Bang For Your Buck Motherboard

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bestmak

bestmak

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I have an AMD FX 6300 overclocked to 4.3GHz @1.414v which is really bad since I have the GIGABYTE 97A-DS3P motherboard. I'm looking for the best bang for your buck, under (MAX) $150, and obviously, great for overclocking CPU, NB, RAM (I will OC them once I am educated at the subject) motherboard.

1) I did some research on the GIGABYTE 99FX-UD3 and heard that its NB gets hot as hell...not good...right?
2) HOW MUCH of a difference is there between the power phases? Example: 4+1 vs 6+1 vs 8+1 vs 12+ 1?
3) If something happens in the world and a AM3+ CPU better than 8350,comes out that isnt 350 bucks, I might upgrade so please find mitherboards good for all type of AM3+ processors.

All replies are appreciated, thanks!
 
Solution
Z

Well if you don't like the GIGABYTE 99FX-UD3 and the Killer don't match your color scheme.
Your only choice are the
M5A99FX PRO R2.0...
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BigBadBeef

BigBadBeef

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ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer, pretty much designed to overclock and you get all the high-end features - 8+2 phase power design, OP amp audio, the best audio chip in all mobo's, PCB audio shielding and fatality mouse port.
 
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BigBadBeef

BigBadBeef

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There is no better bang for buck mobo, if I were you I'd save for another month just to buy this one. This was my first choice too and the reason I went for something else was because AMD FX's are all old tech and I wanted new.
 
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bestmak

bestmak

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Hmm, ai also agree that it is a very nice motherboard and yes I can save yp for it but dat colour doe. Red and blue are lioe enemies. I'll have some weird purple colour going on inside my case :p.

1) Can you list another that might not be best bang for your buck but in blue/black/white/grey and possibly cheaper? Im ok if it is absolutely no more than the one you isted before, but if you find one still list it. :)

2) Out of curiosity, what did you upgrade to? And did you sell your older components?

 
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Dark Lord of Tech

Dark Lord of Tech

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Great Bang for your buck.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $114.99
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-10 16:17 EDT-0400)


107lu2d.jpg
 
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bestmak

bestmak

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Quoted from someone else
"Gigabyte VRM = Digital 8+2 Phase count
ASUS VRM = Digital 6+2 Phase count

Gigabyte Expansion Slots = 2x PCIe X16 link slots, 2x PCIe X4 link slots (PCIe X16 physical), 2 PCIe X1 link slots, 1 PCI slot
ASUS Expansion Slots = 2x PCIe X16 link slots, 2x PCIe X8 link slots (PCIe X16 physical), 1 PCIe X1 link slot, 1 PCI slot

Is the Asus still better? :)
 
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feelingtheblanks

feelingtheblanks

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Seems like I lost in those opened tabs and confused. So I edited my post. Was talking about Intel boards for some reason :D


Unfortunately I have no detailed knowledge on AMD mobo power design. But it doesn't necceserily mean that more phase count is better. It's also about the mosfets, inductors and caps that are used on the vrm area.

Asus and Gigabyte usually use quality capacitors that would last life long.

But for mosfets and inductors Asus tend to cheap out on mid and low end boards on Intel boards. Gigabyte on the other hand employs the top vrm design on Intel platform these days along with MSI. I'm not sure how they do on AMD side.
 
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bestmak

bestmak

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According to this website (https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AgN1D79Joo7tdE9xMUFlMEVWeFhuckJEVF9aMmtpUFE&gid=4), the ASUS does not have VRM PRotection, and I don't know what it means so please let me know but the 6+1 isn't green....lol what does that mean?

Like...some motherboards have 8+1 and nice features but some cons (GIGABYTE) and others are stable but lack some features (ASUS) while the Asrock mentioned above is perfect for the price but is red...so many choices...fml haha. I'll ask some questions to clear some things up in my head. :)

1) 970 vs 990FX chipset. Obviously 990FX is better, but what makes it better? What are the advantages?
2) 6+1 vs 8+1 vs 12+1 power phase. What makes them different and what are the uses/advantages of lets say the 12+1 or 8+1 over the 6+1?
3) What is VRM protection? Is it important?
4) What part of a motherboard makes it good or bad for overclocking and basically performance?
 
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Dark Lord of Tech

Dark Lord of Tech

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6+2 power design and heatsinked.

