First build - i5 8400 mATX

[ashtindler97]

Update - this board (Gigabyte GA-H370M-DS3H) has 4K support as it has a DisplayPort built onto the board:
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/coffee-lake-budget-build-ga-h370m-ds3h-i3-8100-cpu.249539/

Would you recommend that board over the Z370M?

 

[Adrian B]

Would you recommend that board over the Z370M?

Are you asking if I would recommend a Z370M **** board - can you be more specific. A Z370 board is able to overclock an overclockable processor suck as Intel i5-8600K, i7-8700K and i7-8086K. If you are not buying one of these processors then it doesn't seem worth it to buy any Z370 board.

 

[ashtindler97]

Are you asking if I would recommend a Z370M **** board - can you be more specific. A Z370 board is able to overclock an overclockable processor suck as Intel i5-8600K, i7-8700K and i7-8086K. If you are not buying one of these processors then it doesn't seem worth it to buy any Z370 board.

I plan on using the Intel i5-8400 but am looking for a board that supports 4k output through HDMI with integrated graphics. Is that possible?

 

[Adrian B]

I plan on using the Intel i5-8400 but am looking for a board that supports 4k output through HDMI with integrated graphics. Is that possible?

macOS supports 4K 60Hz through DisplayPort from motherboard. You can use an adapter to go from Displayport to an HDMI 2.0 connection, but it macOS only supports HDMI 1.4, which might get you 24Hz or 30Hz refresh rate if your monitor supports it.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206587

 

[ashtindler97]

macOS supports 4K 60Hz through DisplayPort from motherboard. You can use an adapter to go from Displayport to an HDMI 2.0 connection, but it macOS only supports HDMI 1.4, which might get you 24Hz or 30Hz refresh rate if your monitor supports it.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206587

Do you think I would face any compatibility issues with the following parts:

Gigabyte H370M DS3H Micro ATX Motherboard
Intel i5-8400 Processor
Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Fenvi FV- T919 WIFI adapter

 

[Adrian B]

Do you think I would face any compatibility issues with the following parts:

Gigabyte H370M DS3H Micro ATX Motherboard
Intel i5-8400 Processor
Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory
Fenvi FV- T919 WIFI adapter

No, I believe that this hardware will work well, there are folk using similar hardware.
https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/success-with-gigabyte-h370m-ds3h-i5-8400-coffee-lake.254051/

Do your installation of macOS and then add the wifi adapter, this will allow macOS to pick up and correctly address the Ethernet as EN0 - this is a prerequisite for Mac App Store to function.

Corsair produce LPX 3000 MHz RAM at a good price that has tight CL15 RAM latency, which should be good.

 

[ashtindler97]

Are you asking if I would recommend a Z370M **** board - can you be more specific. A Z370 board is able to overclock an overclockable processor suck as Intel i5-8600K, i7-8700K and i7-8086K. If you are not buying one of these processors then it doesn't seem worth it to buy any Z370 board.

I'm a little confused with all the board options. What are the differences between the Gigabyte B360M D3H, B360M DS3H, H370m D3H, and H370M DS3H? Can you recommend which one of these boards to pair with an Intel i5 - 8400? Also, do the boards limit the speed of the RAM you can use with them?
Thank you!

 

[Adrian B]

The GA-H370M-DS3H has the Displayport connection that you require for 4K screen resolution. B-360 is a cheaper board, best suited to 2 or 4 core processors for office use. You may get one of these running, but you should add a RX560 graphics card to get 4K screen resolution which makes the cheaper board option more expensive.

The H370-D3H has Intel® CNVi 802.11ac Wave2 2T2R WIFI which can either be removed or upgraded to macOS compatible hardware. Does not have DisplayPort for 4K screen support so add in a AMD RX560.

The only RX560 card known not to work with macOS is the XFX branded models,, which are good options if you were looking at either the RX570 or RX580 cards for improved graphics capabilities.

 

[ashtindler97]

The GA-H370M-DS3H has the Displayport connection that you require for 4K screen resolution. B-360 is a cheaper board, best suited to 2 or 4 core processors for office use. You may get one of these running, but you should add a RX560 graphics card to get 4K screen resolution which makes the cheaper board option more expensive.

The H370-D3H has Intel® CNVi 802.11ac Wave2 2T2R WIFI which can either be removed or upgraded to macOS compatible hardware. Does not have DisplayPort for 4K screen support so add in a AMD RX560.

The only RX560 card known not to work with macOS is the XFX branded models,, which are good options if you were looking at either the RX570 or RX580 cards for improved graphics capabilities.

The difference in price between the Gigabyte H370M and Z370M is only about $20. Even though I do not plan on overclocking the CPU would there be any advantage to upgrading to the Z370M? Also, do both of these boards support the same RAM speed? I saw somewhere online said that the H370 only supports speeds of up to 2666 MHz. Would I need the Z370M to use the Corsair LPX 3000 MHz RAM you recommended?

 

[Adrian B]

The difference in price between the Gigabyte H370M and Z370M is only about $20. Even though I do not plan on overclocking the CPU would there be any advantage to upgrading to the Z370M?

The principle difference is that the Z370 boards allow CPU overclocking with Intel 8 series CPU models that allow overclocking (desktop models with a 'K' suffix on the model no.)

Also, do both of these boards support the same RAM speed? I saw somewhere online said that the H370 only supports speeds of up to 2666 MHz. Would I need the Z370M to use the Corsair LPX 3000 MHz RAM you recommended?

I am looking further in to this - I had perhaps incorrectly believed that 3000MHz RAM ran on these boards - can't find good corresponding info that backs this up though...

DDR4 RAM is supplied in various base speeds 2133MHz, 2400MHz and 2666Mhz. You get to the higher figure using a XMP profile setting within the boards own UEFI/BIOS - this board claims to support XMP profiles. The Corsair 300MHz RAM has a base frequency of 2133MHz and two XPM profiles - the later being the 3000Mhz speed
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/H370M-DS3H-rev-10#sp

Looking at the Memory support list includes RAM at 2133MHz, 2400MHz and 2666MHz
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/H370M-DS3H-rev-10#support-doc

The G-Skill Memory Configurator for this board lists the same base speeds:
https://www.gskill.com/en/configurator?manu=54&chip=3288&model=3341

Z370M board:
Supports 3866MHz and beyond:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z370M-DS3H-rev-10#kf

Remember that it does so via XMP profile and/or overclocking the RAM in the UEFI/BIOS. DDR4 RAm is only available in three speeds. 2133MHz, 2400MHz and 2600MHz - everything else is a UEFI/Bios setting or requires overclocking. Do you need the Z370M to use 3000MHz RAM - you possibly do or stay with 2666MHz RAM and the H370M board.