Zegapain
New Member
- Total Posts : 14
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2010/09/01 22:37:20
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Hello, long time EVGA GPU user here, potential first time EVGA motherboard user. For my last handful of builds over the past decade I have used ASUS motherboards primarily. I'm on the verge of starting a new build utilizing the 7700k. Other than the graphics card (1080Ti FTW3 on the way) I plan on riding out this new build at least into 2020 or so. As a fist time EVGA motherboard customer I was wondering if the community could assist me on my purchase of either the Z270 FTW K or the Z270 Classified K. Now, I see that there are a few more luxury features present on the Classified board but ultimately my main concern is reaching a stable 5Ghz overclock. Price wise there is a $60 differential, if I can save $60 for features I don't care for (i.e. on-board audio) then I would welcome that. Can any current owners of the FTW K testify to stable overclocks in the 5Ghz range?
Thank you.
|
quadlatte
CLASSIFIED ULTRA Member
- Total Posts : 7191
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2006/09/14 16:52:58
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 56
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/10 02:57:09
(permalink)
the classified should clock higher and be more stable, you get 13 phase pwm for cleaner power, dual 8 pin atx power connectors, probe it connector, and a better vrm cooling setup. the upgraded audio is nice but if youre using a sound card it doesnt matter.
|
MSim
Omnipotent Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 14685
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2005/05/22 23:13:30
- Location: Earth
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 38
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/10 13:42:46
(permalink)
What features do you want on the motherboard. I doubt the Classified-K would overclock any higher than FTW-K or any other mfg motherboard around $220 price range (everyday overclock). I'd recommend expanding your choices in motherboards to go with.
|
Zegapain
New Member
- Total Posts : 14
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2010/09/01 22:37:20
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/10 17:46:32
(permalink)
MSim
What features do you want on the motherboard. I doubt the Classified-K would overclock any higher than FTW-K or any other mfg motherboard around $220 price range (everyday overclock). I'd recommend expanding your choices in motherboards to go with.
I use a Schiit Stack Magni/Modi amp/dac combo for sound. I need just one m.2 slot as I will be utilizing a Samsung 960 Evo m.2 SSD. For cooling I plan on using something like a Noctua NHD-15 or an AIO closed loop cooler. Ultimately I just want a stable overclock.
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/10 17:50:44
(permalink)
|
Cordorb
SSC Member
- Total Posts : 635
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2007/03/18 22:27:50
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 2
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/10 19:23:36
(permalink)
seems the 7700k may need some extra TLC for 5 Ghz: if you need that some here have had good results with opening up the chip and changing thermal stuff ( hard to call something like gallium grease.)
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/10 19:27:15
(permalink)
Cordorb
seems the 7700k may need some extra TLC for 5 Ghz: if you need that some here have had good results with opening up the chip and changing thermal stuff ( hard to call something like gallium grease.)
This will Void the Warranty for the CPU, Only an Info Note.
|
MSim
Omnipotent Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 14685
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2005/05/22 23:13:30
- Location: Earth
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 38
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/11 09:21:38
(permalink)
Zegapain
MSim
What features do you want on the motherboard. I doubt the Classified-K would overclock any higher than FTW-K or any other mfg motherboard around $220 price range (everyday overclock). I'd recommend expanding your choices in motherboards to go with.
I use a Schiit Stack Magni/Modi amp/dac combo for sound. I need just one m.2 slot as I will be utilizing a Samsung 960 Evo m.2 SSD. For cooling I plan on using something like a Noctua NHD-15 or an AIO closed loop cooler. Ultimately I just want a stable overclock.
Motherboards from the top mfg offer different features. That is why i asked what features you care about. Not all mfg offer the same amount of features. RGB Different onboard sound chip AIO pump header Reinforced PCI-E slots onboard Wi-Fi+bluetooth Software for overclocking and controlling fans on the desktop What i have read, it's all up to the silicon gods how high you can overclock. I think it would be hard to notice 50-300mhz difference in real world performance. I'd check out forums like overclock.net to see results people are having with Z270 motherboards. I went with ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Z270 myself, it had all the features i wanted. It was hard to pass up on for $217.
|
Governator
CLASSIFIED Member
- Total Posts : 3103
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2008/02/04 13:29:47
- Location: Bozeman, MT
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 3
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/11 15:58:24
(permalink)
I'm in this very same boat, tough choice.
HEATWARE Mobo: Asus Z690 Maximus Extreme (BIOS 2103) | CPU: Intel Alder Lake i9-13900K (@6.2Ghz) w/EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB Nickel + Acetal | GPU: Evga 3080Ti FTW3 Ultra w/EKWB Quantum Vector | RAM: 64GB DDR5 (2x32GB) Kingston Fury Beast KF556C40BBK2-64 @XMP2 | SSD: 2x WD SN850 2TB NVMe (m.2_2, m.2_3) | Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2 | Cooling: Dual Loop 2x EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE 300 D5 PWM D-RGB - Plexi / HWL 420GTS/Corsair XR5 420 Rads | Case: Corsair 7000D Airflow | OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit | Monitor: ROG Strix XG438Q | KB: CORSAIR K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical | Sound: Onboard Realtek via SPDIF (Logitech Z625 THX)
|
quadlatte
CLASSIFIED ULTRA Member
- Total Posts : 7191
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2006/09/14 16:52:58
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 56
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/13 11:06:29
(permalink)
I seen a de-liding kit that comes with a tool to safely and easily remove the heat spreader, may try it myself depending what my temps look like.
