• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

AM3 mobo

Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
631 (0.09/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name Media PC
Processor Intel Core-i5 4460
Motherboard Asus H97i plus
Cooling Noctua LH-9i with upgraded NF-A9, x2 Noctua NF-F12
Memory 8GB x2 Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz kit
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Super clocked GTX970 itx
Storage 1TB western digital black 2.5"
Display(s) Samsung 55" Plasma
Case Fractal Design Node 202
Audio Device(s) Onboard DSP, sound forwarded to Onkyo receiver in 2.1 mode
Power Supply Fractal Design 430w itx PSU
Mouse Logitech Wireless gaming mouse
Keyboard Logitech Wireless, Xbox One S controller
Software Windows 10 pro
ok I've decided to go AM3. I've got the CPU picked out but I'm really having a hard time picking a motherboard. I know a lot of boards are toting them as being able to support a 1600mhz overclock. Are these boards capped or could they theoretically reach the 2000mhz mark?

Also, I plan on running a new sound card and it will probably be pci-e. Let's say I'm waiting for ATI's new dx11 x2 card. Let's say I want two. If I run two cards in X-fire, and I run the sound card, will the bandwidth shrink on for the two pci-e x16 slots if I stick it in one of the other x16 slots on this mobo?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223
how about the DFI variant?

Also Does this have a hardware based RAID chip on it? I would assume it does since it can do RAID 5 and 10 but just asking.
 

ShadowFold

New Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
16,918 (2.85/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name The ShadowFold Draconis (Ordering soon)
Processor AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8ghz
Motherboard ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870
Cooling Stock
Memory Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3-1333
Video Card(s) XFX ATi Radeon HD 5850 1gb
Storage Western Digital 640gb
Display(s) Acer 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1920x1080P
Case Antec Nine-Hundred
Audio Device(s) Onboard + Creative "Fatal1ty" Headset
Power Supply Antec Earthwatts 650w
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Benchmark Scores -❶-❸-❸-❼-
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
631 (0.09/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name Media PC
Processor Intel Core-i5 4460
Motherboard Asus H97i plus
Cooling Noctua LH-9i with upgraded NF-A9, x2 Noctua NF-F12
Memory 8GB x2 Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz kit
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Super clocked GTX970 itx
Storage 1TB western digital black 2.5"
Display(s) Samsung 55" Plasma
Case Fractal Design Node 202
Audio Device(s) Onboard DSP, sound forwarded to Onkyo receiver in 2.1 mode
Power Supply Fractal Design 430w itx PSU
Mouse Logitech Wireless gaming mouse
Keyboard Logitech Wireless, Xbox One S controller
Software Windows 10 pro
I think the DDR3 limit on AMD is 1800mhz, PM cdawall I think I heard that from him.

bah, that sucks if it is but ill ask

That MSI 790FX looks good said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136067&Tpk=DFI%20Am3[/url]

Been using DFI boards for years;) They don't frighten me. As for the bus speed, Is the bus speed of the slots knocked down x8 regardless of what kind of card is installed?
 
Last edited:

ShadowFold

New Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
16,918 (2.85/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name The ShadowFold Draconis (Ordering soon)
Processor AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8ghz
Motherboard ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870
Cooling Stock
Memory Kingston ValueRAM 4GB DDR3-1333
Video Card(s) XFX ATi Radeon HD 5850 1gb
Storage Western Digital 640gb
Display(s) Acer 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1920x1080P
Case Antec Nine-Hundred
Audio Device(s) Onboard + Creative "Fatal1ty" Headset
Power Supply Antec Earthwatts 650w
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Benchmark Scores -❶-❸-❸-❼-
No that's just the JR version.
 
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Messages
3,779 (0.67/day)
Location
Latin America, Uruguay
System Name The Lizard v2.4
Processor Intel Celeron G1840 (for the time being
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H81-S2PH
Cooling Intel Stock Fan
Memory 16GB Kingston HyperX 1600
Video Card(s) MSI Gaming GTX 750Ti (For the time being)
Storage 500GB Samsung F1, 160GB Maxtor "Older than god"
Display(s) AOC 28' LCD
Case Coolermaster N200
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Antec VP500P
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores No crashes in the last 24 minutes.
no, the dfi 790fx has the first 2 slots working at a constant 16 lanes and the third at 4 lanes
 

