Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and I'm torn between sticking with my current Asus B660M-A WiFi D4 and moving to a Gigabyte Z790 D AX. I've already replaced most of my PC components except the motherboard, and I want to make sure this upgrade lasts me a few years. I really need a third M.2 slot to finally ditch my old HDD and bump my RAM to DDR5 for better longevity. However, all the specifications out there just confuse me—I could use some guidance! I upgraded my CPU to an i7-12700KF not too long ago and don't plan to replace it until I build a completely new system in a few years. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Here's what I currently have: CPU: i7-12700KF, Graphics: RTX 4080 Super, RAM: 4x 16GB DDR4 3200 MHz (will swap to DDR5 if needed), Storage: 2x M.2 2280 and a 3.5" HDD, Cooling: 5x case fans and 2x CPU fans, Power: DA850R Gold, Case: Lancool 216. Also, I'm planning to give my old PC to a friend who just wants to game at 1080p. Cheers!
2 Answers
If you're just after extra storage, upgrading to more SATA SSDs could be cheaper and give you an immediate boost in loading speeds. However, I see your point about future-proofing—you want to avoid being stuck with outdated tech when DDR4 becomes scarce! M.2 drives really do deliver the best performance for loading times, so jumping to the Z790 makes sense for both storage and newer RAM.
I actually think going for the Gigabyte Z790 D AX is a solid choice! While the performance difference between DDR4 and DDR5 isn't huge, the higher-end DDR5 kits really shine, especially at 6000 MT/s. Plus, the Z790 has better power delivery, which helps your CPU handle intense gaming sessions more smoothly. If you're looking to really maximize your i7-12700K's performance, this board might give you some consistent FPS boosts, particularly in larger multiplayer games. With your setup, I'd recommend looking into a 2x32GB DDR5 kit since running 4x16GB can be tricky with DDR5.
Yeah, I get that! I'll definitely check out the 2x32GB option. Price-wise, it seems pretty decent, but I wonder about the actual performance gains?
Exactly! I made the mistake of sticking with DDR3 too long; it really limits what you can upgrade later on.