Help me select a new board

[rwest]

...or tell me I don't need it.

curent specs are in sig.

I'm getting some Corsair DDR3 1600 XMS3 2 x 2gb on trade tomorrow. So I'm wanting to upgrade the MB from DDR2. I would need a board that supports DDR3 and the abiltiy to unlock my Calisto Core, and has OC features. The 3.1 calisto is currently stable with all four cores and clocked at 3.4gig, I don't want to give that up.

Would really like usb 3.0 and support for 6gb/s data transfer. I prefer stabiltiy to anything else. I'm a cheapskate, but not when it matters.

Currently using onboard sound and network. But this is not a requirement.

[Khalil]

DDR3 will perform better with the Phenom II processors.

Newegg.com - ASUS M5A99X EVO AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

or

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

[Bronxbomber90]

Asus Z68 Pro which is what I am getting is a sexy board and AWESOME for OC

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by Bronxbomber90 Asus Z68 Pro which is what I am getting is a sexy board and AWESOME for OC

He is using an AMD processor!

[rwest]

Thanks khalil. There's so many to choose from and I wanted one of you guy's blessing.
Now all I gotta do is talk the wife into it. Much easier said than done. I really like my Gigabyte board. I'll probably go that route.

[Bronxbomber90]

Originally Posted by Khalil He is using an AMD processor!

ooops I miss that

[rwest]

Don't sweat it. We won't talk about how many times I missed something like that.

[rwest]

Are the 6gb/s ports backwards compatable? My current WD's are only 3gb/s. The only one that has these ports is the Asus. Really, I have no quams about buying Asus. I'll get it, if the ports are not bk compat.

[Khalil]

Are the 6gb/s ports backwards compatable?

Yes they are

[rwest]

[rwest]

So the deal fell thru on my trade.
But the wife just told me I could buy a new board for my b-day anyway.

So I'm considering this:
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

unless over the next 12 hours somrthing else pops up

blessings?

[jdeb]

I have never built with it but it looks like a good one to me. All quality from what I can see.

[rwest]

Thanks for the thought.
Should I go with the previously reccomended board based on tried and true?
The FXA has a few more fearures and is less expensive. I'm also assuming it will support ACC since it has the 950 south bridge. If that can't be verified I'm better off with the first board anyway.

So I've been reading up on the latest features of the 900 series chips. It appears from what I've read, that AMD did not want the boards to be able to unlock cores. Apparently the manufacturers didn't agree, so Gigabyte, Asus, and MSI added a different way to do this and incorporated in the previous series chips(800series).

I'm not seeing any of the 900 series boards listed as core unlockers or even mentioning this in its features. So my question is: Can anybody confirm this? From what I'm reading, I need to stay with the previous series of chips because I plan to continue using my dual as a quad and get into a DDR3 board.

[rwest]

So if I want to keep my unlocked cpu unlockd these are my coices:

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Newegg.com - ASRock 890FX Deluxe4 AM3+ AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Should I stay away from the Asrock?

Or go with one of the other boards and sticking with my dual core Caliosto and just over clocking it:

Newegg.com - ASUS M5A99X EVO AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS


Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard


My other option is this board:


Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

this one and the Asrock both support 2 pci-e x16 slots
I have a second 4670 I'm currently running, but at 8x

[glc]

Stay AWAY from Asrock.....................

[rwest]

Thought I heard that before.

What do you think of relenquishing 4 core performance to DDR3 memory performance with my AM3 processor? With reguards to encoding/transcoding?

I'm leaning towards this board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131646

Thoughts?

[glc]

You should know by now I have no thoughts when it comes to AMD builds!

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by rwest Thought I heard that before. What do you think of relenquishing 4 core performance to DDR3 memory performance with my AM3 processor? With reguards to encoding/transcoding? I'm leaning towards this board: Newegg.com - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard Thoughts?

Great board

[rwest]

Originally Posted by glc You should know by now I have no thoughts when it comes to AMD builds!

Oh I know your not the most AMd informed. I was mostly looking for some input reguarding DDR3 performance for transcoding as opposed to quad core performance.

I'm really want to move up to 900 series platform, but to do that, I'll have to give up quad core performance.


Jdeb thanks for input on the Asus, That's the one I've chosen if I don't end up going with a 900 sereis board. Still torn on this route. That's why I was asking about DDR3 over my current set up with DDR2 and dual core turned quad.

