Upgrading mobo from AM3 to AM3+ (Sata3, USB3)

[Horrux]

OK so I am using an ASUS M4A79 Deluxe, which is AM3 but DDR2, SATA2 and USB2.

I just got a SATA3 SSD and am running a 6-core Phenom II 1100t, so I figure my CPU is pretty bandwidth-starved what with DDR2 1066. Time for DDR3 and SATA3. And of course AM3+, in case Bulldozer proves worthy of upgrading to.

Keep in mind:
- I run a high-end sound card, so no real need for the onboard
- I run 2 GTX 570 in SLI, so of course at LEAST 2 PCI-e 16x are required
- I want a board that supports the fastest DDR3 that my 1100t or Bulldozer will support
- I don't overclock.

What's a good board for me? I have been told that the more expensive mobos out there cost a lot because of overclocking features and onboard devices, but I don't know how true that is. I certainly have purchased mobos with the idea that pricier ones were higher quality but maybe I have been paying for features I don't use?

So what's a good mobo for me?

 

[Melvis]

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3894#

Thats what ill be getting^ Good price performance in my eyes.

 

[JrRacinFan]

I second Melvis' suggestion but another board to look at Asrock 970 Extreme4, going with 970 chipset as you stated you rather not overclock. One other thing to add though, the 970 Extreme4 may not be ideal as you will need to overclock base clock to obtain the 1866 native dram frequency of Bulldozer. Whereas the UD3 supports that memory multiplier out of the box for Bulldozer. Either one supports 1333 for Thuban.

 

[Horrux]

I second Melvis' suggestion but another board to look at Asrock 970 Extreme4, going with 970 chipset as you stated you rather not overclock. One other thing to add though, the 970 Extreme4 may not be ideal as you will need to overclock base clock to obtain the 1866 native dram frequency of Bulldozer. Whereas the UD3 supports that memory multiplier out of the box for Bulldozer. Either one supports 1333 for Thuban.

It doesn't look like it will avail me of the fastest DRAM speeds available. I would like a chipset that will let me run my DDR3 at 2133 speeds if possible.

 

[erocker]

I would like a chipset that will let me run my DDR3 at 2133 speeds if possible.

Chipset doesn't matter. The IMC on the CPU does. Phenom II just won't do it efficiently. Get a Crosshair V. When Bulldozer comes out you should then be able to run your RAM at higher frequency. Also, if you don't overclock I suggest you go Intel. You are bottlenecking your GTX 570's horribly.

 

[Horrux]

Chipset doesn't matter. The IMC on the CPU does. Phenom II just won't do it efficiently. Get a Crosshair V. When Bulldozer comes out you should then be able to run your RAM at higher frequency. Also, if you don't overclock I suggest you go Intel. You are bottlenecking your GTX 570's horribly.

I will not go Intel unless Bulldozer is horrible and my CPU prevents me from playing my games at great framerates, so that I need to upgrade. Until then, I will buy AMD.

 

[erocker]

I will not go Intel unless Bulldozer is horrible and my CPU prevents me from playing my games at great framerates, so that I need to upgrade. Until then, I will buy AMD.

Okay, what about the other points I made? Get the lowest latency RAM you can get (low and tight timings) and be sure to up the frequency of your CPU/NB. Technically it's not overclocking, it's a part of the initial setup.

 

[cadaveca]

Technically it's not overclocking,

You are right, but it IS most definitely overclocking. Anything over 1333 MHz memory and 2000 MHz NB is an OC.

 

[erocker]

You are right, but it IS most definitely overclocking. Anything over 1333 MHz memory and 2000 MHz NB is an OC.

Naw, it's just "setting up your system properly". Tomato/Tomatoe.

 

[cadaveca]

Naw, it's just "setting up your system properly". Tomato/Tomatoe.

Too bad AMD didn't do that for us already.


You know, 1100T wouldn't look so bad, and require an OC to get decent 3D performance if SB wasn't truly a generation ahead. SB just raised the bar too high for Phenom II.


That said, the APUs are pretty good for 3D already, so we can only hope that Bulldozer only ups the ante there.


