Best MOBO to buy

[bjam]

Hello!

I need a MOBO for my build and of course would love to have HDMI 2.0 and Thunderbolt. The Gigabyte z170 UD5 TH is too hard to find at a normal price, or at all, and that was my ideal board because of its success, features and build guides. So now i'm having some trouble figuring out what to get that won't be too difficult for a first time builder and will still provide the features i'd ideally like to have. My graphics card is the EVGA 980ti hybrid, so I believe I do have HDMI 2.0 from that source (right?). As far as MOBOs' i'm looking at now, I think I've gotten it down to a few contenders:

Gigabyte Z170X Gaming GT - or gaming 7 which doesn't have HDMI 2.0
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813128834

Asus Z170 Deluxe
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813132568

As well as the 270 boards

Gigabyte Z270x Gaming 8
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813128962

Gigabyte Z270x UD5
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128970

I'm guessing the 270 boards would be hard for my first build, but I really don't know - my cpu is the i7 6700k, so still on skylake.

Any feedback/input would be greatly appreciated! Having trouble figuring out the right purchase to make and it's the last purchase I need to make.

Thanks so much!

 

[trs96]

HDMI 2.0 is really only useful for using Windows when connected to a 4K monitor. For macOS you'd want to use DP 1.2 or higher to connect to a 4K monitor. Apple doesn't support HDMI 2.0 and it doesn't really work on CustoMacs to get 4K @60Hz. If you can use a 30Hz or lower refresh rate then HDMI for 4K could be an option. You wouldn't need HDMI 2.0 for that.

I believe you could still find the Gigabyte Designare which also uses the Z170 chipset. Look for one of those. That is what has replaced the UD5-TH model from Gigabyte.

 

[bjam]

Thanks so much, that helps a lot. The Desingare is sold out most places and overpriced where I can find it. Any thoughts on the Gigabyte Z170X Gaming GT, or Gaming 7? I know the Gaming 7 has been done, but the GT is interesting to me and seems to have everything I need at a cheaper price point than the Desingare.

 

[trs96]

Gigabyte Z170X Gaming GT

That one does have all the bells and whistles. Don't see any reason why it shouldn't work but I have no direct experience with that one. Also don't see any detailed, successful User Builds on this site. If you're willing to be a pioneer then give it a try.

 

[bjam]

Sounds like an adventure. Is it wrong to think that following a successful build guide for the Gigabyte Gaming 7 for the Gaming GT would maybe work because they are similar?

 

[trs96]

Very possible it could work fine. Try it and see. If it doesn't work you can RMA it and get a different one.

 

[bjam]

Awesome! Thank you. I was also wondering if the new Z270x Gaming 8 would hypothetically work well with skylake? It has the same audio as the Gaming 7, etc....seems like it would work as well and similarly to the 170 generation. But I'm not very informed to other details that I'm sure I'm missing.

 

[Loomy]

Hello!

I need a MOBO for my build and of course would love to have HDMI 2.0 and Thunderbolt. The Gigabyte z170 UD5 TH is too hard to find at a normal price, or at all, and that was my ideal board because of its success, features and build guides. So now i'm having some trouble figuring out what to get that won't be too difficult for a first time builder and will still provide the features i'd ideally like to have. My graphics card is the EVGA 980ti hybrid, so I believe I do have HDMI 2.0 from that source (right?). As far as MOBOs' i'm looking at now, I think I've gotten it down to a few contenders:

Gigabyte Z170X Gaming GT - or gaming 7 which doesn't have HDMI 2.0
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813128834

Asus Z170 Deluxe
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813132568

As well as the 270 boards

Gigabyte Z270x Gaming 8
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813128962

Gigabyte Z270x UD5
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128970

I'm guessing the 270 boards would be hard for my first build, but I really don't know - my cpu is the i7 6700k, so still on skylake.

Any feedback/input would be greatly appreciated! Having trouble figuring out the right purchase to make and it's the last purchase I need to make.

Thanks so much!

Im thinking about the same, but there are not enough Z270 mobos been sucessfully Hackintoshed the z170 Deluxe is the best thing so far for me bc it has kind of everything, but i have more time to wait.