This will work better.
This will work better.
You're considering two options: an MSI Z97 with an I7 4790 and 16GB DDR3 RAM, or an ASUS B150M with an I5 6500 and RGB DDR4 3000 MHz. You need a system that handles CPU-heavy games like Rust and Escape from Tarkov, which you already own a GTX 970 for.
The i7-4790 offers a slight boost but is older and consumes more power. The i5-6500 provides around 60fps in Rust and 100 in Tarkov, making it a solid choice if you prioritize that small performance gap or editing videos. If power and efficiency matter more, the i5 is better, as it uses less energy and you can upgrade the CPU later. Both may face GPU limitations.
It does matter, though the CPU plays a bigger role. If you intend to upgrade the CPU, choose the 6500 because you won’t need to purchase additional RAM.