ASUS Motherboard - New Build - Advice?

Hi,

I finally have enough for a new build. I've been waiting to do this for a couple of years.

My first choice for a motherboard is the ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-H.

However, I saw this advertised on sale: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A. It advertises using a Celeron CPU?

What would the difference be here using a Celeron compared to an i5 or i7? The processing power has to be comparable? 

I take it that this CPU Intel Core i7-13700K is compatible with the first choice for motherboard. It is advertised as a bundle with it. Just want to make sure. 

Would it also be compatible with the second option for motherboard? This should be a good choice for a CPU?

Also, is the second option for motherboard a good by? Is it a better motherboard than the first choice? It is on sale for $50 off.

This RAM should work too.

Any advice would be great! Thanks!

John

PS I'll be using the HTPC case I am using now, plus I will be using the onboard graphics with the new motherboard for now too.

Edited by Johnz414, 31 May 2024 - 11:58 AM.

"However, I saw this advertised on sale: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A. It advertises using a Celeron CPU?
What would the difference be here using a Celeron compared to an i5 or i7? The processing power has to be comparable?"

No, it is meant it supports Celeron CPU and higher (up to i9).

"Also, is the second option for motherboard a good by? Is it a better motherboard than the first choice? It is on sale for $50 off."

 Both seem kind of pricey for  Z790 board, compared to Canadian pricing IF you consider there are cheaper but reliable Z790 boards on the market.

You pay extra for a white or chrome/silver board, whereas a plain board is cheaper.

"I'll be using the HTPC case I am using now..."

Exactly why pay for all this extra if you really don't see it a anyways hidden in a HTPC - get a cheaper board if wanted, avoid the white/silver coloring.

"This RAM should work too."

Only real method to determine if the RAM is suitable is IF you browse the motherboard's web site and examine the QVL list for the Memory Supported listing. If it there, then fine the RAM is OK. If it is not found on the list, then it is not workable

"I take it that this CPU Intel Core i7-13700K is compatible with the first choice for motherboard. It is advertised as a bundle with it. Just want to make sure.

Would it also be compatible with the second option for motherboard? This should be a good choice for a CPU?"

Do you really need an i7 or have been lead to believe you need an i7 or understand why you need an i7?

What is the real purpose or usage for this desktop?

If just for general usage and home theater, why not an i5?

Also on the money saved on a cheaper CPU (i5 instead of i7) and a cheaper board, you could buy a good and cheap case that has good airflow and comes with fans.

And a good PSU or a NVMe drive.

Edited by 0lds0d, 31 May 2024 - 02:01 PM.

Also, why a Z790 board and not a B760?

Do you need to overclock the CPU or require the extra ports on this type of board? If not, then maybe a B760 will suffice? And that can be cheaper too.

Edited by 0lds0d, 31 May 2024 - 03:27 PM.

This RAM should work too.

 

Nope, the RAM is DDR4 while the MB is DDR5.

 

"This RAM should work too."

 

Only real method to determine if the RAM is suitable is IF you browse the motherboard's web site and examine the QVL list for the Memory Supported listing. If it there, then fine the RAM is OK. If it is not found on the list, then it is not workable

 

 

Sorry but not the case, once you have decided on a CPU and MB you check with either AMD or Intel to see what they say is the fastest RAM is that their CPU can handle, only then do you check the MBs QVL list

See my canned info below regarding this;

For the best and most stable performance you should where possible purchase a CPU and RAM that have been tested and approved by the motherboard manufacturer, this is referred to as the QVL ( qualified vendors list ) understand though that there are too many products released for them all to be tested so other hardware will be compatible but not proven to be by the manufacturer of the motherboard.

 

Something to keep in mind for the future, a CPU must be compatible with a MB whereas the RAM has to be compatible with both the CPU and the MB, this because a MB can be compatible with faster CPUs than the one in your list of parts and MB manufacturers often state RAM speeds that far exceed that which any compatible CPU can handle, this is misleading at the least or dishonest at worst.

​

I ended up purchasing this Asus motherboard only having to return it because of a common problem with this motherboard having two RAM slots not working. I found out after this happened that ASUS has been having issues like this a lot lately. I would still like to purchase ASUS, they have always been the best purchases I've made int the past.

I also ordered 2 Curser RAM sticks with one of them being defective. I returned those too.

So, my question here is how I can go about finding what ASUS motherboards will be good purchases and defective. 

Of course, I am sure I'll get maybe it is time to find a different brand in response, this is fine. I'll take any recommendations anyone gives me. I finally have the resources for a new build, and I would love to get it done while I do have those resources.

This is my first personal build in 13 years now. This build as mentioned above is for research for websites, website building, computer repair research, watching my movie collection. I do not game.

Thanks,

John

So to clarify you have a CPU (13700K??) currently, but no motherboard or RAM?  Or did you return the whole lot?

Does you HTPC case accept a full size ATX motherboard?  Some HTPC style ones do not, and are restricted to Micro ATX, for example.  This will affect your available choices.  Please confirm.

Intel 12/13/14th generation CPU's support both DDR4 and DDR5.  You can choose motherboards that accept one type or the other (but NOT both).  DDR4 is cheaper, and fast enough for many.  DDR5 is obviously newer, but it's still at a premium to DDR4 (not as much as it has been in the past).  Would you prefer a lower cost system using DDR4 or do you prefer DDR5, or have no preference??

