MSI 790FX-GD70 Motherboard? Experience?

[thecolorcute]

I'm planning on buying either the MSI 790FX-GD70 or the Gigabyte GA-790FXTA-UD5. Has anybody used these boards? What are your thoughts?
I plan to use the new motherboard with CORSAIR DOMINATOR 8GB 1333 DDR3 RAM. Will that work fine?

Links:
MSI 790FX-GD70 - ~$168 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223&Tpk=MSI%20790FX-GD70
Gigabyte GA-790FXTA-UD5 - ~$185 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128415

My current specs are:

AMD Phenom II 965 BE
8GB G.SKILL DDR2 800 RAM (Current RAM)
Intel X25M 80GB SSD
WD 650GB 7200RPM HDD
GIGABYTE GA-MA785G-UD3H (Current motherboard)
Corsair 750W PSU
XFX RADEON HD 5870 1GB (second one is coming in on Monday)
Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Case

 

[ryman546]

i have the msi 790fx and love it

 

[flyinfinni]

I don't have those exact boards, but I'm currently running an MSI board in my PC and a Gigabyte board in my Wife's PC, and they are both fantastic. That being said, I've loved my MSI- best board I've ever had. I'd go for the MSI 790FX anyway- just because its $17 cheaper. 790FX Chipset is also awesome- x16/x16 crossfire or even x8/x8/x8/x8 on the MSI (x16/x8/x8 on the Gigabyte). Good stuff.

 

[thecolorcute]

I got the MSI (twice) and both boards caught fire as soon as I turned them on haha. The the CPU fan wouldn't spin because the fire would burn the module regulating the power flow to the CPU fan.
It may have been an issue with my case conducting electricity. but I just went with the Gigabyte.

 

[flyinfinni]

I got the MSI (twice) and both boards caught fire as soon as I turned them on haha. The the CPU fan wouldn't spin because the fire would burn the module regulating the power flow to the CPU fan.
It may have been an issue with my case conducting electricity. but I just went with the Gigabyte.

Wow... Somehow I feel like that was a unique experience and probably had something to do with how things were set up with your rig in particular, as there aren't tons of stories about MSI boards (or that one specifically) lighting up as soon as you turn them on. Thats pretty crazy though, but it doesn't change my view of MSI as (currently) my top choice when I get a new mobo. What do you mean though by your case conducting electricity? Did you somehow short something on the board in your case?

 

[thecolorcute]

Yeah it was probably a problem with my case. But with both mobos I screwed the top right corner (with the RAM slots) down so it was touching the case. That's how I always screw down mobos. My case is steel (Comsos 1000). When I turned on the computer a module above the RAM slots would spark and burn out and then the CPU fan wouldn't spin up.

 

[flyinfinni]

Dude- there is supposed to be a standoff to keep the bottom of the board from ever touching the case! You were shorting out whatever component it was and blowing out the board. You are lucky if they RMA's those boards.
Bottom line is- those boards were fine and it was your case/screwing down the corner that caused the problem, so to the OP- the MSI boards are great, just don't short the board to your case!!

 

[thecolorcute]

I know it was my fault.
I know MSI boards are great and honestly after I figured out what I did wrong I wanted to buy another one of the boards, but I had already bought the Gigabyte and I couldn't cancel the order.

The RMA did go through.

 

[flyinfinni]

Man you are lucky on that one! that is funny though- I'm sure you got a little worried about the fire starting the first time. The gigabyte boards a good too;-)

 

[thecolorcute]

Haha I think that Amazon just saw that a module was burned and assumed that both boards were defective XD
And the Gigabyte is good. Unfortunately the two PCI-E 2.0 x16 slots are really close together and my two 5870s are almost touching each other haha.

 

[flyinfinni]

HAha- yeah- that type of defect does happen, so it is somewhat reasonable.
The PCI-E layout is a downside as well, but as long as you're not overheating, its cool and functional

 

[thecolorcute]

Yup. I'm thinking about doing water cooling anyways so that should free up some space and improve temperatures.

 

[flyinfinni]

That would do it. Good luck with that- I've always wanted to try water cooling, but just can't afford it right now (keep saying that, but I keep spending the money I DO have on other things first, like 5xxx series cards, and next up is a couple more 23" displays when I can get enough for that

 

[thecolorcute]

Thanks!
Haha I really wanted to do Eyefinity too but unfortunately I just don't have the space. My one 24'' Samsung practically takes up my entire desk as it is haha.

 

[flyinfinni]

I feel ya on that- Thats part of why the saving is gonna be as long as it is- I'm gonna replace my desk as well

 

[thecolorcute]

Haha I'd love to replace my desk too but that is limited on a space constraint as well XD
I'd have to find somewhere to mount all three monitors on the wall. I don't have much wall space that isn't occupied by a window or a door haha.

 

[flyinfinni]

Yeah- its gonna take some rearranging but hopefully it'll work

 

[nss000]

I'm planning on buying either the MSI 790FX-GD70 or the Gigabyte GA-790FXTA-UD5. Has anybody used these boards? What are your thoughts?
I plan to use the new motherboard with CORSAIR DOMINATOR 8GB 1333 DDR3 RAM. Will that work fine?

Links:
MSI 790FX-GD70 - ~$168 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223&Tpk=MSI%20790FX-GD70
Gigabyte GA-790FXTA-UD5 - ~$185 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128415

My current specs are:

AMD Phenom II 965 BE
8GB G.SKILL DDR2 800 RAM (Current RAM)
Intel X25M 80GB SSD
WD 650GB 7200RPM HDD
GIGABYTE GA-MA785G-UD3H (Current motherboard)
Corsair 750W PSU
XFX RADEON HD 5870 1GB (second one is coming in on Monday)
Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Case

The MSI-790-gd70 has performed well for me under UBUNTU. An NV-9800gtx+ produces very nice Phoronix-Test-Suite scores ... the NV_260 should be supported oob. I did encounter an issue trying to install both <sata> & <ide> HDDs. **REM** BIOS-flashing most MSI mobos under any Linux is a geek-only high_skill task ... so make sure current.shipping.bios ( ~1.9 ) supports everything you need.