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Best Budget AMD motherboard for a gaming rig

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#2 ·
To be used with which CPU? Three chipsets to choose from: 970, 990 & FM2 depending on what type of processor.
970 & the 990 support the same processors (almost all of them except for the really old ones which then you might need an AM2 or AM2+ mobo) but offer different features.

ASUS M5A97 LE R2.0 for 79$.
GIGABYTE GA-970A-DS3 for 64$.
But if he can spend a bit more, my vote goes to the 990FXA-UD3 for 129$ (which supports CF & SLI).
 
#3 ·
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#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by thepoopscooper View Post

the cheapest i would go would have to be $65 with the Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3. it has a $10 MIR on newegg right now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128565
Click to expand...
For the cheapest am3+ board, this is the one
thumb.gif
make sure to get the one that says "USB3"
Quote:
Originally Posted by z3r0_k00l75 View Post

Meh, for a single gpu setup you really can't beat the 970A-UD3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519&Tpk=970a-ud3&IsVirtualParent=1
10% off with promo code at Newegg right now.
thumb.gif
Click to expand...
the 970 UD3 is probably the best upgrade for your $ if you want to spend a bit more.
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LuckySe7ens View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by thepoopscooper View Post

the cheapest i would go would have to be $65 with the Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3. it has a $10 MIR on newegg right now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128565
Click to expand...
For the cheapest am3+ board, this is the one
thumb.gif

Quote:
Originally Posted by z3r0_k00l75 View Post

Meh, for a single gpu setup you really can't beat the 970A-UD3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519&Tpk=970a-ud3&IsVirtualParent=1
10% off with promo code at Newegg right now.
thumb.gif
Click to expand...
the 970 UD3 is probably the best upgrade for your $ if you want to spend a bit more.
Click to expand...
This

970a-ud3... http://camelegg.com/product/N82E16813128519

The staples of a budget amd board are SOLID VRMs, no xfire/sli really needed, quality overclock CPU, have everything else just work.
this is your man. 8+2 solid true phase.

http://www.overclock.net/t/943109/about-vrms-mosfets-motherboard-safety-with-125w-tdp-processors/0_100
www.overclock.net/amd-motherboards/946407-amd-motherboard-power-phase-list.html
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
Thanks guys, Problem is, this is a low budget build, I mean this kid wants a $330 pc. So I was thinking a slightly older board, that will support a x4 Phenom II or better, I noticed, they are getting harder to find now. What chipset and cpu combo would you want if you had to buy something for $160 for the pair? Looking to spend 40-60 on the board and 70-110 on the cpu. A single PCi-e slot is all he needs and usb 3 is not necessary either. He has a decent video card we are going to use in the short term until he saves up another $120 for that upgrade.

Exxon that gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 looked interesting at that price point, but man the reviews are spotty as hell on that thing,
 
#8 ·
Unfortunate. That board will not be able to overclock and you'll be stuck with a Phenom II @ stock... which eliminates the value.

Your $330 means how much money for CPU/MOBO? Are you living near a MicroCenter? If you do I'd highly recommend their i3-3225 deals... $129 with tax CPU/Mobo.
 
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#9 ·
If you look for a quad core processor, the flexibility of VRM cooling would probably be quite an asset. Since, at that budget, getting an SSD is probably out the window (therefore negating any of the benefit of SATAIII, really the only huge benefactor of the 970 if not overclocking), I would suggest the GA-78LMT-USB3. It's an MATX with VRM cooling (superior to the low end 970 options in this regard) and may give you more processor choice and clock speed flexibility. It also costs less anyhow.
 
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#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by crackdaddy View Post

Thanks guys, Problem is, this is a low budget build, I mean this kid wants a $330 pc. So I was thinking a slightly older board, that will support a x4 Phenom II or better, I noticed, they are getting harder to find now. What chipset and cpu combo would you want if you had to buy something for $160 for the pair? Looking to spend 40-60 on the board and 70-110 on the cpu. A single PCi-e slot is all he needs and usb 3 is not necessary either. He has a decent video card we are going to use in the short term until he saves up another $120 for that upgrade.

