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MSI 970A GAMING PRO CARBON - Anyone have it?

6K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  hibby540 
#1 ·
https://ca.msi.com/Motherboard/970A-GAMING-PRO-CARBON.html#hero-specification

Just wondering if any of you guys currently have, or have used this board in the past. I'm thinking of picking one up to replace my Gigabyte 970A-UD3P (Rev 2.0), being that it's absolutely horrible for overclocking. I have managed to to get it to 4.6ghz with a Corsair H60 (push/pull setup), with decent temps....but the VRM's push 108C do to inadequate heatsinks (I don't have an free fan headers) during stability testing, and around 80C+ while gaming.

I know what you're thinking reading this, who would want to buy a new mobo for the pretty well dead AM3 platform?

I just put this system together back in October 2016, and don't want to upgrade to Zen, or switch over to Intel, due to overall cost. I've been pretty happy with the overall performance of my setup, other than it's limited overclocking potential and audio that wants to cut out for a few seconds here and there (still yet to figure out if it's an latency issue, or something to do with the mobo itself). Kinda kicking myself in the ass now, wanting better gear for what's now a pretty much obsolete platform. I kinda went in blind when purchasing all the parts for this system, and have been slowly switching them out for bigger and better ones, while selling the old ones. Not knowing much about what was good and mediocre at the time of purchase, being that I was out of the loop with computer hardware for years, and now just getting back into it.
 
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#2 ·
Can't comment on the board but get more airflow! No fan headers? No problem! Buy a splitter: https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Technology-Sleeved-Splitter-CPF01/dp/B00B46XKKQ

I believe they make both 3 and 4 pin versions if you want PWM or not, but if you use PWM both fans will run at the same speeds ramping up and down. 3 pin will just run at 100% all the time unless your BIOS let's you do voltage type control on the header.

Alternatively you can buy fan to power supply connector like molex or SATA

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-Molex-headers-CONNECT-MULTIPLE/dp/B009D3HV1Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489373163&sr=8-1&keywords=fan+to+molex

https://www.amazon.com/Eyeboot-Computer-Connector-Y-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B01M28IY5X/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1489373178&sr=1-2&keywords=fan+to+sata
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dopamin3 View Post

Can't comment on the board but get more airflow! No fan headers? No problem! Buy a splitter: https://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Technology-Sleeved-Splitter-CPF01/dp/B00B46XKKQ

I believe they make both 3 and 4 pin versions if you want PWM or not, but if you use PWM both fans will run at the same speeds ramping up and down. 3 pin will just run at 100% all the time unless your BIOS let's you do voltage type control on the header.

Alternatively you can buy fan to power supply connector like molex or SATA

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-Molex-headers-CONNECT-MULTIPLE/dp/B009D3HV1Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489373163&sr=8-1&keywords=fan+to+molex

https://www.amazon.com/Eyeboot-Computer-Connector-Y-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B01M28IY5X/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1489373178&sr=1-2&keywords=fan+to+sata
I'll be picking up a couple of those splitters soon, but have this (not so bright?) idea to revamp my setup. Looking at a Corsair 400C case, but I'm not sure about the motherboard. Not too many options out there now that AM3+ is near obsolete. I'm looking for something that's capable of some serious overclocking, while not breaking the bank. Not many 990FX chipset boards in stock locally, and the prices on em are still high, like this one for example:http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX63134

Kinda have it narrowed down to these two, but from what I've read the Asus VRM's run pretty hot with even mild overclocking. As far as the MSI pro carbon goes, haven't been able to find any in depth reviews on it...there's a few on newegg, but that's about it.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX60724
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX65095
 
#4 ·
I have it and love it but I don't generally OC too keep temps low. What questions do you have? I can test stuff for you before I gut it for my Ryzen upgrades.

BTW here are its specs

FX-8320
H80i GT
970A G-Pro Carbon
MSI R9 390
2x8GB - BLS8G3D1609DS1S00 (Total 16GB DDR3 1600)
EVGA 850-G2
M.2 Samsung 850
and several other drives...
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redbugz007 View Post

I have it and love it but I don't generally OC too keep temps low. What questions do you have? I can test stuff for you before I gut it for my Ryzen upgrades.

BTW here are its specs

FX-8320
H80i GT
970A G-Pro Carbon
MSI R9 390
2x8GB - BLS8G3D1609DS1S00 (Total 16GB DDR3 1600)
EVGA 850-G2
M.2 Samsung 850
and several other drives...
I'm more or less just curious about it's overclocking ability, and how the VRM cooling is when OC'd. My current board is damn near about to burn up during stability testing with IBT at 4.6ghz lol.
 
#6 ·
Bumpage...anyone??!
 