The one thing keeping me from buying the Asus M488 880G board is that it's still a crap shoot. While my processor is capable, if I understand it right; the code for my particular processor may not be included to unlock it. So I'm on the fence to giving up my quad. And of course which of 900 series to get.

BTW my budget is max $135. It's suppoed to be about a hundred, but I can get away with 135 as its not 150. I'd probably get in trouble if I go over that.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by rwest Oh I know your not the most AMd informed. I was mostly looking for some input reguarding DDR3 performance for transcoding as opposed to quad core performance. I'm really want to move up to 900 series platform, but to do that, I'll have to give up quad core performance. Jdeb thanks for input on the Asus, That's the one I've chosen if I don't end up going with a 900 sereis board. Still torn on this route. That's why I was asking about DDR3 over my current set up with DDR2 and dual core turned quad. The one thing keeping me from buying the Asus M488 880G board is that it's still a crap shoot. While my processor is capable, if I understand it right; the code for my particular processor may not be included to unlock it. So I'm on the fence to giving up my quad. And of course which of 900 series to get. BTW my budget is max $135. It's suppoed to be about a hundred, but I can get away with 135 as its not 150. I'd probably get in trouble if I go over that.

Two different animals
The M5A99X EVO (Khalil's link) is equipped with DIGI+ VRM technology in addition to the TPU and EPU processors that offer enhanced performance and power management. Advanced BIOS. Upgrade path. DDR3 performance.

The 880G gives you core unlocking potential, both boards have Turbo V.

[rwest]

But I want to have my cake and eat it too. Thanks for specifc differences. Now I've just got to decide. I really appreciate everybodys help.

[rwest]

Well I went into MicroCenter Last night just to look and see what they had, ended up gettin this board for just under $120 after rebate:
GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-880GA-UD3H (rev. 3.1)

It's the last revision of the board and Gigabyte put on a AM3+ socket. It's really close to the Asus in featues but doesn't rate as well. The guys at MicroCenter were super about everything. They let me use a pc and pull the specs up on board, even let me check Newegg. Said they'd price match it. I thought about it a long time, spent almost 3 hours just browsing the store and deciding.

They had the fxa board I was considerng too and said they'd price match Newegg on it also, but not the $20 rebate.
They had this too http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131647 for $70 but it was missing the back plate.

So next week when we get paid I'm gonna order some ram for it. Looking for suggestions. I plan to overclock. It's amazing the reviews on Newegg stick G-skill ram on top for DDR3, but the experienced people here tells me someting must be wrong. Budget's a bit tight $30-$50 bucks

[glc]

Vengeance 1600, low profile if you plan on an aftermarket CPU cooler.

[rwest]

like this: Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

I have a hyper 212 I'll be using. Is low profile neccssary?

[glc]

That's the stuff, and I would advise low profile.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by rwest like this: Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9 I have a hyper 212 I'll be using. Is low profile neccssary?

That looks like a nice board, you should be happy with it. Glad you didn't get the open box, you never know what someone did to it. Get the low profile. It is the same memory just different heatsinks and will not interfere with the Hyper212+. Yes the memory in your link will not work in bank 1 and 2 closest to heatsink bracket.

[rwest]

Okay thanks, but I'm a little confused.

The description says low profile, you guys both say its not, and from what I'm looking at it looks normal to me also.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by rwest Okay thanks, but I'm a little confused. The description says low profile, you guys both say its not, and from what I'm looking at it looks normal to me also.

One has tall heatsinks and the other does not. The link in the previous post (#24) is the one you want

[rwest]

Thanks, I had this rarm I was looking at:
Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX

But its listed at 1.65 voltage and I wasn't sure on which Corsair ram to use..and didn't know I would need low profile.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by rwest Thanks, I had this rarm I was looking at: Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX But its listed at 1.65 voltage and I wasn't sure on which Corsair ram to use..and didn't know I would need low profile.

That's low profile and *should* work with your board, AMD boards aren't too picky about voltages. Can't think of a time I've had problems with Kingston ram out of the hundreds of modules I've used.

We actually had that set of ram at MemoryExpress on sale for $20 on black friday; tried to pick a set up (limit of one per customer) and was shocked to find out that they were sold out within 5 minutes of the place opening even though they were well stocked (website said 10+ when i checked before store opened).