Asking for help making an informed, motherboard decision.

[Berzhus]

Although I usually spend SEVERAL days researching all parts/components whenever I've built a machine in the past, this time I don't have that luxury. The recent PC I built not long ago (12/2009) has a bricked motherboard (ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe/HDMI AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard ), and needless to say, our home has come to a standstill without it.


I was just hoping someone could please recommend a popular motherboard that might be both A) Very popular among PC builders with my certain socket CPU.. and B) Overall, a fairly stable and time-tested board. Price is NOT an issue, and I'm a sucker for the things most people love like overclocking and tweaking, but they're not an absolute must. Also, this machine is used for a good bit of gaming.


To put it simple, lets say someone on the street walked up to you and gave you these parts, what kind of mobo would YOU pick up off Newegg for yourself!?


AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

SILVERSTONE ZEUS ST65ZF 650W ATX 12V 2.0 & EPS 12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply

Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case


Thank you SO much!

 

[Berzhus]

Also, it's probably worth mentioning that we don't use a bunch of additional peripheral cards or anything either. On-board audio has ALWAYS been sufficient for us, and also as you can tell with the case, there is PLENTY of room inside it. So, obviously space is not an issue either.


Thanks again!

 

[Berzhus]

Ah, found myself briefly looking on Newegg last night, but didn't come across that one.


Heh, I've been an ASUS fanboy for as long as I can remember, but the bricked motherboard that I have now (After 5 months) left me questioning myself. I hope I can easily dismiss it as one of those things that just happens, and not take it personally. :lol:


Thanks very much for your insight!

 

[Berzhus]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131618&cm_re=770-_-13-131-618-_-Product

After digging and trying to discover what I could, I found myself partial to this one instead ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard


This one being a 790X chipset, instead of a 770.


Is there anything obvious I'm missing, that maybe my ignorance has made me overlook? Would just like to entertain the notion, before I place the order

Gracias!

 

[goatsword]

If you go with a 790x chipset, be sure to get DDR3 memory. G. Skill memory works well with the 790x platform. Also, check out the GA-790XTA-UD4. It's got USB3 and SATA3, so it has some longevity. I have personal experience with it, it won't disappoint. Honestly the M4A97XTD is kinda... meh.

 

[Berzhus]

If you go with a 790x chipset, be sure to get DDR3 memory. G. Skill memory works well with the 790x platform. Also, check out the GA-790XTA-UD4. It's got USB3 and SATA3, so it has some longevity. I have personal experience with it, it won't disappoint. Honestly the M4A97XTD is kinda... meh.

*Facepalm*


I didn't even realize, but will the CPU I have now even work in the ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard that I just listed? Being that's in AM3?


Current CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor

Current Memory - OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel


The CPU I have now is an AM2+, so unless I was totally confused, my search results were sort of limited.


The two boards I were mainly debating between were.. (Before coming across that M4A97XTD)

ASUS M4A77D AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

and the

MSI 790XT-G45 AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard



I'm obviously a weekend builder, and learning more and more as fast as I can. I can't thank you enough for any help!