One of the problems value-seeking builders constantly face is knowing where to stop.

Do you really need the overclocking capability of a Z-series chipset, or will a cheaper board do? Isn’t it cheaper to choose a mid-priced CPU (such as the Core i3-8350K) and overclock it, than to pair a higher-model CPU with a cheaper locked board? And once you figure out that the overclocked mid-priced processor is your own better option, would it be better to buy a new graphics card at today’s inflated prices, or carry over a pair of cards from your previous machine? Now that you need a reasonable price and SLI capability, you’re starting to figure out where the board we praised so highly, for doing so well, so cheaply, falls short. Then Asus gives you a nudge and says, “Psst, hey bud...got an extra twenty?”