Help with picking new motherboard.

i am going to do a long time upgrade but have been out of the market for quite some time so need some advice on a motherboard for an AM2 64 x2 6000+ cpu, and 4gb PC2 6400.

seems to be so many around since I last looked at an upgrade. i was looking at the Asus M3N78-VM, NV GF 8200, and others in the range (is it worth the M3N78 PRO ATX AM2 with the hybrid ability?)

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=900105

Seems to be quite hard to distinguish between the different types. and I am not 100% clear on whats worth the extra cash or features. either ATX or MATX not an issue

any advice or help would be appreciated. if they have a choice at Scan it would be helpful as I am buying some other parts from them.


thanks

What wattage is the 6000+? I only ask as the 780G boards are notorious for only having 3 phase power which means put in a 125W processor and watch it burst into flames :o

Do you need on board graphics or do you have a graphics card? Hybrid graphics is not worth the effort you will not see great benefits from it as games will still run slow and for web browsing etc the IGP is enough.

If you will ever consider upgrading the CPU then it could be worth checking to make sure the board you buy will have support for the AM2+ Phenom II chips (to be released Q1 2009) pretty sure most AM2+ boards will but again they will be 125W chips so the 780G is out.

The best boards to buy at the moment are the 790FX and 790GX which both use the SB750 which greatly improved stability and overclocking for the Phenoms though it wasn't an issue for the X2s anyway. I would be tempted by the Biostar 790GX http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=911394 £70 so a bit more than the 8200 but will allow for more future upgrades. The IGP is the best you can buy at the moment and it supports hybrid graphics if you really wanted to (see above comments on that) and crossfire if the system ever turned gaming heavy (crossfired 4830s or 4850s are just exceptional value for money compared to single cards in that price range).

many thanks for your info I am defo looking at the biostar.

being new to the AM2 platforms do you have anymore ''basic'' info on the 3 phase power which means put in a 125W processor and watch it burst into flames ???

Well the whole bursting into flames was perhaps a bit dramatic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by From Scan product page for Asus 780G board

The vast majority of the 780G boards have a three-phase or four-phase PWM circuitry design. These designs are completely acceptable for the 45W, 65W, 89W, and 95W TDP rated processors; however, drop in a 125W TDP processor such as the Phenom 9850e or 6400+ X2 and you are asking for trouble

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http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=787072

Oh and maybe the flames were not such an over statement :o

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3344&p=8

thanks i will look into all of this more. its always a bugger when you dont upgrade for a couple of years and dont have to look into the nitty gritty of new hardware.