Gigabyte GA-Z270X-UD5

So anyway, was looking at new motherboards tonight and this one caught my eye. I notice there is many omissions from the front panel connections, it doesn't even really mention those connections as such - for the sake of sanity I do hope it has at least a power and reset header. Further down the product page it mentions this it turns out.
 
Clearly the aim of this motherboard is to be rid of old optical and mechanical drives although I guess this still an option for people. I'm also going to need a EPS 4-pin 12V x 2 extension to try to keep that part of the build tidier. It recommends you use a 500W PSU for this motherboard which is an average with the most powerful processor being used full load with other components I am guessing.

Currently I have a 750W Modular PSU from Akasa which has served me well for years now....don't really want to change that if I can avoid it.
 
Another thing which has bemused me is the I/O shield or lack of one......do you just plonk in the motherboard and tighten things up these days....
 
I'm sure I will find out in time.

I am not sure what you mean by your post...
 
Sure the board has a "standard" set for front panel (LEDs, power, reset, speaker, etc.) as well as from USBs. And all that is documented. Plenty of SATA ports as well (for "optical and mechanical drives").
 
But since this forum is not for gamers (I mean "looks cool, support SLI and can be death over-clocked" are not relevant for music software), may be you can clarify what exactly attract you to this board. Thunderbolt (with which audio interface?), disk speed improvement with NVMe RAID (for which VST?). Then there is a chance someone has already tested particular combination and can give you some advise.
 
In general, if you want to keep some PSU which "has served you for years" (and was not top model when it was new), there should be a pretty good argument to look for bleeding edge full features packed gaming motherboard...

I plan to build some external hardware for sound purposes. Universal Audio, SSD drives for the purpose of East West sample libraries and other large things like drum packages. Not really into synths that much these days although some NI komplete applications would also suit me.
 
Not being made of money and all of that I have to do this stage by stage.
 
There is still a few options out there but Asus and Gigabyte boards have never let me down touch wood (MDF).
 

Intel® Z270 Chipset
https://ark.intel.com/products/98089/Intel-Z270-Chipset
 
PCPartPicker - Choose a Motherboard
https://pcpartpicker.com/..ucts/motherboard/#c=119
 
 
 

Oh thanks for the links.

I've had Intel, Gigabyte, ASRock and ASUS motherboards over the years.  I've had better luck with ASUS so my last build used an ASUS board.  It is a "gamer" board but I didn't buy it for gaming, I bought it because of the number of USB ports on the rear I/O panel.
 
If your power supply is over 1 year old, consider replacing it (I would only use a new power supply with a new motherboard build).  I would use at least a 650 watt and a "fully modular" type, which helps to eliminate excess power supply cables.
 

"Bigger is better" in power supplies.  You will have reserve and if you decide to add video or other hardware you will already have the power.
 
Once caution with power supplies, avoid the inexpensive or "no name" power supplies.  A lot of them are over rated in watts and have poor DC voltage regulation.  

fireberd
I've had Intel, Gigabyte, ASRock and ASUS motherboards over the years.  I've had better luck with ASUS so my last build used an ASUS board.

I have had great luck with Intel and Asus.  But Intel has gotten out of the desktop board building business.  I have several Intel Socket 478 (Pentium 4) boards and 1 Asus 478 board that still work. They are relics now, LOL!
 
So my last two Intel Core builds were on Asus branded boards.  I picked out a couple of boards that had the long life solid polymer capacitors.  They should outlast that hardware generation's normal lifecycle, at least!
 
I repaired a friend's HP Media Center PC a few years ago, that had a motherboard with bulging capacitors.  Yikes!  No boot, no post, fans just spinning.  I was lucky that I could find a refurb mobo to fit that proprietary HP case.  It was one of those wacky BTX layouts.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTX_(form_factor)
 
So I would add that the quality of motherboard components is probably just as important as a good PSU.

interpolated
 I know I won't need a powerful gpu or could use the Intel in-built graphics however I like to keep my graphics independent.

IMO, the only (dis)advantages to a discrete GPU in a DAW are extra heat and power consumption.
 
Most CPU & mobo configurations today can support integrated graphics on 2-3 monitors in anything from HD to 4K, so putting that money towards another drive or more RAM makes more sense to me.

Might be worth having a 30 minute consult with Jim. He'll give you a parts list with links for where to get the parts.

The beauty of it is:
1. Jim will have tested the parts he recommends on numerous other builds.
2. Probably most important thing about a Motherboard apart from having the appropriate connections you need, is that the BIOS expose the settings necessary to have a computer that is really well suited to audio. This is an area where Jim's advice will be invaluable.

Point 2 is info that most of us users would not know. That alone is worth the price of a brief paid consultation.