But, like you recommended, Intel SKT1155 is pretty damn good right now, with many users reporting a performance doubling making the switch from AMD Phenom II quads, so there's no guesswork involved as to what performance you'll end up with for your dollar. AMD needs to hurry up!

 

[TheLaughingMan]

Just to second Erocker, the 1100T runs a slightly different memory controller than say a AMD 955. It is not a huge step, but it does respond much better to high clocked RAM than its little brother. Tight timing is still important. You also have to consider the system is technically for a BD chip and the 1100T is just a place holder until them. So you should be getting 1866 MHz or higher RAM. You can then just run it at 1600 or 1333 at low timings during the mean time. Then when BD comes out and if you get one, you can unchain the RAM. If not, you still have high clocked RAM for your switch to Intel.

 

[Horrux]

Just to second Erocker, the 1100T runs a slightly different memory controller than say a AMD 955. It is not a huge step, but it does respond much better to high clocked RAM than its little brother. Tight timing is still important. You also have to consider the system is technically for a BD chip and the 1100T is just a place holder until them. So you should be getting 1866 MHz or higher RAM. You can then just run it at 1600 or 1333 at low timings during the mean time. Then when BD comes out and if you get one, you can unchain the RAM. If not, you still have high clocked RAM for your switch to Intel.

Ah! Great thinking! Thank you! That makes 110% sense!

So an ASUS Crosshair V looks good according to you?

 

[TheLaughingMan]

From what I have seen so far, most board makers geared up for AMD 900 series. If for nothing else other than the support for Nvidia SLI increasing potential buyers. Basically there are a lot of great options.

The Asus Crosshair V, Asus Sabertooth, Gigabyte 990FX UD5, Gigabyte 990FX UD7, and maybe the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Pro. All of thsoe should be more than enough. If you really want to narrow it down, the Crosshair should have superior on-board sound.

 

[Goodman]

If Bulldozer turn out to be good i would got with this board...
http://ca.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3901#ov

Same chipset as Melvis posted but at cheaper price the only thing different is you can't go quad-fire or quad-SLI (which will be at x8 anyway or is it x4?) still you can do Xfire or SLI on this mobo (x16x8) you only loose like ~3% over x16x16 on the 990FX not much to worry about except for price...

It's all depends on you if you want to spend big $$ on 4 graphic cards or not...

Anyhow that is the board i am going for if Bulldozer is good if not ill go ... Intel

 

[eidairaman1]

Considering Phenom Arch is pretty old now. Tell u truth the Top ENd CPus should be named Athlons, then Durons, Then Semprons

Too bad AMD didn't do that for us already.


You know, 1100T wouldn't look so bad, and require an OC to get decent 3D performance if SB wasn't truly a generation ahead. SB just raised the bar too high for Phenom II.


That said, the APUs are pretty good for 3D already, so we can only hope that Bulldozer only ups the ante there.


But, like you recommended, Intel SKT1155 is pretty damn good right now, with many users reporting a performance doubling making the switch from AMD Phenom II quads, so there's no guesswork involved as to what performance you'll end up with for your dollar. AMD needs to hurry up!

I second Melvis' suggestion but another board to look at Asrock 970 Extreme4, going with 970 chipset as you stated you rather not overclock. One other thing to add though, the 970 Extreme4 may not be ideal as you will need to overclock base clock to obtain the 1866 native dram frequency of Bulldozer. Whereas the UD3 supports that memory multiplier out of the box for Bulldozer. Either one supports 1333 for Thuban.

My bros board is running 1600 with the set timings of 8-8-8-24 at 1.5 and the CPU is unlocked from a 555 to a B55/955 now. Im sure it can run 1866 or higher, it defaulted to 1333 initially when i cleared CMOS before first powerup.

 

[Horrux]

If Bulldozer turn out to be good i would got with this board...
http://ca.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3901#ov

Same chipset as Melvis posted but at cheaper price the only thing different is you can't go quad-fire or quad-SLI (which will be at x8 anyway or is it x4?) still you can do Xfire or SLI on this mobo (x16x8) you only loose like ~3% over x16x16 on the 990FX not much to worry about except for price...

