Need assistance with MOBO for your new PC? Let me know what you're working on!
Need assistance with MOBO for your new PC? Let me know what you're working on!
Hey everyone! I'm kicking off my new setup this month—about 4 to 5 years old, so upgrading makes sense. Technology changes fast, and I haven't kept up well. That's why it's smart to get advice from someone experienced. In short, I'm thinking about getting an i5 9400 and starting with a motherboard. I picked two options: one from ASRock and another from Gigabyte. You can check them out here:
- ASRock B365M PRO4 CrossFire X Motherboard
- Gigabyte B365M DS3H LGA1151 Motherboard
Which one do you recommend? Which brand is better overall? I went with the Gigabyte model because its features appeal to me more, though I'm open to trying ASRock too. Thanks for your help!
I’d prefer to save a bit of money and upgrade to better hardware. Claiming you didn’t keep up with tech progress usually means you shouldn’t be buying cheap, basic gear as an upgrade. If you aim for a system that lasts five years or more, investing in quality is essential. Regarding your question—if you enjoy the Asrock’s capabilities, go for it. For the budget-friendly option, Mobo models don’t really stand out much from each other.
Micro ATX is the recommended choice. I used an Asus B85M before, and it hasn't caused any problems so far.
I don't have strong suggestions since all my gear is premium. I'd suggest at least an 8700k and a Z390 motherboard, depending on your preferred BIOS. If you share a budget range, I can assist further.
My finances are around $700 to $900 right now. That’s why I’m sticking to a lower to mid-range. I’m thinking about purchasing a GTX 1660 Ti GPU. After your response, I looked into another chipset—H370—but it doesn’t support the 9th generation out of the box. The Z390 is also more expensive than the B365 model.
Here’s a revised version of your text:
The PCPartPicker list includes key parts for building a system. You’re looking at a 3.7 GHz 6-core CPU (Intel Core i5-9600K), a 16 GB DDR4 memory module, a Corsair Vengeance LPX RAM stick, an EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, and a motherboard from ASRock Z390M Pro4. All prices are shown with shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts included. The total comes to $724.45 before any mail-in rebates; after applying the $20 rebate, it’s $704.45. These figures were generated by PCPartPicker on October 24, 2019.
These components are your starting point. I initially wanted an 8-core processor but struggled to keep the price low enough. I also tried an i7 model. This setup should give you a solid foundation and help you understand what’s possible. You can allocate the remaining $200 toward a better CPU cooler, a larger power supply unit (at least 500 watts), or an SSD of your choice. If you have spare parts, consider swapping out components like upgrading to a higher wattage PSU or adding an HDD or SSD.
Since your PC is likely 4-5 years old, it probably still uses DDR3 RAM. I usually upgrade in stages—first the CPU/Motherboard, then RAM, followed by the GPU. This way everything stays current. When I upgraded to a 2080Ti, I couldn’t afford $1100, so I bought a 2070S and later upgraded to the 2080Ti when I could. If you still have functional hardware, keep using what you have until you can invest more.
It's a solid setup, but it seems to exceed my budget since I also need a power supply and case. I'm hoping the suggested motherboard will already include a 9th generation CPU. Thanks for your assistance!