MSI 740GTM-P25 740G Reviews/Info?

[Ulti]

Well I saw this on Ebuyer and it looks pretty tempting for a cheap AM2+ (DDR2) that supports AM3 processors with SB710 which supports core unlocking. (Pair it up with an Sempron 140)

However, I can't seem to find any reviews on the motherboard (maybe my google skills suck too much ) so I was wondering if anyone has owned this board before?

Thanks!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Well I saw this on Ebuyer and it looks pretty tempting for a cheap AM2+ (DDR2) that supports AM3 processors with SB710 which supports core unlocking. (Pair it up with an Sempron 140)

However, I can't seem to find any reviews on the motherboard (maybe my google skills suck too much ) so I was wondering if anyone has owned this board before?

Thanks!

The motherboard can unlock cores:

http://www.hardwarezone.com.ph/news/...id=15190&cid=4

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/sh...2529879&page=4

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?to...790.msg1013129

However I would consider getting this motherboard instead:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ASRoc...SATA-RAID-mATX

It can unlock cores too and also the 780G has the HD3200 IGP and has dedicated RAM on the motherboard for it also!!

The HD3200 is a faster IGP than the one found in 740G motherboards and has better HD media decoding too.

[Ulti]

Do you think that would be the best budget AM2+ board that supports core unlocking and AM3 CPUs?

Reason I ask is because I am preparing to move to a Phenom II 9XX and so I will be using DDR3 RAM. I will then not have any DDR3 RAM to use with the unlocked Sempron 140 CPU I have and DDR3 is still quite expensive so I don't want to buy any and therefore I will have a AM3 CPU and DDR2 RAM but no AM2+ board that supports core unlocking.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Do you think that would be the best budget AM2+ board that supports core unlocking and AM3 CPUs?

Reason I ask is because I am preparing to move to a Phenom II 9XX and so I will be using DDR3 RAM. I will then not have any DDR3 RAM to use with the unlocked Sempron 140 CPU I have and DDR3 is still quite expensive so I don't want to buy any and therefore I will have a AM3 CPU and DDR2 RAM but no AM2+ board that supports core unlocking.

The Asrock motherboard is a nice and relatively cheap motherboard which would do the job. There are more expensive AM2+ 785G motherboards which have 4 dimms slots too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Biost...-RAID-mATX-VGA

The Biostar has DDR3 RAM on the motherboard for the IGP too.

[Ulti]

Well I will be using my current memory (2x2GB) and seeing as the other computer is only using Windows XP 32bit I won't have to worry about having 4 DIMM slots as 2 will be enough. I don't think the other computer will be moved to 64 bit anytime and even if it is, 4GB is more than enough for even W7 64 bit I feel.

The only thing I am thinking about now is whether or not the IGP will be a priority as I do have a 8600GT but it's only the low profile version with the very low memory clock.

I assume if I use the 8600GT I would be better off getting cheapest option to unlock the Sempron 140?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Well I will be using my current memory (2x2GB) and seeing as the other computer is only using Windows XP 32bit I won't have to worry about having 4 DIMM slots as 2 will be enough. I don't think the other computer will be moved to 64 bit anytime and even if it is, 4GB is more than enough for even W7 64 bit I feel.

The only thing I am thinking about now is whether or not the IGP will be a priority as I do have a 8600GT but it's only the low profile version with the very low memory clock.

I assume if I use the 8600GT I would be better off getting cheapest option to unlock the Sempron 140?

The cheaper option would do the job although I will tell you no unlock is guaranteed!!

I would also suggest looking at 45NM version of the X2 5000+ too:

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...ilable-uk.html

The VRMs of both motherboards do look similar.

[Pob255]

If the heaviest gpu stuff you plan to use it for is media type stuff, then 785g+710sb with onboard would be fine

That MSI 760g+710sb would be a very cheap option if you used the 8600gt on it

Or how about a DFI Jr 790gx+750sb
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/DFI-J...A-II-Micro-ATX

[Ulti]

Well I've unlocked it on an MSI 758GM-E51 board so the CPU is unlockable anyway and therefore it should be repeatable as the "locked away fault" should be part of the CPU so if it unlocked on 1 mobo then theoritically it should unlock on another board with the same southbridge.

That DFI would be pure win if I was to pair it up with a Phenom II 550 or something but as this is only going to be paired up with a Sempron 140 and 8600GT with 4GB (2x2GB) RAM with Windows XP 32 bit then I won't really need it.

I might wait around and see if AM2+ board prices drop anymore as they've dropped a large amount in the last month otherwise I'll be getting the cheap AM2+ board then... The only thing is as I know the CPU is stable at 3.6ghz, I hope that that motherboard has the same "overclock" features... Guess I'll have to see myself, shame noone has posted any reviews of the BIOS.

To answer Pob: the pc (Sempron 140 that is capable of being unlocked and running at 3.6ghz with 4GB of DDR2 RAM that I am currently using) is going to be swapped with the siblings current pc which they play games like WoW, TF2 and flash games. It currently has 2GB RAM, AMD Athlon X2 3800+ overclocked to 2.5ghz and an 8600GT. This will be given to my parents instead who only use the pc as a sort of media centre.

