Advice on motherboard for FX 6300 please :)

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Pete27

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Apr 17, 2014
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Pretty much as the title says, i have been looking and comparing motherboards for so long i've started to just get lost in amongst loads of different browser tabs and now my head hurts :(

Basically i am on a budget and wondered if anyone can tell me some of the best motherboards for the AMD FX 6300 i can get for under or around £50
 
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Onus

Onus

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Jan 27, 2006
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Take a look at this spreadsheet: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AgN1D79Joo7tdE9xMUFlMEVWeFhuckJEVF9aMmtpUFE&gid=0
Avoid any board showing VRM problems, like most of the cheap MSI boards. Get one that has heatsinks on the VRMs, because you will most likely want to overclock at some point. You also want a true 900-series board, not a 700-series board that may or may not have modern interfaces, possibly provided by [slow] third-party controllers.
Any 960, 980, and even the ASRock 970DE is actually a 700-series board with a liar-label on it.
 
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Onus

Onus

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That's a good board; make sure it isn't the LE version. Considering that a good motherboard is the foundation of your system, hopefully your budget has a little wiggle room in it. You might temporarily forgo an aftermarket cooler for the time being in order to get the better board. You can always add the cooler later.
 
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Pete27

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This is the one i think i am going to go for,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/M5A97-EVO-R2-0-Motherboard-eS-ATA/dp/B008RPZ5H8/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1398890037&sr=1-1&keywords=Asus+M5A97+EVO+R2.0

However i have only just had the thought of weather or not the screw holes and things will line up, the one i am replacing is smaller i think, it's the GA-880GMA-UD2H at the moment.

Ok upon more research i found my old one is micro-ATX form and the new is ATX form, But from what i read the screw patterns are the same just the micro-ATX doesn't use them all.
 
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Onus

Onus

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The board you are getting is an ATX board, and the board you are replacing is micro-ATX. Some of the standoffs will be in the same place, but there will most likely be three additional standoffs. Make sure your case has another row for a few standoffs, and that it will fit the larger board. What case is it?
 
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Pete27

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I've just had a look inside the case and between the PSU and Motherboard there is an addtional 2 standoffs, also there is a hole for a third but there isn't one in there, i may have to buy that one. They are all in a line, does that sound like i'll be ok to fit the ATX board?
 
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Pete27

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Yeh it has exactly 7 slots on the back :)

I was thinking today at work, will it just be a case of removing my old board and putting the new one in, connecting it all back up and booting it up?

Both the CPU and board arrive tomorrow, i was going to plug the chip into the board and then install the board, i am yet to do some research.

EDIT: Ok i'm not enjoying what i am reading :( do i really have to format my HDD and re install windows? Also if my Windows has been activated on this board does that mean i need to buy a new copy to install on the new board?
 
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Onus

Onus

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Yes, Windows is tied to the motherboard on which it was first installed. If it was a Retail version, you may be able to install it on a new board (possibly with a call to Microsoft indicating you've replaced your board). An OEM version cannot be moved like that.
 
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Pete27

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I have just been talking to some support company who had access to my desktop and such and they have told me that my windows will be fine as long as i don't change my HDD. I asked if when my board arrives i can just replace the old one and windows will still be fine and they replied yes. According to them i only need a new windows if i change my HDD

I took a screenshot of the conversation, but don't know how to attach it.
 
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Pete27

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Just got off the phone to the I.T guy from my work and he said pretty much the same as you. He's going to help me out i think with Windows and backing up all my old HDD, so hopefully all will be good :D

Thank you for all the advice you've given it's been fantastic. I'll post hopefully tomorrow afternoon/eve after i've installed everything.

So if i don't post, you'll know it's gone wrong haha!
 
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