Sold my desktop today so its time to start purchasing. I want to get the 9700k and the Dark at once but even the FTW isn't available yet. C'mon EVGA! 

This mobo is totally going to cook my 2080ti SLI. Why did they make it 3 slot instead of 4 slot spacing?!

tjcii

valzero
This mobo is totally going to cook my 2080ti SLI. Why did they make it 3 slot instead of 4 slot spacing?!

Wouldn't it make more sense to go for a x299 with SLI 2080 Ti. A 2080 Ti will more than saturate an x8 PCIe lane and you will lose performance right out of the gate.

It doesn't. NVLink bridge is the one handling that bandwidth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84OkcOYmXOk

GGTV-Jon
Article link - https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/3366-nvlink-benchmark-rtx-2080-ti-pcie-bandwidth-x16-vs-x8
 
They used an 7980x on an X299 Dark and set the PCIe lanes in the bios to perform the different configurations

Will that have an effective difference?

Hey guys,

I’m going to be building a new PC soon and I have some questions. I’m trying to decide between Z390 (9900K & Dark) or X299 (9800X & Dark), I like both platforms but also like the extra CPU PCIe lanes on X299. The 9900K is around $699-$749 CDN/CAN and the 9800X is about $789-$799.

I’m going to use an Intel Optane 900P/905P SSD for my Windows installation and I was wondering if there would be much of a (noticeable?) difference in performance with this particular SSD using the PCH/Chipset lanes on Z390 versus using CPU lanes on X299? I know technically there would be, but would it matter much at all?

Thanks guys

have you guys thought about just getting the ftw board and stepping it up? or just going to wait?
 
what kind of cooling solutions are you guys going with?

When will Z390 DARK be released?

I want to know how much longer I have to wait.

tjcii

Mutt Slayer
Frustrating. Also sitting with a ton of parts now.....Waiting.
 
What's the absolute best alternative? I'm in so deep now....
 

I almost think the ASUS Z370 Apex is the only alternative, the design idea is the same as the Dark, but who wants to run a legacy chipset.

We have the Dark, the M10 and M11 Apex boards. The Dark and the M11 Apex haven't been released yet, and the M10 Apex has been discontinued for some odd reason even though you can still buy the M9 Apex. You are really fudged if you don't already happen to have an M10 Apex. I do happen to have one, but am not really interested in disbanding my 8700K rig and then having to rebuild it and my 9900K loop a month later when another board shows up.

I too am sitting on a ton of money in parts waiting on one of these boards, but I am fortunate to have another system I can use in the meantime.

thebski

tjcii

Mutt Slayer
Frustrating. Also sitting with a ton of parts now.....Waiting.
 
What's the absolute best alternative? I'm in so deep now....
 

I almost think the ASUS Z370 Apex is the only alternative, the design idea is the same as the Dark, but who wants to run a legacy chipset.

We have the Dark, the M10 and M11 Apex boards. The Dark and the M11 Apex haven't been released yet, and the M10 Apex has been discontinued for some odd reason even though you can still buy the M9 Apex. You are really fudged if you don't already happen to have an M10 Apex. I do happen to have one, but am not really interested in disbanding my 8700K rig and then having to rebuild it and my 9900K loop a month later when another board shows up.

I too am sitting on a ton of money in parts waiting on one of these boards, but I am fortunate to have another system I can use in the meantime.

Same, though my friend is anxiously waiting for me to not need my current system anymore so he can buy it.

Mutt Slayer
I'm starting to lean towards an Asus Maximus XI formula. Pretty much one of the better boards I can get my hands on at Microcenter.
Any thoughts on this anyone?
I'm setting up for a dual loop water cool and this is a water cool board.

Expensive for what it is, IMO.

Mutt Slayer
High/higher end always is. Cost per increase goes up at an increasing rate, lol.
Just dropped $500+ on new Water cool stuff. $100 extra for a board is not huge in the scheme of things. If the Extra water cool stuff nets returns on the Formula, then that's great.
 

I say go for it. You do you.

Nothing more to add except I am waiting like most of you with a pile of PC parts; Just waiting for the backbone (z390 dark).

W_V_R
have you guys thought about just getting the ftw board and stepping it up? or just going to wait?
 
what kind of cooling solutions are you guys going with?

I wouldn't.   just wait.  Stepping up from a FTW probably won't be quick.   I think they like to earn a little cash  before they release a board for step-up.  the wait could be pretty long. 

W_V_R
:( 3 more weeks to go, just to maybe place an order for it!

Jives with everything I've heard.   

Mutt Slayer
I'm starting to lean towards an Asus Maximus XI formula. Pretty much one of the better boards I can get my hands on at Microcenter.
Any thoughts on this anyone?
I'm setting up for a dual loop water cool and this is a water cool board.

I bought one. The pricing for them is all over the place, $450 is what they should be. For that you get a ton of features...and apparently some new COD game release...but it may be considered by some as expensive for a Z390 board. But, in the case of the Formula you get the OLED display, lots of RGB support and a factory installed EK water-block for the VRM, etc etc. So if you're water cooling anyway, the Formula makes sense. 
 
From past experience though, be VERY careful with the OLED screen. Asus uses some mirror coating which makes them look nice, but the coating is pretty thin and will scratch easily. Don't wipe dust off of it, blow it with canned air or the like. 
 
I was interested in the Dark, but the Formula brings more features and is actually available. No doubt the Dark will have a better VRM, but I'm not using dry ice or LN2. Its just going to be running a delidded 8086K I have that clocks really good.