AnsweredNew Motherboard

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hydemusic
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2016/10/24 12:42:40 (permalink)

New Motherboard

It's getting time for a new computer. My old (current) studio one is about 4 years old. It's working fine but can only get 16GB ram on my Motherboard. It's an Intel DX68DB LGA 1155 with a i7 2700K 3.5 GHz processor.
My home computer has an Intel DZ77BH-55K LGA 1155 with i7  3770K 3.5 GHz processor which can accommodate 32GB ram. I use Samsung SSD 500GB drives in all of them for my C drive for programs.  I use Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7,200 RPM for my files, but considering 2 Samsung SSD 1TB for to replace the Seagate drive.
My Intel MBs were always reliable and never had any issues or compatibility problems with other software programs or VSTs from anyone including IK Multimedia. I know Intel only makes server Motherboards now so I'm looking for suggestions for a good reliable MB  with no issues in the $150-$299 range. I do want an ATX MB most likely LGA 1151 or LGA 1150.
 
 
 

Bob N
Sonar Platinum, 2016.09
Windows 10 64 bit, v1670
Intel DZ68DB, I7-2700k, 16gb 
Samsung 850 Pro 512GB SS
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Cakewalk A800 Pro Keyboard Controler



#1
abacab
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/10/25 13:33:45 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby hydemusic 2016/10/29 11:34:55
hydemusic
It's getting time for a new computer. My old (current) studio one is about 4 years old. It's working fine but can only get 16GB ram on my Motherboard. It's an Intel DX68DB LGA 1155 with a i7 2700K 3.5 GHz processor.
My home computer has an Intel DZ77BH-55K LGA 1155 with i7  3770K 3.5 GHz processor which can accommodate 32GB ram. I use Samsung SSD 500GB drives in all of them for my C drive for programs.  I use Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7,200 RPM for my files, but considering 2 Samsung SSD 1TB for to replace the Seagate drive.
My Intel MBs were always reliable and never had any issues or compatibility problems with other software programs or VSTs from anyone including IK Multimedia. I know Intel only makes server Motherboards now so I'm looking for suggestions for a good reliable MB  with no issues in the $150-$299 range. I do want an ATX MB most likely LGA 1151 or LGA 1150.
 
 
 




Like you my older builds are based on an Intel branded desktop board.  Mine were made 10 years ago.  Very solid, still running two of them. One as a media center and the other as a print server.
 
I needed more power a couple of years ago and decided to build a couple of new PC's, one for work, and one to upgrade the DAW.  Due to Intel's change of direction, I switched to Asus motherboards, with the Intel chipsets and CPU support.
 
You will probably get many opinions about which is best (sort of like, what's the best DAW?), so this is just my opinion.  I think that Asus boards are high quality, well designed tech. Plus they seem to keep updating the drivers for their boards.  I had no trouble finding Windows 10 drivers for my board on their website.  Like Intel, Asus downloads are easy to find, no issues, never needed tech support.
 
The Asus boards that I used have solid polymer capacitors for long life.  Been my experience with friend's OEM PC's, that's what seems to go first on cheap boards. 
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/
 
This site seems to be a big help in picking PC parts out, researching and matching up compatible features and components and such.  Plus it offers reviews, ratings, comparisons with prices and sources as well.
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/
 
This site starts by having you select the CPU you will be using first.  This ensures that you only look at boards with the correct socket.  At that point you decide what form factor you want, how much RAM support you need, and the number of PCIe slots, USB ports, and other features you want.  You can add each part you pick to a configuration and it will give you a running total for the cost estimate.  Very cool.

DAW: CbB; Sonar Platinum, and others ... 
#2
AntManB
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/10/27 12:07:10 (permalink)
Edit: Ignore me.  I Misread the model number.
 
AMB
 
#3
fireberd
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/10/27 16:09:00 (permalink)
I've been looking at upgrading.  I'm in the very early stages and it will be a while (probably next year) when I finally do it.  I've had various brands over the years.  Intel, Gigabyte, ASUS and ASRock.  Intel worked great but they tend to not have all the "bells and whistles" other boards do.  I have multiple problems with Gigabyte.  I had a second system with an ASUS Z77 board that died on me.  I have an ASRock Z77 that I'm using now and its been "solid as a rock" for me.  I probably will go with another ASRock M/B when I do build a new system.  One of the ASRock's I've looked at and like is the Z170 Extreme 7+. 
 

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#4
hydemusic
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/10/29 12:00:19 (permalink)
Thanks Abacab, I'm leaning towards ASUS boards. I have a ASUS ROG laptop I bought 2 yrs ago and put a SS drive with a 2nd one and it's built like a tank and weighs like one too! 9 1/2 lbs..heavier than most desktops! ASRock used to make cheap boards and not sure for today. I wish manufactures made an DAW board, however the gaming boards seem to spec out close to fast demands. Video is not an issue for me except for 2 screens.
 
