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Nice, cheap mATX board for my Phenom? / how does my build log look.

post #1 of 19
Thread Starter 
Going to be getting a new case, the Fractal Design Arc Mini, so I shall need a mATX board to go with it, to be used with my sig rig. Won't be doing heavy overclocking to any extent, and I presume I will be needing to buy some DDR3 ram to go with it. Basically, something cheap which is compatible and future proof if I want to throw a newer CPU in, which has space for 2 PCI slots (my wireless card and my sound card) - although it will not need to have them if it comes with an optical audio output or built in wireless.

Cheers! I'm based in the UK so websites such as overclockers.co.uk, ebuyers.co.uk, aria.co.uk or whatever would be ace. And as cheap as physically possible...
Niko
Edited by Niko-Time - 5/30/12 at 10:30am
    
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post #2 of 19
Thread Starter 
Okay, so I am looking at the Asus M5A78L-M/USB3. I like it's USB 3.0 and support for FX in the future. My worry is that my graphics card will block the first pci slot, will it?

MB-466-AS_37349_350.jpg
    
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post #3 of 19
Yes, any dual slot graphics card will block that first PCI slot.
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post #4 of 19
Thread Starter 
Well thats a bugger. Any mATXs which have two pci slots which aren't blocked? Having to replace my wireless adapter/sound card would add money to costs..
    
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post #5 of 19
That's the board I've got in my second rig, you're going to struggle to find any better in an AMD mATX board I think.

Can't you find a cheap pcie 1x wireless card?

Something like this maybe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704059
Edited by Kyronn94 - 5/16/13 at 4:00pm
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post #6 of 19
Thread Starter 
Is it good enough to play BF3 with?

EDIT: And a brit linking another brit to newegg? Madness!
    
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post #7 of 19
Or why not get a USB wireless adapter? I've never used one before, so excuse my ignorance, but they should be just as good.


EDIT: I saw you plan on gaming. I didn't notice that. tongue.gif

So yeah, if i were you I would stick with a PCIE x1 wireless card.
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Samsung DDR3 WD 500gig Black Samsung 830 SSD Pioneer Blu-Ray reader 
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Apogee XT XSPC Full cover 670 block Danger Den GTS 250 water block Swiftech 655b 
CoolingOSMonitorMonitor
Swiftech 320mm Rad w/ Switchtech 240mm Rad Windows 7 Ultimate Samsung SyncMaster EX2220 Samsung SyncMaster EX2220 
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post #8 of 19
That board has an optical audio.

Could you just use the bottom PCI for the wireless card and not need the first?
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post #9 of 19
Quote:
Originally Posted by Niko-Time View Post

Is it good enough to play BF3 with?
EDIT: And a brit linking another brit to newegg? Madness!

Ah, I do apologise, missed that bit in the first post rolleyes.gif
I just presume that most people on the forum are from the US tongue.gif

That's the card I use in 2 of my PC's, and I've never had any problems, but if your're gaming, then you may want a 300mbps card.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WN881ND-300Mbps-Wireless-Express-Adapter/dp/B006BSPTAQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1338114282&sr=8-3

You might want to look into Powerline networking also if your house is suitable, but that is a bit more expensive

I think you'll be fine with a 300mbs card, then you're layout will be:

Wireless Card
GPU
GPU Cooler
Sound card.

Hope this helps.
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Intel Core i5 3570K Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H Sapphire HD6950 2GB 840/1325 8GB Corsair XMS3 (4x2GB) 
Hard DriveHard DriveCoolingOS
Crucial M4 64GB WD 2TB Caviar Green Noctua NH-D14 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Samsung T220HD 16:10 Logitech K360 Corsair HX650 Fractal Design Arc Mini 
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post #10 of 19
Thread Starter 
Cheers mate, and I was only teasing, everyone does seem to be from the other, lesser side of the pond. Thanks for the help! I may as well get the 300 for the sake of a few quid.
    
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Phenom II X4 955 Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 1GB XFX HD 6850 XXX Edition Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 XMS3 16GB (4x4GB) 
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Samsung F3 1TB Hard Drive Crucial CT128M4SSD2 128GB SSD Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO Windows 7 Professional  
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Samsung SyncMaster BX2431 1080p PCBank PB2700 1440p IPS Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 550W PSU  Xigmatek Giggas 
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CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Phenom II X4 955 Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 1GB XFX HD 6850 XXX Edition Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 XMS3 16GB (4x4GB) 
Hard DriveHard DriveCoolingOS
Samsung F3 1TB Hard Drive Crucial CT128M4SSD2 128GB SSD Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO Windows 7 Professional  
MonitorMonitorPowerCase
Samsung SyncMaster BX2431 1080p PCBank PB2700 1440p IPS Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 550W PSU  Xigmatek Giggas 
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