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/13 12:55:32
(permalink)
quadlatte
I seen a de-liding kit that comes with a tool to safely and easily remove the heat spreader, may try it myself depending what my temps look like.
It still Voids the Warranty, but nice Tool.
|
Cordorb
SSC Member
- Total Posts : 635
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2007/03/18 22:27:50
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 2
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/13 21:52:36
(permalink)
Once you get it open - no real need to do a total re-glue of the cover. The MB clamp and water cooler will hold it in place
The tool may be the only item I though worth using a 3-D printer to make .
Forget the vice and blade way :-)
|
crowcawer
New Member
- Total Posts : 4
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2017/04/14 12:54:36
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/14 13:04:46
(permalink)
How does the on-board sound of the maximus hero compare to sound card usage? I have used on-board my whole life.
|
Cordorb
SSC Member
- Total Posts : 635
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2007/03/18 22:27:50
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 2
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/14 18:52:31
(permalink)
I gave up on soundblaster cards years ago because of all the driver problems and now like you use on-board.
setting 5.1 to a Logitec speakers. (works but can not tell how well as not a big music person)
did not install nvidia audio drivers as I don't use sound over HDMI
BUT I also use BlueTooth USB for game mic and I tried the new Apple airpods : wireless BT actually seems to work well now.
(and great for call of nature in TF2 )
|
MSim
Omnipotent Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 14685
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2005/05/22 23:13:30
- Location: Earth
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 38
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/14 23:10:41
(permalink)
crowcawer
How does the on-board sound of the maximus hero compare to sound card usage? I have used on-board my whole life.
Welcome to the forums crowcawer. A decent dedicated sound card would give you better sound stage over onboard audio, if you have a pair of good headphones/headset to go with it. I have no issues with ROG SupremeFX S1220 audio on ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Z270 mobo. I like ASUS Sonic Studio 3 software features. It beats the audio solution some mfg offer.
|
SpeciesJWN
New Member
- Total Posts : 2
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2016/06/22 23:27:10
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/16 08:07:03
(permalink)
Hi all, Stability  is everything!! in the world of HQ audio and also overclocking 24/7 :) So I would go for the Classified... uuhh I already did  and about the onboard audio.. its very nice for gamers and HQ enough for most users (Good job EVGA!! only next board i want to be able to remove it  completely modular Mobo)... but if you want real good audio, u just want a clean and stable board en tweaked clocks and use a HQ PCIe usb card to a WaveIO or something like that on a linear power supply, and then go I2S or Coax(Spdf) to a DAC.. I must say that the classified already has really good usb controllers onboard for audio... Yeah first Post Yeahh...   
|
Mosco
New Member
- Total Posts : 26
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2017/04/27 05:50:28
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/27 06:01:45
(permalink)
The Z270 FTW K MB is an ATX. The classified Z270 is an E-ATX MB. Plenty of room for it in the DG-8 series cases. Optane needs any Intel CPU 7300 and above (7th Gen).
EVGA DG-87; EVGA Z270 FTW-K; PNY GTX 950; EVGA SuperNova 750G2;EVGA CLC 280 Water Cooler; G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB (2x8gb); i5 6600k 6M 3.5Ghz. Upgradable system. I play Guild Wars 2 and not much of anything else. DS1 USN (ret) 
|
Gam3r26
Superclocked Member
- Total Posts : 111
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/03 10:53:06
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/28 15:52:24
(permalink)
honestly you can't go wrong with either. Choose the one that meets your needs and has features you want out of a mobo. Will it be for mainly gaming? workstation? or both???
|
Vlada011
Omnipotent Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 10257
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/03/25 00:14:05
- Location: Belgrade-Serbia
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 11
Re: Can't decide between Z270 FTW K vs Z270 Classified K
2017/04/28 16:04:12
(permalink)
Definitely EVGA Z270 Classified K. Cost less than 300$ and it's premium Z270 motherboard. i7-7700K work on up to 5.0GHz, I saw and some Delid Tools and TPU site explain 20C less after deliding. https://www.techpowerup.c...e_Intel_Core_i7_7700K/ https://rockitcool.myshopify.com/ If you decide one day to do that Z270 Classified K could be in little advantage. My vote go for beast...  But I must say that EVGA Z270 FTW K cost only 200$ on Amazon and you will not lost even if you save money with cheaper version. Your OC will depend from CPU sample on both boards. It would be nice if you can buy i7-7700K for 300$, than CPU and motherboard FTW K will cost as 1800X. And you have real gaming PC. Better to say best option strictly for gaming.
post edited by Vlada011 - 2017/04/28 16:08:39
|