On the other hand another alternative I'm thinking is adding a 2TB Samsung Pro SSD for my "C" drive by combining Sonar and Kontact 11 Ultimate on my "D' drive. That would access faster, not that it's that slow now. I still would only have 16GB of ram though. 32GB would be better. However I could always add a new MB & CPU if the SSD doesn't fill my needs. I'll still need another SSD anyway. My current "C" is only a 500GB Samsung Pro and "D" is a 2TB Sata drive.
Bob

Bob N
Sonar Platinum, 2016.09
Windows 10 64 bit, v1670
Intel DZ68DB, I7-2700k, 16gb 
Samsung 850 Pro 512GB SS
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 + 18i20 (2nd gen)
Cakewalk A800 Pro Keyboard Controler



#5
hydemusic
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/10/29 12:24:10 (permalink)
Hey Firebird, upgrading seems contagious. It's a shame Intel abandoned the consume MB market. I always had good luck with them in all my builds. Gigabyte and ASRock I'm not sure about. I know ASUS had some reliability issues a few years ago but reviewers seemed to say they've been rock solid as of late???? It puts me on the fence with all three mother boards although I'm leaning towards ASUS. Z170 Maximus V111 Hero ($259.99, Micro Center). That's the price point area I'm looking. I also noticed onboard video is included on most of the MBs today. My Intel MBs had no video, I used a separate one.
 

Bob N
Sonar Platinum, 2016.09
Windows 10 64 bit, v1670
Intel DZ68DB, I7-2700k, 16gb 
Samsung 850 Pro 512GB SS
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 + 18i20 (2nd gen)
Cakewalk A800 Pro Keyboard Controler



#6
Maarkr
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/10/31 22:56:12 (permalink)
Seems every time I upgrade, a new chipset comes out. I got an lga1155 also 4 years ago... when I was changing video cards out, the slot was damaged. I whined about it on a Sonar forum, and Fireberd offered his Gigabyte Z77 mobo for cheap... still using it. thanks again fireberd! Anyway, after reading about chipsets, etc, seems like the 1151 may be updated after the new year, but will offer no significant enhancements. After reading more, it seems that a new CPU/mobo will get me less than a 20% improvement, so I may wait until next year.

Maarkr
Studio: SPALT Lifetime/BL Cakewalk, Studio One 3.5, UAD, Z3ta+2, IKM, NI, Waves, iZotope, Melda, Reaper
i7 3770/Giga Z77 mobo, Win10 Pro-64 w16Gb, MOTU Ultralite MK4, Yamaha HS80M wSub, Live: PX-5S, FA-06, Roland Lucina, Epi Les Paul, Ibanez Bass, Amps, e-drums, Zoom R-16...
Latest album release, NEW! Counry Classic at http://genemaarkr.bandcamp.com/
#7
BRainbow
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/11/01 04:58:18 (permalink)
I built a new system recently with an ASUS x99A-II and it has been working great.  Rock solid with an i7-5820K running at 4 Ghz (other are pumping up to 4.4 Ghz but I don't need that so far).  Flexible BIOS for tweaking, easy component installation, lots of room for extra DDR4 RAM, USB3.1 for future upgrade, lots of other great features.  About $245 at NewEgg and Amazon. Good luck.

Cakewalk (forever), Two WIN10 64-bit DAWs: home-brew ASRock x299 Taichi / i7 7820x w/ 64GB RAM and ASUS X99A-II / i7-5820K w/ 32GB RAM, ZOOM UAC 8, Mackie ONYX 1640i FW Mixer/Interface, Mackie ONYX 1200F, Avalon U5 PreAmp, NI Komplete 11 Ultimate, EastWest Composer CloudX, Yamaha MOTIF XS8, Ensoniq SD-1 and ESQ-1, Korg M1rEX, Yamaha TX-81Z, Roland D110, Line6 HELIX Rack and Native, POD HD-Pro, POD Farm 2.5, Yamaha NS-10 and Presonus Eris E8 monitors, Yamaha Disklavier Upright Piano, mics, guitars, basses, and the cutest little tambourine.
#8
LLyons
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/11/01 15:56:02 (permalink)
Not a tech guy by a long shot - I built a new box 7 months ago and haven't had an issue.  I decided that I wanted to go a thunderbolt 3 route and to make sure that the Ethernet port was AVB - TNS capable and of course, have a bunch of USB 2 and USB 3 ports available.  Audio hardware is moving towards Thunderbolt 3, USBC, AVB - and I just wanted to make sure the connectivity was ready for whatever I chose. I went with a Gigabyte Z170 UD5 TH and a i7 6700k. It runs my MOTU 1248 (thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt converter),  and RM32 (added a cheap firewire 800 card) no problem whatsoever with 32 channels running all night long, flawlessly.   It takes bumps and temp differences pretty well - that PC goes with me from time to time to do live recording with the RM32 \ CS18 combination.   From stages to warehouses to bars...  No complaints from me.     

L Lyons 
DOS and Windows Pro Audio 2-9 from 12 Tone, Sonar 2, 2XL, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8.5, Producer, Producer Expanded, X1 Producer, X2 Producer, X3 Producer and now Sonar Platinum 64 bit - 2nd year
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#9
Bajan Blue
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Re: New Motherboard 2016/11/04 13:30:15 (permalink)
I have two computers with Gigabyte MB's - one died totally the other is problematic and I fully expect to have to replace it sooner than later unfortunately.
I have about 4 Computers with ASUS - never had an issue with any of these and some are now old. I have already decided in future ASUS only for me!!
Nigel
 
 
 

Nigel
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#10
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