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Comparing 3 motherboards

post #1 of 7
11/6/12 at 9:40pm
Thread Starter 
I'm considering an FX-6300 build, which I will be OCing. I don't have any specific target, but I would probably like to end up between 4.2-4.5ghz.

I'm comparing 3 different motherboards:

* Asus M5A97 R2 - $159nz ($130us) - 4+2, heatsinked VRM

* Asus M5A97 Evo R2 - $189nz ($155us) - 6+2, heatsinked Digi VRM

* Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3 - $179nz ($148us) - 8+2 (might not be actual 8+2), heatsinked VRM (heatsink not quite as substantial looking)

I would like to go with the M5A97 to save money, but I will probably end up going with the M5A97 Evo for the features.

What are your thoughts? Any other boards at these prices that you think should be included in my comparison?
Edited by Faded_Mantis - 11/10/12 at 12:45am
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post #2 of 7
11/6/12 at 9:51pm
looks to me like you've got the better 970 boards in that list. what are you planning on doing with it? your considering the 6300 so i would avoid the first one simply because its 4+2 but for a 6-core the other two are fine... if you want to overclock it though get the 8+2 power phase board without a doubt though
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post #3 of 7
11/6/12 at 11:57pm
Thread Starter 
I intend to slap on a hyper 212 Evo, and OC to somewhere in the 4.2-4.5ghz range (depending on temp/voltage I might end up going higher).

Yea I thought that the M5A97 might not be sufficient for what I was after, I was just including it as my cheaper option. I was leaning towards the M5A97 Evo because of favourable reviews, and what looks to be superior heat sink design, it also had digital VRMs where as the other two seemed to have analogue VRMs.

This from here also put me off the gigabyte board:
Quote:
Note 2: Often when a board is advertised as 8+2, 16+2, etc, it often still uses 4 channels. There has been some controversy over the advertising of "8+2" phase boards since they are not true 8 channel designs. But, since 8+2 (with four channels), in *most* (read: not all), situations is much better than 4+1 (4 channels) we still decided to list them by their Phase count rather than their number of channels
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post #4 of 7
11/9/12 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 
Any more advice from people?
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post #5 of 7
11/9/12 at 5:16pm
I just got a M5A99X EVO off Trade Me for $170nz smile.gif if your willing to spend a bit more money the M5A99X EVO R2.0 is $230 from here: (http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=17316) but if you dont need the features id just go with the M5A97 Evo R2: (http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=17318)

Just make sure you get an EVO or PRO as they are 6+2 vrms needed for such an overclock.
Edited by JoinTheRealms - 11/9/12 at 5:18pm
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post #6 of 7
11/9/12 at 5:21pm
i'd say go for the 970a-ud3.

I've had it for my 955 clocked @ 4.2 and gigabyte is known to fudge the least with VRM phase splitters.

both the m5a97 evo and the 970a-ud3 are highly recommended for motherboards unless you want to do XFire/SLI but with an AMD build you shouldn't be aiming at that if you have the money for 2 GPUs.
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post #7 of 7
11/9/12 at 5:24pm
You should also consider this board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280 it's cheap, I have it with a hyper 212+ and FX-8120@4.0Ghz working great for me.thumb.gif
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