#7 ·
It uses the same 8 phase analogue Nikos D-Pak design as used on the standard 970 Gaming. Probably good for up to 4.7GHz on good cooling. All round the Asus 970 pro gaming aura is the better buy for a similar price.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alastair View Post

It uses the same 8 phase analogue Nikos D-Pak design as used on the standard 970 Gaming. Probably good for up to 4.7GHz on good cooling. All round the Asus 970 pro gaming aura is the better buy for a similar price.
Is the aura a better overclocker? In terms of VRM cooling and whatnot. I'm running 4.7 on my current board, but it's pushing the VRM temps to their limit pretty well. Here in Canada, the aura 970 is about $40 or so more after taxes versus the 970 pro carbon, not too sure if it's worth it?
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLastHero View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alastair View Post

It uses the same 8 phase analogue Nikos D-Pak design as used on the standard 970 Gaming. Probably good for up to 4.7GHz on good cooling. All round the Asus 970 pro gaming aura is the better buy for a similar price.
Is the aura a better overclocker? In terms of VRM cooling and whatnot. I'm running 4.7 on my current board, but it's pushing the VRM temps to their limit pretty well. Here in Canada, the aura 970 is about $40 or so more after taxes versus the 970 pro carbon, not too sure if it's worth it?
the closest board to the aura in terms of VRM is the Asus M5A99FX. In fact I would go so far as to say better. It's got a 7+1 digital VRM. My M5A99FX manages 4.95GHz. Most M5A99FX boards average around the 4.8 region. I reckon the Aura will reach at least 4.8 just based on the performance of its older brother and having an extra phase.
 
#10 ·
You're probably going to have overheating VRMs with either board but the Aura is the better choice as it is the least likely to have major problems. Whichever one you choose, be sure to get a fan on those VRMs.
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by miklkit View Post

You're probably going to have overheating VRMs with either board but the Aura is the better choice as it is the least likely to have major problems. Whichever one you choose, be sure to get a fan on those VRMs.
Picked up an open box Aura earlier today, along with a corsair H100i V2. What size fan do you recommend to have on the VRM? I'll have to custom rig something up.

Is the msi 970 pro carbon problematic? The reviews I've seen on it are OK for the most part, but I've read a lot of good things about the aura, so that's probably the better choice.
 
#12 ·
The MSI boards are all over the place. Some people can't OC them at all, others can OC but the VRMs overheat so they either die or melt the thermal pad under the heat sink, and others OC with no problems at all.

Any size fan from the one on the stock heat sink to a case fan will work. Mount it any way you can figure out. Others have taped them on, used tie wraps, made brackets......... One guy took a ram cooling fan setup and bolted it to the vrm heat sink.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLastHero View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by miklkit View Post

You're probably going to have overheating VRMs with either board but the Aura is the better choice as it is the least likely to have major problems. Whichever one you choose, be sure to get a fan on those VRMs.
Picked up an open box Aura earlier today, along with a corsair H100i V2. What size fan do you recommend to have on the VRM? I'll have to custom rig something up.

Is the msi 970 pro carbon problematic? The reviews I've seen on it are OK for the most part, but I've read a lot of good things about the aura, so that's probably the better choice.
the stock 70mm fan that comes with most pre-wraith coolers will do the trick. Just make sure to dial it down to the quite/silent setting in BIOS otherwise it will have you ripping your ears off. But in my case @ sub 3.5K rpm it's inaudible above the other fans in the case. Only gets loud above 3.5K. But I only hit those speeds/temps when my CPU is stress testing. So majority of the time that little fan sits around 2K and I can't hear it.

Mine I glued in place.
 
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#14 ·
I guess something like this would be ok? http://www.ncix.com/detail/fractal-design-silent-series-r2-ea-71004.htm

I'm looking at this fan, should be good....only problem is I'm not sure how I'll mount it. Definitely don't wanna glue it to the mobo lol. Gonna see if a friend can make a custom aluminum bracket, might be the best bet. I have a spare "low speed" 3 pin fan adapter lying around which I can use with the fan, cause I just imagine what it sounds like at 3000RPM, either that or figure out some kind of custom bios fan setting, if it's feasible.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by miklkit View Post

The MSI boards are all over the place. Some people can't OC them at all, others can OC but the VRMs overheat so they either die or melt the thermal pad under the heat sink, and others OC with no problems at all.

Any size fan from the one on the stock heat sink to a case fan will work. Mount it any way you can figure out. Others have taped them on, used tie wraps, made brackets......... One guy took a ram cooling fan setup and bolted it to the vrm heat sink.
Just wondering if it would be more beneficial to point the fan upward like Alastair's setup, or have it flat against the heatsink. Is there any real difference in terms of cooling performance there?
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLastHero View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by miklkit View Post

The MSI boards are all over the place. Some people can't OC them at all, others can OC but the VRMs overheat so they either die or melt the thermal pad under the heat sink, and others OC with no problems at all.

Any size fan from the one on the stock heat sink to a case fan will work. Mount it any way you can figure out. Others have taped them on, used tie wraps, made brackets......... One guy took a ram cooling fan setup and bolted it to the vrm heat sink.
Just wondering if it would be more beneficial to point the fan upward like Alastair's setup, or have it flat against the heatsink. Is there any real difference in terms of cooling performance there?
I went for my set up due to mostly aesthetic reasons. I definitely get better temps with the VRM fan. But I am sure they might be better with a fan blowing down onto the heatsink and board. But I wanted to try maintain the aesthetic of the motherboard.
 
#17 ·
I am using the OC Genie to run the 970A Gaming Pro Carbon with an FX 8300 at 4.2 GHz. With a CoolerMaster Hyper T2 Heatsink and Fan (Double Heatpipe) and my temperatures stay around 50° with both system fans at 100%. I use several 140mm Case Fans and my case is an older Cooler Master Elite.
 
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