gears]

Thanks for the reply. I primarily use Manga Studio 5 and Photoshop. All work fine on my surface pro. However, the real reason for Going Z170 is my budget.

The Alpha seems like the board to get, but I am burned out on the color scheme. I am leaning towards the Sabertooth...

 

[Excalabur50]

Depending on where in the world you are there isn't much difference between a 5820 and a 6700 so have a good look first and if the prices are comparable then go the 5820 I was in a similar position to yourself and the peeps on here told me x99 and I'm glad I listened the extra cores and threads make a difference

 

[Gears]

I was actually going to go with the i5 - so there is about $150.00 USD difference. However, it isn't the CPU cost that is hard to swallow, it's the motherboard cost. X99 is just expensive. I would have to downgrade on GPU afford X99

 

[Excalabur50]

Why not something like this http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-FATAL1...2&sr=8-1&keywords=asrock+x99x+fatal1ty+killer

 

[Gears]

Don't get me wrong, but only have a $1000.00 USD for CPU, GPU, RAM, and Mobo. I'm pushing that budget with Z170. With the MSI board it's $950.00 going X99 with the board you suggested would add $225.00 pushing me past my budget.

 

[Excalabur50]

I understand totally and the items you have chosen will still work very well and if you are predominantly gaming you aren't going to be sorry with your choice and good luck with and enjoy your new rig!

 

[Gears]

I understand totally and the items you have chosen will still work very well and if you are predominantly gaming you aren't going to be sorry with your choice and good luck with and enjoy your new rig!

I would much rather have the X99. I could go with the Sabertooth and shave $60.00 USD so I would be $165.00. I could certainly down grade the GPU, but I am water cooling this build (have all of it but the GPU block), and using a lower end card eliminates a full cover block.

 

[NeverBackDown]

If you are heavily into rendering and editing or creating art then I highly suggest no less than the I7 skylake. Ideally X99 should be what you are looking for. I'd recommend bumping to I7/x99 if you are using the PC for anymore than 50% of its use towards your art stuff. It will really pay off.

 

[Gears]

So, what is with X99 Asus boards? Lots of people complaining about them killing CPUs.