Can't decide on a motherboard

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Joseph Barker

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Aug 29, 2014
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Time for my upgrade and I'm putting together another computer. I can't decide on a motherboard.

CPU: AMD FX-8350
Graphics: Radeon R9 270X
RAM: 4x2 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 (I've already got this that's why I'm going with it)
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD
PSU: Corsair CX500 500W

My PSU is 8 years old and I believe its inefficient, loud and possibly a hazard so that's why I'm replacing that.

Anyway I need a motherboard that will round the system out. I was thinking
GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

Anyone have any ideas? Also I understand FX-8370 and Radeon R9 285 are going to be released Sept 1 or 2nd. Would spending the extra $ on those be a good move and would that change anyone's motherboard choice?

It would be helpful to note, I would like to do some overclocking but nothing crazy
 
Solution
MeteorsRaining
Firstly, change your PSU, 500W CX is not one would go with those CPU and GPU, both wattage and quality wise. A XFX 550W is $35 from newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

And that would be the minimum I'd go with, or something like this will make sure you can upgrade GPU w/o worrying about PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438026

Any 550W+ PSU from Antec/ SeaSonic/ XFX/ EVGA/ Corsair RM will be good enough.

Yes the MoBo you picked up is a good one, but you can get an equally good MoBo for less price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157281

Also, UD3 has some issues, like this...
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MeteorsRaining

MeteorsRaining

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Jul 27, 2014
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Firstly, change your PSU, 500W CX is not one would go with those CPU and GPU, both wattage and quality wise. A XFX 550W is $35 from newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

And that would be the minimum I'd go with, or something like this will make sure you can upgrade GPU w/o worrying about PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438026

Any 550W+ PSU from Antec/ SeaSonic/ XFX/ EVGA/ Corsair RM will be good enough.

Yes the MoBo you picked up is a good one, but you can get an equally good MoBo for less price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157281

Also, UD3 has some issues, like this:
https://teksyndicate.com/forum/motherboards/gigabyte-ga-990fxa-ud3-rev-30-stay-away/139832

Moreover, shifting to 8370 and 285 in future won't require you to change MoBo :)
 
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J

Joseph Barker

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Aug 29, 2014
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Oops, I meant to say CX750 psu. Thanks for the answer, the price for value was exactly what I was looking at with the mobo. Also the fx-9 series is about to drop in price. What do you you think about those two vs a 8350

 
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MeteorsRaining

MeteorsRaining

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I'd still not recommend the CX, they have cheap capacitors and not ideal for high end systems. 750W would be overkill for your current build anyways. Get 520W Antec HCG, its a lot better. I know, you'd think, why 520W over 750W. The reason is the CPU+GPU wattage won't be more than 350W but lower grade PSUs won't be able to take even that much. A very accurate tier list:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

Yes 990FX EX3 will be a better overall buy.

FX 9 for gaming (or any other task for that matter) is a big no! Here's what AMD did to make FX 9:
Took FX 8, OCed it, doubled the TDP, added lots of heat to properly fry a system and topped it with exhiborent prices. Even if they're for $150 I wouldn't get one as they consume power like monstor and you can easily OC a FX 8 to 9's level. Moreover, their max OC freq is more or less the same and FX 8 runs cooler comparatively.
 
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MeteorsRaining

MeteorsRaining

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The H100i is obviously a beast cooler and will keep any CPU cool. But it'll be a good choice only when you have adequete space in your case and you wish to OC enthusiast level, like 4.7-5GHz. If you're a mainstream user/ gamer then you won't need anything more than EVO 212 or a Noctua D14 which is extremely quiet and powerful, often of the H100i level.

Liquid coolers are not the best until you do extreme OC, where they'll race ahead of air ones. I'd get the EVO 212 for something like 4.4-4.5GHz OC and Noctua D14 if I wanna go to around 4.7GHz. H100i only to try out 4.8GHz or higher. I prefer to stick to no-mess and easy to install air coolers :)
 
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Joseph Barker

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Aug 29, 2014
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I have a HAF 932 so space is no issue. I might be interested in trying to take it to 5GHz and I'm actually kinda worried that a good heatsink will interfere with the DIMM slots.

I actually changed my mind on RAM and decided to get
G.SKILL Sniper Series 2x4GB 1866
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231460

They are pretty low profile so I think they'll help with that problem.

It would be helpful to note that I've got the HAF 932 cooled by 4 120mm Corsair Air Series High Airflow and 1 140mm Corsair Air Series High Airflow.

I also would buy 2 120mm Corsair Air Series High Static Pressure fans to use alongside the 2 fans that come with H100i to do a push pull.

 
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MeteorsRaining

MeteorsRaining

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Jul 27, 2014
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With that big of a case, no cooler will pose an issue, no matter how big it is. If you're going to try some serious OC, H100i is the way to go as space is not a concern here.

Sniper are low profile so they won't pose a problem with heatsink either. And that is when you'll use air cooler, liquid ones are not affected by memory's heatspreader height.

The airflow seems optimum for high performance setup so some extreme OC should not be a problem in any way. And add 2 more fans for push-pull config, your system will be ready to get decent temps on insane OCing. No problems at all.

Good choice on the PSU! It'll allow room for much higher upgrades in the future :)


 
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