$5,000 USD build featuring Asus Maximus 11, EVGA z390 dark, Gigabyte Xtreme z390 – top choice for reliability.
$5,000 USD build featuring Asus Maximus 11, EVGA z390 dark, Gigabyte Xtreme z390 – top choice for reliability.
I’ve had to rethink my plans for the build starting at the end of November 2019. I’m left with just three motherboards. There are some worries about stability and a few other issues. I’m weighing Maximus 11 against the EVGA Z390 dark and the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme.
1. Neither Asus nor EVGA offers Thunderbolt 3 ports. Any alternative?
2. My impressions of all three options?
3. The dark only provides two RAM slots, unlike the Maximus 11 and Aorus Xtreme. What do you think?
4. I’ve noticed the dark has had BIOS problems with the 9900K chipsets. Any info on that?
5. There are numerous negative reviews about Gigabyte boards, no matter what others say about VRMs. Would you mind sharing your thoughts? If these complaints are just hype from sites like Reddit or Newegg, I’d probably pick Gigabyte.
6. In the link you shared, I’m using a Baracuda for mass storage. What would look like if I swapped to Maximus? Ignore the CPU cooler—it’s a cost decision based on my cooling needs.
PCPartPicker data from November 2019-06: Total spend around $4949.41 (including shipping, taxes, rebates).
You're budgeting around 5k while running on an 8-core processor and just 32GB of RAM. That's a tough setup, especially with the 1080Ti graphics card. For this price point, a 2080Ti would be ideal. You could also consider a 3900x or 3950x, or even Intel HEDT Cascade Lake if you're open to newer releases. A build with an 11-core CPU and a solid motherboard would really make a difference.
The main issues seem to be the cost of components and the Windows license. You're paying a lot for a 5k budget, especially with the 1080Ti card. It's worth checking if you can get a discounted Windows version or if there are cheaper alternatives. Also, the motherboard cost shouldn't be that high unless you're planning heavy overclocking. A 200-300 dollar motherboard would be more sensible.
If you're looking to upgrade, consider swapping out the 1080Ti for something better like a 1080U or even a newer card if your budget allows. And don't forget, getting a good keyboard and mouse can make a big difference without breaking the bank. Good luck with your build!
You're investing a lot in unnecessary items. Windows 10 licenses can be found on several trusted hardware forums—some might be legitimate, others could be scams. Why shell out $300 for a Samsung 970 Pro? Upgrade to an Evo Plus or basic Evo model for better value. A 1600-watt PSU seems excessive; consider a platinum 1000W unit like the Seasonic 1000W Titanium Ultra if you need that power. For graphics, the GTX 1080 isn’t cheap either. Go for a GTX 1060 or better, and don’t overlook RAM upgrades for that price. The Maximus XI Apex is worth it over the Gene model, though the latter is still solid. The Dark board is designed for extreme overclocking but lacks useful BIOS features such as custom AC/DC loadline adjustments or visible settings—features other manufacturers offer. It also doesn’t support on-die CPU voltage monitoring or current tracking. There’s a version of the Dark with hidden BIOS options, possibly found via XOC, but details are unclear.
I overlooked mentioning it's a 2080 super card from EVGA featuring a full waterblock. I don't feel comfortable supporting AMD right now. Zen 4 seems like a better fit. The Mobo has many pros—I've actually watched every buildzoid and debauer video. I understand what's going on with these boards, but I didn't install the motherboard. I don’t like receiving parts or ASRock products. I just realized that the Asus VRM only supports 5+2, which is really disappointing. Asus needs to improve their offerings significantly.
I wasn't aware of those Win 10 keys details. I just wanted pro advice. 2. Explain why you should get the pro version—fastest is best, money matters only if spent once. 3. The PSU I own uses gallium; that's the only one I've seen. 4. The water cooler note was just a placeholder. I'm planning a custom waterloop design and will share it later. 5. Thanks for the dark note—probably worth discussing in a separate thread about Gigabyte reliability concerns. I often get warnings but worry more about performance than reliability because of many negative reviews compared to other brands.
I’ll look for a Windows 10 key for $11. Then go ahead and destroy the motherboard as the guru above mentioned. Why would you need to spend $500 on a PSU? What are your plans for SLI or triple SLI or crossfire? I get it, but facts say SLI is dead and Nvidia knows it too. I ask you, please spend that money on a 3900x and a 2080Ti. You’ll have plenty of room when you buy a $150 PSU and a motherboard around $200. You’re not trying to send anyone to the moon with a 650-watt PSU—it’ll work fine for under $200, which is way cheaper.
I appreciate the hook up on the windows key. I just love that PSU, I know it's ungodly overkill, I see it as future proof until it just stops operating. I have considered going down to a 1,000 platinum or titanium. I prefer Intel's 9900k/ks over the AMD. Too much to explain why. I don't think it is worth waiting for Zen 4 in like 2021. If I update the CPU/Mobo it will be Zen 5 or 6, and by then maybe Intel will be 7nm or less, or AMD will be 5nm.... Please do note that the GPU is a placeholder, I missed that in the explanation, that's my fault. The card I am going with is not on pcpartpicker. Link for GPU. https://www.newegg.com/evga-geforce-rtx-...6814487469 Note basically aside the motherboards I mentioned the apex was my only other onwas considering. I just don't like the i/o or vrm on all the other boards. Almost forgot, do you have comments on Gigabyte motherboards reliability? I've just seen soooo many bad reviews on all the marketplaces.
Aim for the 2080 Super setup. It pairs well with a 9700k, delivering performance close to a 9900k. The PSU is impressive because the fans stay quiet—most of my system draws around 400 watts. For 7nm chips, that’s not possible until 2022, so it’s best to wait. Once 3nm arrives, things will change again.
I purchased it from the hardforum discussion. The Pro model offers a solid storage option, though it comes with a higher cost. If you can afford it, it’s worth considering. I believe the water cooler shouldn’t be that expensive. Could you clarify what distinguishes an H150 from an H150i?