Best AMD motherboard?

[Sputnik]

I think I'm going to go with an AMD upgrade now. I want to know what the best AMD based board is. I'm looking at the following boards after reading that the 790GX has problems with onboard graphics and sound.

1, Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H

2, Asus M3A78 PRO

I've read that someone had the mosfets on the Gigabyte board burn out using a 125w CPU but, maybe this was a one off incident?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Look at the CPU compatiblity lists first. Are you going for a quad core Phenom II BTW??

[Sputnik]

I'm on a budget without a budget Seriously though, I was thinking of going with the 7750+ and maybe changing it when the price drops on the Quads later on.

If I get a 780g based board the onboard graphics would be more than good enough for me, So it will save me buying a Graphics card.

I would like Firewire onboard but, If not I can just use a Firewire card instead.

[staffsMike]

Lack of DVI ended up putting me off that Asus but then I was happier going with the uATX version. Not sure about the gigabyte boards having problems but I haven't trusted them for years.

Both of my current AMD boards from asus are going strong and are amazing value for money, having paid £34 for the 690G and £47 (i think) for the 780V (which is running a 125W phenom no problem).

I try to buy uATX where ever possible now, they are more flexable to different systems and given the nature of these boards, they are perfect for HTPC's later etc..

[Sputnik]

Lack of DVI ended up putting me off that Asus but then I was happier going with the uATX version. Not sure about the gigabyte boards having problems but I haven't trusted them for years.

Both of my current AMD boards from asus are going strong and are amazing value for money, having paid £34 for the 690G and £47 (i think) for the 780V (which is running a 125W phenom no problem).

I try to buy uATX where ever possible now, they are more flexable to different systems and given the nature of these boards, they are perfect for HTPC's later etc..

Thanks for pointing that out, I did notice it when looking but, forgot about it. In that case it is out of the running then. as I want DVI.

I was reading the reviews on Ebuyer and it seems the uATX Asus 780G has issues as someone has had three DOA and I think someone else had the same.

Anyone got a 790GX based board? That can give an honest first hand opinion?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Lack of DVI ended up putting me off that Asus but then I was happier going with the uATX version. Not sure about the gigabyte boards having problems but I haven't trusted them for years.

Both of my current AMD boards from asus are going strong and are amazing value for money, having paid £34 for the 690G and £47 (i think) for the 780V (which is running a 125W phenom no problem).

I try to buy uATX where ever possible now, they are more flexable to different systems and given the nature of these boards, they are perfect for HTPC's later etc..

The Asus comes with an HDMI to DVI adaptor!!

Check out this review:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article855-page1.html

It maybe worth going for one of the Biostar 790GX motherboards.

There is the Biostar TA790GX-A2+, which is around 70 quid:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Biost...-SATA-RAID-ATX

Here are some reviews:

http://my.ocworkbench.com/2008/biost...0GX-A2+/b9.htm

http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/mainbo...-790gx-p1.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/24...ta790gx-report

http://www.trustedreviews.com/mother...TA790GX-A2-/p1

It only has 64mb of GDDR2 sidepoint memory and is not the best overclocker but seems a competent motherboard.

There is also the slightly more expensive Biostar TA790GX3-A2 for around 80 quid which is a better overclocker and has 128mb of GDDR3 sideport memory:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Biost...-SATA-RAID-ATX

Here is a review:

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...d.php?t=728565

[staffsMike]

The adapter is all well and good but, the uATX allows DVI and HDMI/display port in dual screen which is what I was after.

[pepsi_max2k]

It all depends what you wanna do with it (onboard vga, sli, tripple sli, major oc's, 140w) but looks like you're going for the cheapo onboard route, and as I've been doing the same.... here's my current list, inc uk prices, and ordered generally in preferred chips/ets, features and performance.

All are full ATX, and chipset preference goes a bit like this:

790FX
790X
790GX (~15% faster than 770)
780G
780V
770
8200



ASRock AOD790GX/128M ~107 amazon
*ASRock A780GXE/128M ~83 amazon ~80 ebay ~82 computeruniverse.net
ECS A790GXM-A ~102.5 amazon
Asus M3A78-T (790GX. 3x PCIx16) ~97 ebay ~103 scan
Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H (r2.0 / P = 140w, HD3200) ~65 ebay ~69 scan
*Biostar TForce TA790GX3 A2+ (HD3300 + 128 side) ~81 scan
*BIOSTAR TA790GX (HD3300 + 64 side) ~68 - 71 scan

ASrock A770CrossFire (770, 700; 140w, 16x8, solid caps) ~59 eclipse ~67 computeruniverse.net ~62 amazon
Asus M3A78 PRO (780G, up to 140w) ~67 specialtech 67 ebuyer
ECS A780GM-A Ultra (1 x16, 3 pci) ~66.5 amazon
BIOSTAR TA790GXB
GA-MA770-US3 / -UDS3
GA-MA770-S3 (2.0 /P) / -DS3 (rev 2.0 / p = * + 140w support) ~58 yoyotech ~64 tekheads ~60 ebuyer ~64 ccl ~62 play.com
ASRock K10N78-1394 65 ebay, £61.98 http://www.gltec.co.uk 63.32 pixmania
BIOSTAR TForce TF8200 (rev 5.X, only 125w support) ~51.50 ccl
ASRock K10N78 58 ebay 59.97 overclock , 58.55 worldwidepc.co.uk, 58.05 ginger6
ASUS M3A-H/HDMI (780G, up to 125w) ~67 ebuyer ~60 ebay

Asus M3N78 SE (8200) ~60 lambda-tek ~62 ccl ~62 ebay
ABIT AN78GS ~62 lambda
ECS GF8200A

ASUS M3A78 (770) ~60 ebay
Sapphire AM2RX780 (770, SB600) ~71 ccl
Abit AX78 (770, 600; no 140, 16x4) ~54 scan ~56 ccl

[Sputnik]

Well, after reading all the reviews etc. that you kind people have posted I think "cat the fifth" was right.

I'm starting to think the J&W 790gx board is the best of the bunch for me. The following reasons bring me to this conclusion.

All solid caps
All sata ports can be used with Graphics cards.
Mosfet cooler.

So all I have to do now is wait until Scan get some in stock again.

[jimmyt1988]

J&W have and always will be a fantastic board manufacteurererere (howevere you spell it).

But still, AMD isnt too hot on the market at the moment? Are you sure you cant tempt yourself with an intel dual or quad core?

They are seriously much faster performance.

[father smurf]

Not strictly true with the performance of the PhenomII - which is offering reasonable "bang per buck"

[kalniel]

But still, AMD isnt too hot on the market at the moment? Are you sure you cant tempt yourself with an intel dual or quad core?

They are seriously much faster performance.

They are seriously not any more

[McPhee]

J&W have and always will be a fantastic board manufacteurererere (howevere you spell it).

But still, AMD isnt too hot on the market at the moment? Are you sure you cant tempt yourself with an intel dual or quad core?

They are seriously much faster performance.

AMD's new Quads are putting up the good fight, £151 for the 920 today on Scan and it can keep pace with the Q9300/Q9400 at stock. Baring in mind that AMD boards are also a bit cheaper and it's one hell of a deal.

I looked at Intel for my upgrade as i'm having to buy a new mobo, but they really aren't there right now in price/performance for Quads. Duals, yes. Quads, not quite.