Need Help Choosing a Motherboad( This is my first build! :D )

[Squeak]

So I am building a computer for the first time. I have put a computer together before but this will be my first time buying and building all brand new!

So far my choices straight from newegg ( I have a frys here in my state but they don't have a single thing I want in stock lol )

AMD Phenom II x6 1090t - $199
Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR3 1600 - $50
ASUS ENGTX460 TOP - $160 ( Already purchased, works great love it! )
NI Audio Kontrol 1 Audio Interface( sound card ) - $200 ( Already have, having USB issues with current computer though )

So now I need to choose a motherboard. I have been looking around and talking to people about what I want. Here are the ones I am looking into. I will make notes about the ones I am super iffy on.

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 : The problem I am reading with this one is alot of DOA and USB problems. Which makes me nervous.
MSI 890GXM-G65
GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H
ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3: So far this one has won my heart. I don't need anything crazy fancy and this has the easy OC options. Only thing is that my boy has this mobo and is having power issues though it could be his case and not the mobo because the mobo light is always one so the mobo has power.

Please help me.
If you know of better options let me know! My budget is 100-150 tops.

I want the option for SLI, I don't need IDE my drives are all SATA but I wouldn't mind having the option, must have USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, the 880 or 890 chipsets if you cant tell are what I am looking at, ASUS, GIGABYTE, or MSI preferably, easy OC option like the 2 ASUS boards I listed, be able to have DDR3 1600 with out hassle, eSATA, onboard video and sound not important as I am sure you figured out since I have the AUDIO KONTROL and ASUS 460.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198 $89.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

 

[Squeak]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198 $89.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Hmm I don't really know much about ASRock. Can you tell me why you suggest this board?

 

[Squeak]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007625&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=22|13-130-565^13-130-565-TS,13-157-208R^13-157-208-TS,13-131-646^13-131-646-TS,13-131-631^13-131-631-TS

 

[Squeak]

Having a hard time finding an SLI board only finding crossfire D:

 

[aznshinobi]

You don't need a 890/790FX board. Not for a first time builder at least. Don't waste money on them anyways. You'll get the same perf. It's unnoticeable the perf difference.

The Asrock 870 Extreme3 is my suggestion as well. First, it has SATA III and USB 3 plus it is cost effective. It runs 8x/8x (which you won't use because your using SLI).

Reason you can't find any AMD SLI boards, the only SLI AMD boards are AMD boards that use the Nvidia chipset. Usually those have not as good perf or don't really co-operate with AMD chips as well as AMD chipsets + AMD cpu. Just a saying.

I think you should return the 460 for a 6850 because in the end a 460 SLI vs 6850 CF, the 6850 CF is better most of the time. THat's if you plan to dual card.

 

[Squeak]

You don't need a 890/790FX board. Not for a first time builder at least. Don't waste money on them anyways. You'll get the same perf. It's unnoticeable the perf difference.

The Asrock 870 Extreme3 is my suggestion as well. First, it has SATA III and USB 3 plus it is cost effective. It runs 8x/8x (which you won't use because your using SLI).

Reason you can't find any AMD SLI boards, the only SLI AMD boards are AMD boards that use the Nvidia chipset. Usually those have not as good perf or don't really co-operate with AMD chips as well as AMD chipsets + AMD cpu. Just a saying.

I think you should return the 460 for a 6850 because in the end a 460 SLI vs 6850 CF, the 6850 CF is better most of the time. THat's if you plan to dual card.

I can't return the card. I have had it for over 2 weeks :/

 

[aznshinobi]

Well does that mobo sound solid at least?

Where'd you buy it from. Newegg offers 1 month return policy, or you can get refunded credit.

 

[Red_1]

my question is why are you wanting a hexa core? and what are you going to use it for? for and my answer is if u want to good sli there is not alot of mobo out there on new egg but the best 1 i have came across and is worth the money is ASUS M4N98TD EVO AM3 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard. but if u r buget you will come across my prob. there are some good open box deals and in this case i would go with the ASUS M4N75TD AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard open box on newegg

 

[Squeak]

Well does that mobo sound solid at least?

Where'd you buy it from. Newegg offers 1 month return policy, or you can get refunded credit.

Idk I like this one ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3

and I bought it from Frys.

 

[Squeak]

my question is why are you wanting a hexa core? and what are you going to use it for? for and my answer is if u want to good sli there is not alot of mobo out there on new egg but the best 1 i have came across and is worth the money is ASUS M4N98TD EVO AM3 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard. but if u r buget you will come across my prob. there are some good open box deals and in this case i would go with the ASUS M4N75TD AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard open box on newegg

Why not have a hex core? People keep telling me to go for a 4 core. Just because most programs dont use all 6 cores yet doesn't mean they wont soon. I want this computer to last.