It's all depends on you if you want to spend big $$ on 4 graphic cards or not...

Anyhow that is the board i am going for if Bulldozer is good if not ill go ... Intel

Hey Goodman, I'm in Montreal also. I have 2 graphics cards (GTX 570 Sli) and currently my SLI is the patched/hacked version, so that's one reason for going to a mobo that officially supports it. I don't need the onboard sound, but a lot of PCIe channels is a good thing, especially that I might upgrade my SSD to a RevoDrive (PCIe X4) and put the SSD in the second box.

 

[eidairaman1]

From what I have seen so far, most board makers geared up for AMD 900 series. If for nothing else other than the support for Nvidia SLI increasing potential buyers. Basically there are a lot of great options.

The Asus Crosshair V, Asus Sabertooth, Gigabyte 990FX UD5, Gigabyte 990FX UD7, and maybe the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Pro. All of thsoe should be more than enough. If you really want to narrow it down, the Crosshair should have superior on-board sound.

even 800 series chipsets support AM3+ as long as you have the black socket on board which are like rev 2 or rev 3 series boards from the big companies

 

[JrRacinFan]

even 800 series chipsets support AM3+ as long as you have the black socket on board which are like rev 2 or rev 3 series boards from the big companies

That's unofficial support from board makers.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

even 800 series chipsets support AM3+ as long as you have the black socket on board which are like rev 2 or rev 3 series boards from the big companies

While true, may board makers stop building 800 series boards with the black socket once their own 900 series was released. Example, I have a 890FXA-UD5 rev. 3 (AM3+ black socket) right now and I can't find it for sell anywhere any more. Why would anyone buy it at $190 when you can get a 990FXA-UD5 which has SLI support and higher HTT potential? I mean it would be great if you can find one still on sell for like $145ish.

That's unofficial support from board makers.

And I thought the unofficial support were the ones that claimed you only need a BIOS update and the chips will work on AM3 white sockets? I thought AMD said as long as you use the black AM3+ socket its fine.

 

[Horrux]

even 800 series chipsets support AM3+ as long as you have the black socket on board which are like rev 2 or rev 3 series boards from the big companies

Yeah but no official SLI support or running the AM3+ with all its power management features either...

I really need a real AM3+

 

[liviuttn]

Yeah but no official SLI support either.

I have Asus M5A99x EVO great performance and value for money! My rig AMD 1090T 3600/4000 turbo core, 8 gb ram, kingmax nano 1600, ssd 60 gb SATA 3 corsair force ,PSU sirtec 650W, 3 T HDD, AMD Radeon 5770. I'm happy!Support crosfire x and SLI! http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3Plus/M5A99X_EVO/

 

[Horrux]

I have Asus M5A99x EVO great performance and value for money! My rig AMD 1090T 3600/4000 turbo core, 8 gb ram, kingmax nano 1600, ssd 60 gb SATA 3 corsair force ,PSU sirtec 650W, 3 T HDD, AMD Radeon 5770. I'm happy!Support crosfire x and SLI! http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3Plus/M5A99X_EVO/

Looks good!

So what chipset am I looking for? 990X? 990FX? And why?

 

[liviuttn]

Looks good!

So what chipset am I looking for? 990X? 990FX? And why?

990fx support 4 video cards and 990x only 2 or 3 video cards

 

[JrRacinFan]

So what chipset am I looking for? 990X? 990FX? And why?

PCIe lanes. How long do you actually plan on holding onto the board? How long do you plan on sticking with GTX570 SLI? Remember 16x+16x (990FX) barely holds a premium of performance over 8x+8x (990X), but if sticking with the board and future multi gpu configurations for a long time may want to get the extra lanes.

And I thought the unofficial support were the ones that claimed you only need a BIOS update and the chips will work on AM3 white sockets? I thought AMD said as long as you use the black AM3+ socket its fine.

Just heard it had something to do with the new version of Turbo core & how it's not officially supported. I didn't get a reply from JF-AMD when I commented on this a while ago and can't find the exact post I had mentioned it in.

 

[brandonwh64]

Im just waiting on the release, they may even work in old AM3 boards with maybe a bios update?