Exxon that gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 looked interesting at that price point, but man the reviews are spotty as hell on that thing,
Click to expand...
well have you considered an apu for this rig?

a phenom ii x4 965 is $95 and that gigabyte USB3 board is $55 Amir. within your .$160 budget

edit. my bad you have a Gpu already...
 
#12 ·
Discussion starter · #13 ·
I'm thinking about this as the core, I've got a new rosewell case he can have that was left over from a previous build for someone else and an older 160 gig sata harddrive, although with the ide connection, we could actually reuse is hard drive and dvd-rw though.

GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-USB3 AM3+ AMD 760G USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128565
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$5.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$69.99
$64.99

AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX
Item #: N82E16819103996
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$104. - 12 discount code, making it $92

COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-I3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817171046
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$39.99 $25 A/R

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
Item #: N82E16820231277
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$36.99

$246.96

Thoughts? Been awhile since I shopped around,for a gaming rig but it does seem the FX cpu's seem to outperform the phenom ii when comparing cores/clock speed to same core and clock speed, add less power usage and it seems like the FX cpu's are the way to go.
Looked online for budget gaming build guides and seems like noone is using any AMD cpu's for any gaming builds.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by crackdaddy View Post

I'm thinking about this as the core, I've got a new rosewell case he can have that was left over from a previous build for someone else and an older 160 gig sata harddrive, although with the ide connection, we could actually reuse is hard drive and dvd-rw though.

GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-USB3 AM3+ AMD 760G USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813128565
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$5.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$69.99
$64.99

AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX
Item #: N82E16819103996
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$104. - 12 discount code, making it $92

COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-I3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817171046
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$39.99 $25 A/R

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
Item #: N82E16820231277
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$36.99

$246.96

Thoughts? Been awhile since I shopped around,for a gaming rig but it does seem the FX cpu's seem to outperform the phenom ii when comparing cores/clock speed to same core and clock speed, add less power usage and it seems like the FX cpu's are the way to go.
Looked online for budget gaming build guides and seems like noone is using any AMD cpu's for any gaming builds.
Click to expand...
The 2nd gen FX chips are the way to go. But a phenom ii x4 965 is generally a better choice than the 4100

If you can pony up a bit more cash then the 6300 would be much better however.

i would prefer the cx430 over that PSU

and don't use that old IDE drive plz
redface.gif


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AMD-Phenom-II-X4-Processor-965-3-4GHz-AM3-HDZ965FBK4DGM-/380441617411?pt=CPUs&hash=item5894166403

$75+
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $227.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-15 18:07 EDT-0400)

Total ~$300
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Yea, I agree, I'm a huge fan of the 430 and I have one sitting in my garage nib as a spare, but since I've already used my rebate to snag that one for $20 and not wanting to release my spare,
I saw the rebate on this one. For $20, thought I'd take a flyer and give it a go, especially since it's rated at 460 watts.
Thanks guys.. I'm gonna call this a wrap.

So no problem using AM3 cpus in AM3+ motherboards I take it?
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by crackdaddy View Post

Yea, I agree, I'm a huge fan of the 430 and I have one sitting in my garage nib as a spare, but since I've already used my rebate to snag that one for $20 and not wanting to release my spare,
I saw the rebate on this one. For $20, thought I'd take a flyer and give it a go, especially since it's rated at 460 watts.
Thanks guys.. I'm gonna call this a wrap.

So no problem using AM3 cpus in AM3+ motherboards I take it?
Click to expand...
no problem at all
 
#18 ·
I would suggest Coolermaster Silent Pro M2 420w.But anyway i see you are on tight budget so whatever you want.
I also suggest Phenom ii x4 965 BE from 4100. Or if you can go for a fx4300 (or a biit more for fx6300 which is significantly better)
 
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