LGA 1150 Z97 refers to a specific type of motherboard used in older Intel processors.
LGA 1150 Z97 refers to a specific type of motherboard used in older Intel processors.
Hello everyone, I recently replaced the PCIe slot on my motherboard a few days ago. I'm searching for another motherboard with an LGA 1150 socket, a Z87 chipset, and enough room for a second GPU and a sound card in the $200–$300 range. I currently have an i7-4790k and an RTX 2070, with 16GB of DDR3 RAM. On Newegg I found a good one for around $285, but the latest reviews mention it was discontinued. The MSI Gaming Z97 GAMING 5 looks like a solid option. Any tips would be great!
If a new mobo costs $285, it's worth considering a fresh mobo, RAM, or CPU for around $300. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz 6-core processor is listed at $139.99 on Amazon, along with the ASRock B450M PRO4 AM4 motherboard for $78.95. Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB DDR4-3200 memory is available for $67.98. Combined, these parts total approximately $286.92, including shipping and taxes. Prices reflect discounts and are updated as of November 23, 2019.
It's surprising to pay around $300 for a board this old. You can often find deals under $100 on eBay, especially if you include an I/O shield. Many Asus Z series boards have been reliable—like the Z97-AR—and they’re commonly available on sites such as Newegg or Amazon. Don’t rely solely on reviews; look for other factors.