So I have a 7900x on its way from Newegg to be delivered next Tuesday.  Unfortunately I am still trying to figure out my motherboard options.  Like many here I was hoping to see something from EVGA soon on prices etc.  On top of that many motherboard reviews/comparisons have been lacking in information or availability.  Perhaps all due to the rushed launch.
 
I want a decent board that overclocks well and has some bells and whistles.  I may not fill all the M.2 slots right away but I like the option to add them.  I run currently 1080's in 2 way SLI and a sound card.  Here are my current motherboard options I am thinking about:
 
1.  EVGA - To be honest neither board aesthetically appeals to me.  The Dark is nice but I like a little bit of RGB on the board.  :)  That being said it is high on the list since I like its features and of course like the support from EVGA.  I would certainly consider the FTW also but I don't like their implementation of RGB.  The board has the right features but I am not wild about the design of the LED area.
 
2.  Gigabyte - The Aorus Gaming 7 is a contender.  I like the overall look to the board and it has the features I care about.  Some will say the RGB is overboard.  But I think it is done tastefully and I can easily disable the areas I don't want it.  From the reviews I have seen the Aorus 3 at least seems to be a solid overclocker.  I don't like where that one m.2 slot is under the primary graphics card.  I am seriously considering this option.  Not sure how good there customer support is or their overall reputation.
 
3.  Asus - my current board is my Rampage 4 extreme (x79).  I have no complaints about it and it works well.  I am considering the Asus Strix and possibly the new Rampage (if I can sell a kidney).  I like the over all feel and look of these boards.  The boards again have the features sets I like. I have heard mixed things on customer support.
 
So I know people have different preferences with the motherboards they want.  Any thoughts on these questions?:
1.  Is EVGA worth the wait?  Should I just hold out until we see what they offer?  I know they had issues with the x79 line.  From what I have read the x99 line was solid.
2. Between Asus and Gigabyte, who is better overall in design and customer service?
3.  I have been trying to price some DDR4 memory but have not found any QVL lists anywhere for ASUS or Gigabyte (EVGA as well).  I am looking for a solid 32gb quad channel set (4 x 8GB).  something in the $300 range give or take $50.  Prefer black, possibly RGB.  Any recommendations for speed?
 
Thanks Sorry for the long post.  :)
 

from my point of view I am orientated towards ftw-k for two reasons. 1st - its evga and i realy like how the board looks and the PCIE placement is just right for me. 2nd, more important it has two u.2. I am fan of Intel SSDs and I have a pair or 750 series and z P3520 1.2TB for storage. For system drive i will for sure use 960 pro as it is a bit faster. This makes ftw-k perfect for me. this also eliminates rampage apex, definitly strix.
Since I know rampages will not me available at launch and we will have to wait for it quite some time this leaves me with hope for evga and what is currently available. MSI and GB isnt just by style and i do not consider it at all.
 
By the way of elimination, considering that evga didnt even bother to give any statement regarding this important for us subject I will be getting asus prime deluxe first thing next week.
It has 8 dimms, u.2, m.2 and a wifi. Looks isnt as good as ftw-k but who cares, while I am using my computer I do not look at it only on the screen before me...
 
asus also as a biggest manufacturer of this kind of solutions makes me less woried about compatibility issues.
 
These are my thoughts in this subject
 
thank you

I have a lot of devices from asus - motherboard X99-Deluxe (it does not work well), video card GTX 1080 Ti poseidon - returned, because could not register and other devices.
Asus service is very bad, dosn't have qualified personnel and very long answers, problems are not solved!

That's why I want to buy a EVGA motherboard (I already bought a GTX 1080 FTW and power supply SuperNova 1000 G2), but I don't like that the ego always delays the release of its products!
But EVGA always restrains its products and it upsets me!