Board: Phase count (VRMs) Heatsinked? CPU TDP support Recommended? (see note above) Low RDS (on)? Transistor info/phase VRM Protection? CPU power plug Form factor Notes



.
Sabertooth 990FX 8+2 Yes 140W Yes Yes Unknown Yes - throttling 8-pin ATX Digi VRMs

.
ROG Crosshair V Formula 8+2 Yes 140W Yes Yes Unknown Yes - throttling 8-pin ATX Digi VRMs

.
M5A99FX PRO R2.0 6+2 Yes 140W Yes Yes Unknown 8-pin ATX Digi VRMs

.
M5A99X EVO (R2.0) 6+2 Yes 140W Yes Yes Unknown Yes - throttling 8-pin ATX Digi VRMs

.
M5A97 EVO/PRO 6+2 Yes 140W Yes Yes Unknown Yes - throttling 8-pin ATX Digi VRMs

.
M5A97 (R2.0) 4+2 Yes 140W Yes Yes Unknown Yes - throttling 8-pin ATX Not Digi VRM

.
M5A97 LE R2.0 4+2 No 140W OC with cooling Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 4-pin ATX

.
M5A88-V EVO 8+1 Yes 140W Yes Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 8-pin ATX

.
M5A88-M (EVO) 4+1 No 140W OC with cooling Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 4-pin mATX Low capacity - unable to handle FX8150 at stock

.
M5A87 4+1 No 140W OC with cooling Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 4-pin ATX

.
M5A78L/USB3 4+1 No 140W OC with cooling Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 4-pin ATX

.
M5A78L (LE) 3+1 No 125W Not for 125W, overclocking Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 4-pin ATX Should assume same TDP support as M5A78L-M LE/LX

.
M5A78L-M/USB3 4+1 No 140W OC with cooling Yes 2-transistor, 2-driver Yes - throttling 4-pin mATX

.
M5A78L-M LX PLUS 3+1 No 125W Not for 125W, overclocking Yes 2-transistor, 1 driver Yes - throttling 4-pin mATX Should assume same TDP support as M5A78L-M LE/LX

.
M5A78L-M LE/LX/LX3 3+1 No 95W Not for overclocking Yes
 
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bestmak

bestmak

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Oops maybe I didn't ask my question properly lol. I'm trying to ask what "VRM Protection?" is. Is it a physical thing or a software that affects the motherboard's performance? And if you see under "Phase count (VRMs)" some are green, black and red. Does the color mean anything? Like does green mean it is good and black means its ok and red means its bad? Also if you knwo about the topics of my questions SR-71 Blackbird and others, please answer em! Thanks :p
 
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bestmak

bestmak

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Thanks for the article. I like the Asus MB you recommended, but I just feel like I could buy something better (8+1 phase design or other features) for a little bit more since there are so many options available. Can you list the the best bang for your buck 6+1 and 8+1 motherboards? If one motherboard is not the best bang for your buck (maybe $10 more) please still list it. :) I'm trying to view these options in a hierarchy chart sorta...
 
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bestmak

bestmak

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Yes, a member of the community suggested this motherboard on this thread and as stupid as it may sound, since the color scheme for my PC is blue/black, red doesn't fit in. :/ My GPU, light bar and fans are blue and wouldn't want to have a mix of red blue and purple inside haha. Anything else that is as good/very close and either blue/black/white/grey? I appreciate the help I'm getting and need to order one ASAP so if I sound very picky, my bad. :p
 
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Z

Znoxz

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Well if you don't like the GIGABYTE 99FX-UD3 and the Killer don't match your color scheme.
Your only choice are the
M5A99FX PRO R2.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131851&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
or
MSI 990FXA-GD80 V2 for $10 more at $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130649
 
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Solution
bestmak

bestmak

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One more question, I'm just kidding haha. Thanks Znoxz, SR-71 Blackbird, feelingtheblanks, and BigBadBeef for all your replies as they narrowed down my options to a couple of motherboards.

Final decision: 1) M5A99FX PRO R2.0, if not, 2) Asrock Killer.
 
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Z

Znoxz

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Enjoy the M5A99FX PRO R2.0 even with 6+2 power phase it still a great board for overlclocking.
 
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MIJ-VI

MIJ-VI

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About VRMs & Mosfets / Motherboard Safety with 125W+ TDP processors
http://www.overclock.net/t/943109/about-vrms-mosfets-motherboard-safety-with-125w-tdp-processors
 
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