Best AM3 Board in the $100 range

[Apk07]

Looking to help a friend build a gaming rig. Hes decided on the Phenom II X4 965 BE, and I'm not sure which mobo to recommend.
Theres a handful of ASUS/Gigabyte ones close to $100, but I don't know which is the newest with the best features. I wish newegg listed their release dates.

We have this one picked out currently http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131649

Is there better/newer?

 

[dalauder]

Get a Phenom II x4 955BE (C3 Revision)--if you just enter the BIOS and change the multiplier, they're the same processor and you save $20. What size case are you using? I'd go with an ATX board, not mATX. Btw, the newest cost more than $100--but have stuff you don't need.

I'd go with one of these two. The second costs more, but has USB3.0--which you can get with a cheap PCI-e expansion card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

Also, get a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive--they're cheap and super fast.

 

[jaquith]

^+1 for Crossfire. The ASRock 870 EXTREME3 is the best value; ASUS owns ASRock so both are good. Neither has an onboard GPU so you'll need to add that to the purchase list. Generally, I don't like onboard GPU/VGA of any kind.

 

[Apk07]

Oh wow, newegg doesn't list that as either ATX nor mATX. I just assumed it was ATX.
And we've already got the 965BE, and just got that Spinpoint F3. I have one as well, they're awesome.

 

[Apk07]

ASRock 870 Extreme3
or this?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131637

I've heard a lot of good things about nForce, does the 750a chipset make it a better pick? (since $10 isnt a big difference from the ASRock)

 

[jaquith]

The ASUS M4N75TD AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI is better served if you want a nVidia GPU and in SLI.

 

[Apk07]

Well he bought a Gigabyte 6870, so I guess ASRock it is.

 

[dalauder]

ASRock 870 Extreme 3 since you have a Radeon card.