Search for your updated MOBO!
Search for your updated MOBO!
Hey everyone! I’m sure you won’t locate the motherboard you’re after. (That’s a challenge!) I’m looking to upgrade for maximum flexibility and precision. I need a Socket 1151 that works with my i7 8700. For music production, a Thunderbolt 3 connection is essential—my Apollo Octo 8p will be daisy-chained with two UAD-2 Satellites. I’m also diving into Unreal Engine and gaming, so SLI compatibility is key (my two 980ti units will run smoothly on a 35-inch 144Hz Lenovo monitor). If it supports Quad Channel, it’d be perfect for my 4x4Go DDR4 setup. Otherwise, a dual-channel setup should suffice. The form factor doesn’t matter much, but a micro ATX is preferred. A built-in Wi-Fi would be a big plus (I’ve had issues with my PLCs), though I don’t need it 100%. USB-C is a game-changer—especially with all my peripherals needing Bluetooth access without extra USB ports. I’m not demanding RGB or overclocking features, just solid performance at a reasonable price. And hey, since I’m from France, local European options won’t be the best fit for me. Thanks for your help! If you find something that fits, you’ll earn my vote as Human of the Year! (It’s definitely worth it…)
The idea of Gigabyte's Z390 Designare comes to mind, though I’m not really familiar with Z370/Z390 boards that include Thunderbolt 3. It’s a tough sell, honestly—around 300 euros and the Z390 platform is pretty outdated. You’d probably be better off selling your 8700 and switching to a Ryzen system with an X570 board that supports Thunderbolt (or consider adding a PCI-E Thunderbolt add-in card). This gives you more flexibility for upgrades. Alternatively, go with the Z490. Quad-channel memory is only available on HEDT boards like X299 or Threadripper. On consumer-grade models such as Z490 or X570, four memory sticks still work in dual-channel mode.
Thanks for your response! I really want to maintain this 8700 because it hasn’t reached its full capability. I faced too many problems with the PCIe extension for Thunderbolt—if you need one, your motherboard must support it. Since there’s no connection port, and I plan to use a PCIe slot later, adding these cards would be costly for me. Appreciate the info about quad channel! I’ll look into this Gigabyte product. Thanks EDIT: Unfortunately, this board doesn’t support SLI, but Crossfire works.
As I mentioned earlier, it can be challenging. I've already faced this issue when the motherboard doesn't support the protocol, which means the PCIe card wouldn't work. Building it in would be simpler. In reality, if most components fit into the motherboard, it could be much better. But if I have no other options, I'll go with a PCIe card. I didn't consider this before; that's an interesting choice.
Based on current information, your CPU only works with dual-channel memory. There are no Z370/Z390 mATX boards featuring Thunderbolt 3. Some models from Gigabyte offer Thunderbolt 3 but lack SLI or necessary PCIe slots. The Gigabyte Z390 Designare is the sole option with both Thunderbolt 3 and dual-SLI support. It also includes WiFi, Bluetooth, and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C header on the front panel—useful if your case supports it. Thunderbolt 3 PCIe cards must match specific motherboards due to TB header requirements. You should check compatible Thunderbolt 3 PCIe cards from manufacturers like ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte, or look at options such as ThunderboltEX 3, Thunderbolt 3 AIC, GC-Alpine Ridge, or Titan Ridge to see which boards suit your setup.
I’m leaning toward this DESIGNARE build, thanks to the 1151 platform fitting my I7 8700 perfectly. There’s still plenty of headroom if I ever need to upgrade—potentially up to an I9-9900KS, and I feel pretty secure about it. Since I’m working in a well-treated, soundproofed home studio, I might swap out the CPU and add some liquid metal. For cooling, I could install a Heligon HE02 or a DEEPCOOL Lucifer K2 Gamer Storm later if I upgrade further (though I’m not too worried about RAM stability). I’d turn off the case and GPU fans when they’re not needed to keep noise down.
My two 980Ti stock fans would work well in SLI, giving me a clean setup. On my current Lenovo G34w-10, a 2K curved screen is perfect for mixing tracks, plus an 28-inch full HD LG monitor—though I might end up selling it later. I’m eyeing the 3080 announcement to see if it’s worth the price.
For RAM, I’ll use dual-channel 4x4G SATA in M2 for speed and capacity. I won’t change them unless I hit full capacity. I’m a bit nervous about adding an Intel Optane in the first M2 slot for OS and software—would help with multitasking (Unreal Engine, AutoCAD, Fruity Loops/Reason, Pro Tools). My 500GB M2 NVMe SSD will go into the other slot, while the rest of the SATA ports hold a 5TB drive for data and backup.
I’m planning to add an AIC in the third PCIe x16 slot, but I’m unsure if it’s worth it given the cost. The Apollo 8P will connect via a T-Bus adapter to a Type-C port, linked to two Thunderbolt ports, plus one extra USB-TB port for redundancy.
All this fits into a compact ATX case—managing the CPU and GPUs while keeping things tidy. I’m not sure about any of these changes yet, but I’m confident. This is my main workspace, so I want it to run smoothly long-term. Thanks for your advice—I’m heading in the right direction.