Also no to that mobo. No USB 3.0 and no SATA 6gb. Yes I know nothing really uses that yet but I want this computer to be good for a few years. I don't want to have to rebuild in a year.

 

[Red_1]

if you wait till bulldozer witch is supposed to come out in april that would be a good idia plus the amd mobo will be upgraded with bulldozer witch is am3+ so if u want a "up to date comp" and secound y not 3.0 usb it is the up to date as for now and transfer data faster. scrap sli and go with crossfire then. there is a good asrock out there that is cheap and worth it but since you do not have the desire for 3.0 usb there is no point but here you go ASRock 880G EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard open box.althoe it does not meet ur requirmnet this would be the most "up to date" comp

 

[Squeak]

if you wait till bulldozer witch is supposed to come out in april that would be a good idia plus the amd mobo will be upgraded with bulldozer witch is am3+ so if u want a "up to date comp" and secound y not 3.0 usb it is the up to date as for now and transfer data faster. scrap sli and go with crossfire then. there is a good asrock out there that is cheap and worth it but since you do not have the desire for 3.0 usb there is no point but here you go ASRock 880G EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard open box.althoe it does not meet ur requirmnet this would be the most "up to date" comp

I can't do crossfire... i have an Nvidia card...

Also I did say I wanted USB 3.0....

 

[aznshinobi]

It's a solid board. But still why get that one (ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3) when the 870 Extreme3 has better and more features than that board.
Not that it matters to you, but the Asrock offers 8x/8x which is better than 16x/4x (Asus) so it's a better upgradability if you ever do.
The Asrock is also cheaper.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3437/asrock_870_extreme3_amd_870_motherboard/index12.html

IT's all personal opinion though.

As for Fry's ahh, I've bought from there too. Yes their return policy is real short ain't it.

 

[Squeak]

It's a solid board. But still why get that one (ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3) when the 870 Extreme3 has better and more features than that board.
Not that it matters to you, but the Asrock offers 8x/8x which is better than 16x/4x (Asus) so it's a better upgradability if you ever do.
The Asrock is also cheaper.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3437/asrock_870_extreme3_amd_870_motherboard/index12.html

IT's all personal opinion though.

As for Fry's ahh, I've bought from there too. Yes their return policy is real short ain't it.

Well actually :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007625%2050001944%20600007943&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=22|13-131-646^13-131-646-TS,13-157-198^13-157-198-TS

they are pretty similar except that the ASUS has a different chipset and isn't that really what you pay for in a mobo?

And yeah frys kinda suck for their return policy

 

[aznshinobi]

Wait what do you want exactly? It's hard to see the difference.

6x 2.0 USB on the Asrock, only 4 x 2.0 USB on the Asus =P

 

[Squeak]

Wait what do you want exactly? It's hard to see the difference.

6x 2.0 USB on the Asrock, only 4 x 2.0 USB on the Asus =P

I read it wrong. Fixed my post xD

 

[aznshinobi]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2074294

880G just means it has onboard video.
870 is no onboard. No difference in chipset.

 

[Squeak]

I want to OC and I know the EVO will OC to 4.1GHZ for the 1090 but idk about that ASRock

 

[Squeak]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2074294

880G just means it has onboard video.
870 is no onboard. No difference in chipset.

hmmm idk. I will look into

 

[aznshinobi]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157191&cm_re=880G_Asrock-_-13-157-191-_-Product

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3398/asrock_880g_extreme3_amd_880g_motherboard/index4.html

Well, it's not as cheap, still cheaper than the 880G Asus. It overclocks to 4.0ghz easily. So I suppose they just maxed out HT and just tried to get it to 4.0ghz as fast as possible. They don't seem to have tried to do a MAX overclock on it.

 

[Squeak]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157191&cm_re=880G_Asrock-_-13-157-191-_-Product

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3398/asrock_880g_extreme3_amd_880g_motherboard/index4.html

Well, it's not as cheap, still cheaper than the 880G Asus. It overclocks to 4.0ghz easily. So I suppose they just maxed out HT and just tried to get it to 4.0ghz as fast as possible. They don't seem to have tried to do a MAX overclock on it.

Hmm interesting. Ok I could probably get about the same out of it then.

Why do are you suggesting ASROCK over ASUS?
The ASROCKs only have 1 year warranties and the ASUS have 3 year.

"However, it does seem rather picky on the RAM front. I have been able to push the Kingston RAM to a little over 1600MHz before, but not on the 880G Extreme3"

Hmmm not ok with that. It says that they had to keep the ram at 1333 basically.

 

[aznshinobi]

Well idk, I just like Asrock as a company. I see that Asus tends to price things a bit higher than needed. But that's what a brand name is i guess. The 870 was my main suggestion, I just wanted to give another Asrock one.