Looking for a motherboard upgrade

[Fulcher88]

I have the stock (out of the box) 870-213W. I am wanting to add more RAM to this rig, however the motherboard only supports 16GB. Any suggestions on what motherboard to look at to be able to run 4 sticks of RAM? 

Thanks in advance. 

[Angtam · Accepted solution]

Hello @Fulcher88

If you are only chaning the motherboard, this one needs to be compatible with your Intel Processor chipset which is LGA 1151. 

For the compatible motherboards on this chipset you can follow this link to the information provided by TomsHardware:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-motherboards,3984.html

Your GPU (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070) is already compatible with those motherboards.

RAM Sticks for this motherboards may varie in socket compatibility.

If you still have questions, let us know.

If this answers your question, please mark the thread as resolved.

Best regards.

[Fulcher88]

I am new to pc upgrading. But i did see where my chipset was H170. The ones in that link are mostly Z270, are you saying those will not be capatbile or will those work as well?

[Angtam]

Hello @Fulcher88

Those ones won't work, H170 and Z170 are still compatible though:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Intel-H170

That is a listing example.

Best regards.

[Fulcher88]

What should I be looking for in a motherboard upgrade? In respects to replacing the one that i curretly have? My main reason for replacing it is so that I can run more RAM. But are there other factors that I should be considering?

[Fulcher88]

Take a look at this one for me if you don't mind. 

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z170X-Gaming-G1-rev-10#ov

Tell me what you think of it. I found a good deal on that particular one online.

[Angtam]

Hello @Fulcher88

The most things you should consider when upgrading motherboards is if you also look to upgrade procesor in the feature, so you want to take into account the newest Intel / AMD chipsets. 

You have an amazing motherboard there! MSI also make quality products, if you want to check this one out:

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-GAMING-M5.html

I don't have any relationship with this companies, just presenting you with options on the market. 

Best regards.

[Fulcher88]

Thank you for your time. The Gigabyte one I found is more than 1/2 the price than the MSI one. 

[mdklassen]

> My main reason for replacing it, is so that I can run more RAM. But are there other factors that I should be considering?

First, is there a real need to have more RAM? 

Use the Windows Task Manager and/or the Windows Process Monitor to see how much of your current RAM is being used. 

If it's less than 8GB out of the 16GB, why add more?

If your computer is using more than 8GB of RAM, identify any "resource-hog" that is using too much RAM, and "close" that application, when not using it.

Second, cost is a factor, releated to the "first", above.  Don't waste your money on "superfluous" RAM, or on a diferent motherboard.

Third, instead of buying RAM, spend your money to replace any "spinning" disk-drive by a SSD (Solid State Device), to remove that "bottle-neck".