Hey everyone! I'm in the process of finalizing my PC build and could use some help with motherboard selection. Here's what I've got lined up so far: a 9950X3D processor, RTX 5090 with an EKWB waterblock, VENGEANCE® RGB 64GB DDR5 6000MT/s RAM, a Lian Li Mini V2 case, and two 2GB M.2 drives from my previous build. I'm leaning towards ASUS motherboards instead of ASRock, which I considered six months ago.
I've narrowed it down to a couple options:
1. ASUS ROG Strix X870-A for $299.99
2. ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E for $478.00
I'm tempted to go with the Strix due to its great features and appealing design, especially since I'm planning to overclock. My concern is both boards seem to have lane sharing. If I use both of my current M.2 drives, I worry that I won't be able to utilize the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for my GPU. With this build mainly for work involving AI modeling and some gaming in my downtime, what do you all think? Appreciate any insights!
2 Answers
Honestly, the number of power phases (like 16 vs. 18) isn't going to make a huge difference unless you’re really pushing for an extreme overclock. Most users won't notice the difference unless you're hitting crazy voltage levels. So focus on the features and aesthetics that fit your build.
When choosing between those two boards, just keep in mind that any motherboard with multiple M.2 options often shares lanes with the GPU. It's not really a downside; it just offers more flexibility. You can typically work around it, especially if you're only using two M.2 drives. For instance, on the X870-A, you can set it up so the GPU runs at full speed without issue by avoiding certain M.2 slots. Plus, the x16 bandwidth should be more than enough for a high-end GPU like yours.
Thanks for breaking that down! Since my GPU is a 50 series, I guess performance loss at x8 wouldn't be noticeable. I just want to ensure I'm making the best choice.
Yeah, and don’t forget about the color scheme—maybe the white aesthetic of the Strix would complement your setup better!