I kept the CPU. So, I will need a motherboard that is compatable with this. As far as RAM DDR4 would be fine.

This too is needed, please reply for receiving further help...as asked by jonuk76

"Does you HTPC case accept a full size ATX motherboard?  Some HTPC style ones do not, and are restricted to Micro ATX, for example.  This will affect your available choices.  Please confirm."

or IOWs is the motherboard to be considered an ATX or mATX or ITX in size?

Edited by 0lds0d, 29 August 2024 - 06:50 AM.

Yes, it is an old large HTPC case.

Since you already have the CPU, I won't bother to explain why an i5 would have been fine.

For the work you are doing, you can look at Asus Prime and Tuf Gaming mobos. You don't need a Z mobo unless you need the extra slots and such that it offers, so look at B mobos if you just need minimal shots, or H if you need more because you expect to need lots of storage. Get one that accepts DDR4 since there is really no need for you to have DDR5 unless you want future compatibility.

As indicated above, once you have that, you can look at RAM options.

For storage, either SATA or M.2 SSDs should meet your needs.

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything that requires a GC, so you can use the iGPU in you CPU instead.

The other main concern is that you have a hot CPU, so you might want to consider a water cooler. Alternately, you can undervolt your C0U and get one of the top-level air coolers, but make sure the dimensions will fit your PC, especially the height of the cooler. Here are some good choices.

• Noctua NH-D15 gen 2 or the gen 2 HBC, which is optimized for your LGA1700 CPU.
• Thermalright Frost Spirit 140, Phantom Spirit 120, Peerless Assassin 120
• DeepCool AK620, AG620, Assassin IV Performance by note that DC is banned in the USA and other countries at this time because of sales to Russia, so they may be hard to find. 
• Zalman CNPS20X
• Cooler Master MA824 Stealth
• be quiet! Dark Rock Pro series
• Scythe Fuma 3

Some of the above have multiple variants. As long as you don't choose a Mini, you should be ok. Also, make sure that there won't be a conflict between the height of the RAM that you buy and the underside of the cooler. 

If you want water cooler recommendations, let me know. 

Here's a few to consider, with decent user ratings on PCPartpicker or reviews.  I think that while nothing you've said indicates you're going to be overclocking, or are really looking for "enthusiast" features, you do need a decent motherboard to cope with the high power draw of that particular CPU.  You don't necessarily need top of the line, but I would avoid budget models for sure.  The better motherboards have higher spec power delivery circuitry, better cooling etc. all of which help longevity.  You should also update whatever board you buy to the latest BIOS ASAP to get the latest microcode updates etc. installed.  Many of these can be flashed without having a CPU installed.

B760 (DDR4) - MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4) - PCPartPicker (Review)

B760 (DDR5) - MSI MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (MAG B760 TOMAHAWK WIFI) - PCPartPicker

Z690 (DDR4) - ASRock Z690 Extreme WiFi 6E ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (Z690 EXTREME WiFi 6E) - PCPartPicker (Review)

Z690 (DDR5) - Asus ROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (ROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WIFI) - PCPartPicker

Z790 (DDR4) - Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (Z790 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4) - PCPartPicker  (Review of DDR5 Version)

Z790 (DDR5) - MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI) - PCPartPicker

Well, specs on your new build components seem to have been covered well. If I may make a suggestion that can save you a lot of headaches:  get all your parts and do a bench build first. Make sure your bench build gets to the POST screen, and you then will know that all the components will work with each other, and none of them are faulty.

If you can't get to the POST screen, then troubleshooting is a lot easier.

If you can achieve POST, then immediately run testers on all components (RAM, drives, power supply (with a dedicated PS tester), and you are now ready to mount in the case.

Just a thought.

I purchased the "MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI) - PCPartPicker" However, it looks like none of the CPU coolers recomended will fit in the old HTPC case I have. Even a water cooler will not fit in it. I jerry rigged it in the past to fit a single fan water cooler with the fan attached outside of the case. I could do this if I can find the motherboard attachemnets for the water cooler. 

I do have this case that I can put it in. I was hopping to put it in a vertical HTPC format. Anyone know of a CPU cooler that will fit in a HTPC format, includng the HTPC case I have?

If not, I can put it in the case above. I can set it on its side to fit in the area I want to put it in. If I do put it in this case, a water cooler would be an option too.

So, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

PS I got this RAM for it.

Edited by Johnz414, 28 October 2024 - 09:51 PM.

According to the spec sheet the Silverstone GD08 will accept a CPU cooler up to 138mm in height.  This is quite generous for a HTPC style case.  I imagine it's not designed with installation of AIO style watercoolers in mind, but it might be possible to install one.

Looking at air coolers, something like this might be worth looking at.  It's a reduced height (110mm) twin tower cooler.  Noctua make a similar model too which is more expensive.  It might not cope with the 13700K being used at full load for long periods, but you might consider reducing the power limits in BIOS if it runs too hot, as you're not going to get a massive air cooler or 360mm/420mm AIO in that case.  This article gives a basic outline of the effects of dropping power limits - how you do it will be particular to your motherboard model.