EVGA is not worth the wait, because it'll never be coming out :(

G.SKILL Announces New DDR4 Specifications for Intel X299 HEDT Platform
 
https://forums.evga.com/FindPost/2686248
 
Much higher speeds DDR4-4200 - would wait for some reviews to come out to see the benefit/ dollars
 

EVGA Dark x299 is my first choice. But after the long wait for gtx 1080ti's like the ftw I can say I will not wait. If the ASUS apex shows up I am grabbing it. The best part about my 10 years with evga was advanced RMA, not only they no longer have that service but you will get a used product as a replacement if your new one is not working correctly. 

valzero
EVGA Dark x299 is my first choice. But after the long wait for gtx 1080ti's like the ftw I can say I will not wait. If the ASUS apex shows up I am grabbing it. The best part about my 10 years with evga was advanced RMA, not only they no longer have that service but you will get a used product as a replacement if your new one is not working correctly. 

Advanced RMA is still around. Not sure where you got that they no longer have that service.

And every company does that with RMA. EVGA will send a new item if it is within the first 30 days. I just sent my $350 blender in, and received a refurbished blender back. I sent my malfunctioning Asus motherboard in, and received the same malfunctioning motherboard back. At least EVGA sends a replacement and not the same exact part.

mpoffo
Something just arrived and is looking for a motherboard home.  :)
 
 

Wow, I'm jealous! Mine comes in 2morrow. I'm addicted to the F5 right now on my tracking LOL.

performance is good but it is hot as hell
 
tommorow i am getting 2nd 7900x to check if it clocks better, after that im deliding...

i am cooling my 4,7 with this:

 
it is this 360mm in push config and 420mm in push/pull config
 
with eloop fans
 
90'C at hottest core in CineBench
OCCT would fry it as it can go usually 20'C more...

Thanks Sajin

I guess 360mm is a minimum for stable 4,5GHz
 
I need better mobo with more power for PCI-E - I am not satisfied with my scores, and can barely OC my cards...  
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/20742425
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/20743489
 
:(

Scarlet-Tech
Rogue.. do you have a way to measure temps on your VRM? If so, I suggest you start monitoring...

Very interesting and concerning.  So it appears waiting could pay off.  Hopefully EVGA deals with this issue.  From the video ASUS is apparently making changes to the APEX and Rampage (not sure where he got that info from).
 
Also as an FYI, there is this post from the linustechtip forums:

FYI, there is a good possibility the PSU used influenced this a lot. He's using the Superflower PSU with the transparent modular connectors. That particular model uses the same 9-pin connector type for ALL connectors. So the nine pins have to support +12 V, +5 V and +3.3 V and ground connections. Thus, if the voltage drops from the PSU to the EPS12V, the VRMs have to pull more current at the lower voltage than it would if the voltage were higher thus causing them to run hotter too. It has fewer +12 V connectors on the PSU side too, so voltage drop is a guarantee.

A lot of the info above came from JonnyGuru whom I was talking with just now about this, so he alerted me to this possibility. I did let Der8aurer know via a message but not sure he'll see it anytime soon.

oldmanian
Given EVGA's experience with GPU VRM's I bet that their boards are not impacted by this issue.  As it seems like it will boil down to bad thermal design/ bad pads.
 
Need the Dark to release soon....

Or bad testing methodology?

When talking about thermals there are two cases... 
 
One: the thermals of a product when compared to another product, in the same conditions. Therefore, open bench or in closed case doesn't matter.
 
Two: absolute numbers vs specifications. And this does require noting that a closed case with poor or no airflow will result in even higher numbers than an open bench. And the open bench will, in turn, result in higher numbers than a closed case with good set up for airflow.
 
One person on youtube suggested that he put a fan onto the VRM heatsink and der8auer and others shot back saying who goes to such effort? Usually, no one goes to such effort, no one has to, because the airflow of the case is doing exactly that.

Iamrogue

Scarlet-Tech
Rogue.. do you have a way to measure temps on your VRM? If so, I suggest you start monitoring...

~~trimmed~~

i can but dont know if i can trust HW - it reported my OC to 12GHz !!!

I think, between what you said about you having an engineering sample and the possibility that HWmon might not be fully updated, it's probably not going to work out. Unless you use a physical infrared thermometer or something.