[Domestic_Ginger]

I am very dubious about these motherboards the 740g does not support HT3.0.

MSI states it only supports HT1.0 so ebuyer must have cut and pasted the description from somewhere else.

Get the DFI! Pob has the right idea! I want one of these btw; don't need it though.....

Actually the ASROCK CtV listed is good and I think its one of the budget unlockers boards of choice.

[Pob255]

I might wait around and see if AM2+ board prices drop anymore as they've dropped a large amount in the last month otherwise I'll be getting the cheap AM2+ board then... The only thing is as I know the CPU is stable at 3.6ghz, I hope that that motherboard has the same "overclock" features... Guess I'll have to see myself, shame noone has posted any reviews of the BIOS.

To answer Pob: the pc (Sempron 140 that is capable of being unlocked and running at 3.6ghz with 4GB of DDR2 RAM that I am currently using) is going to be swapped with the siblings current pc which they play games like WoW, TF2 and flash games. It currently has 2GB RAM, AMD Athlon X2 3800+ overclocked to 2.5ghz and an 8600GT. This will be given to my parents instead who only use the pc as a sort of media centre.

I doubt retail prices are going to drop much more, as they so low already.
Maybe 2nd hand prices, if you want very cheap.

With thoes games maybe a 785g + 3470 in Hybrid CrossfireX
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hewlett-Packar...item414c2613dc
Go on you know you want to

EDIT: Actually I take that backI think a 8600gt will still beat the pants off it.
Might be able to pick up a cheap 8800gts 320mb or a HD3850 with some hunting thoes would make a good upgrade over a 8600gt
I seem to remember some of the newer WoW packs are a good chunk more graphically intensive

[Ulti]

Well from what I've seen, as their screen res is 1024*768, the 8600GT handles it fine.

I think I should just wait around for some cheap DDR3 to popup on fleabay though - could take months but if I'm lucky and check a few times a day I should be able to find something.

I wonder how much of an increase I will see with everyday tasks from going from a E8200 to Phenom II 955/965 though. I'm just annoyed that my RAM is holding back my E8200 from being clocked higher because it does 3.8ghz on 1.21v stable but my RAM can't get over 950mhz without blue screening and pushing the NB voltage or DIMM voltage doesn't help either. Setting the latencies to 6/7 also doesn't help E8XX series are dropping in value so I guess I'll sell mine, it's a shame as it's a really nice overclockable chip and my sample seems to be pretty good. Don't wanna invest on 1066mhz RAM though just for a few 100 more mhz either.

Got some 1866Mhz OCZ DDR3 RAM though so hopefully a Phenom 955 or 965 paired with it will be good Shame I haven't seen any 4770s for £50 on fleabay now that I have some money to afford another one. Also a shame that I have to part with my DFI board as I love their black/orange/yellow colour schemes, matches my red LED fans in my NZXT so well

[Pob255]

Personally speaking I doubt you'll see any changes in most tasks, you could probably knock that e8200 back to 3ghz and not see much of a change.
I know my e6600 from 3ghz to 3.4ghz didn't seem to change much, I think hard drive access is a bigger impact at these clock speeds.

You might get some mialage out of a quad core over a daul core, although I'm still unsure of this myself

And Good luck with ddr3, you'll need it, DDR3 prices are still going up atm

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The OP could get a Q9550 to replace the E8400 they have:

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

Scan have this weekend on offer for £164.

[Ulti]

Personally speaking I doubt you'll see any changes in most tasks, you could probably knock that e8200 back to 3ghz and not see much of a change.
I know my e6600 from 3ghz to 3.4ghz didn't seem to change much, I think hard drive access is a bigger impact at these clock speeds.

You might get some mialage out of a quad core over a daul core, although I'm still unsure of this myself

And Good luck with ddr3, you'll need it, DDR3 prices are still going up atm

Well I'm not willing to spend £100+ on a decent SSD yet although I'll certainly jump on one if they drop to around £1/1GB, will probably need a 60GB one.

I probably won't see that much difference between a quad and a dual most the time but if I do then it will be in the quad's favour.

The OP could get a Q9550 to replace the E8400 they have:

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

Scan have this weekend on offer for £164.

This works out as over 30% more expensive than the Phenom II 955 though so I'm not too keen on it at all.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This works out as over 30% more expensive than the Phenom II 955 though so I'm not too keen on it at all.

You can re-use your existing motherboard and RAM so it would work out cheaper.

[Ulti]

Well I've already got an AM3 board and good DDR3 RAM, besides Q9550 is beaten by Phenom II 955 in almost every benchmark/application I've seen except memory related ones.

I'm just hoping I will actually see some difference between E8200-> Phenom II 955, shame I missed out on one that was £90, woke up too late today I don't think the prices are going to fall anymore so I'll probably get it off Scan in a week or so as they tend to be on Scan at £120 Today Only most days of the week.