HolyCow02

New Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
1,638 (0.28/day)
Location
New York
System Name Shredder
Processor Phenom II 955 @stock (for the time being)
Motherboard MSI 790FX-GD70
Cooling Noctua U12P
Memory 8 GB muskin DDR3 1600 @ 7-7-6-18
Video Card(s) 2x Sapphire 4870 1GB
Storage 64 GB Super Talent UltraDrive SSD | 2 x WD Caviar Black 500GB in RAID1
Display(s) Samsung 22" 2ms GTG
Case Thermaltake Spedo Advanced Package
Power Supply Corsair HX1000
Software Vista Business 64-bit
I am going with the DFI when I do my build... 955 (drools) can't wait until Monday!
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
631 (0.09/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name Media PC
Processor Intel Core-i5 4460
Motherboard Asus H97i plus
Cooling Noctua LH-9i with upgraded NF-A9, x2 Noctua NF-F12
Memory 8GB x2 Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz kit
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Super clocked GTX970 itx
Storage 1TB western digital black 2.5"
Display(s) Samsung 55" Plasma
Case Fractal Design Node 202
Audio Device(s) Onboard DSP, sound forwarded to Onkyo receiver in 2.1 mode
Power Supply Fractal Design 430w itx PSU
Mouse Logitech Wireless gaming mouse
Keyboard Logitech Wireless, Xbox One S controller
Software Windows 10 pro
ok both boards look good, the DFI and MSI. As far as RAID controllers go, the MSI looks to have better options in that arena but the important question is, do both boards have hardware RAID support? Like I said above, judging from the MSI and the DFI's RAID features, it looks like both will support hardware level RAID. But since I've really only every messed with software based RAIDS, I don't know what chip to look for.
MSI controllers:
AMD SB750 <-0, 1, 5, 10 or JBOD this makes me think it is hardware
JMicron JMB322 <- isn't this the controller used in the "cheapo" ssds that fail?

DFI controller:
not sure which it has however it does support 0/1/0+1/5.
The other question for this board would be, can you use say three or 4 SATA ports for your RAID and still leave two open for DVD-R and a 1.5T storage drive?
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
631 (0.09/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name Media PC
Processor Intel Core-i5 4460
Motherboard Asus H97i plus
Cooling Noctua LH-9i with upgraded NF-A9, x2 Noctua NF-F12
Memory 8GB x2 Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz kit
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Super clocked GTX970 itx
Storage 1TB western digital black 2.5"
Display(s) Samsung 55" Plasma
Case Fractal Design Node 202
Audio Device(s) Onboard DSP, sound forwarded to Onkyo receiver in 2.1 mode
Power Supply Fractal Design 430w itx PSU
Mouse Logitech Wireless gaming mouse
Keyboard Logitech Wireless, Xbox One S controller
Software Windows 10 pro
nobody knows anything about the RAID controllers on the motherboards?
 

HolyCow02

New Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
1,638 (0.28/day)
Location
New York
System Name Shredder
Processor Phenom II 955 @stock (for the time being)
Motherboard MSI 790FX-GD70
Cooling Noctua U12P
Memory 8 GB muskin DDR3 1600 @ 7-7-6-18
Video Card(s) 2x Sapphire 4870 1GB
Storage 64 GB Super Talent UltraDrive SSD | 2 x WD Caviar Black 500GB in RAID1
Display(s) Samsung 22" 2ms GTG
Case Thermaltake Spedo Advanced Package
Power Supply Corsair HX1000
Software Vista Business 64-bit
Well I know that the DFI is using the SB750 so they should be the same... I can't help anymore than that... but these are good questions since I probably would have asked them in the future :D
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
631 (0.09/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name Media PC
Processor Intel Core-i5 4460
Motherboard Asus H97i plus
Cooling Noctua LH-9i with upgraded NF-A9, x2 Noctua NF-F12
Memory 8GB x2 Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz kit
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Super clocked GTX970 itx
Storage 1TB western digital black 2.5"
Display(s) Samsung 55" Plasma
Case Fractal Design Node 202
Audio Device(s) Onboard DSP, sound forwarded to Onkyo receiver in 2.1 mode
Power Supply Fractal Design 430w itx PSU
Mouse Logitech Wireless gaming mouse
Keyboard Logitech Wireless, Xbox One S controller
Software Windows 10 pro
Ok, what I found out was that the SB750 DOES support hardware level RAID support
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-integrated-790gx,1988-3.html<--don't know how valid this is.and looking at the Gentoo forums, it seems that people are setting up hardware arrays with the SB750 as well. So that gets me a little further.

I think I'm moving a little closer to the MSI side mostly because the reviews I've seen of the bios show a wealth of memory clocking options like DFI usually provides. Plus the MSI supports 2000mhz oveclocking.

Plus MSI has great documentation, support, and the quality of there boards are top notch. My first board was a Neo4 Platinum and I wouldn't have switched to DFI anyway if I hadn't cracked the south bridge chip while installing an aftermarket cooler onto it.
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
458 (0.08/day)
Location
Bangalore, India
System Name Project [E]
Processor AMD Ryzen 3500x @ 4.2 Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte B550 Aurous Pro
Cooling Air cooled
Memory 16 Gb Crucial Ballstix @ 3600 Mhz
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 3060
Storage 500 GB Crucial NVME, 500 GB Crucial Bx500
Display(s) 27" Acer 1440p
Case Caselabs
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply 1000 Watt Cooler Master Gold
Mouse Logitech
Keyboard TT Esports Mechanical
Software Windows 10
BTW didnt want to start a new thread, but does AM3 boards support DDR2 ram. I have looked at a couple of mobos, but they only show DDR3 support. Is it a given or do they not support DDR2?? I would love to get a new asus or gigabyte mobo, but dont want to sped more on the ram.
 

MKmods

Case Mod Guru
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
5,697 (0.97/day)
Location
Nevada
System Name Crossflow III
Processor AMD 965 (4.04Ghz)
Motherboard Asus Crosshair III
Cooling Air
Memory 4 gigs Mushkin 7-7-7-20@1T
Video Card(s) single 9800GT
Storage Raptor 150's in Raid0
Display(s) LG Flatron 24"
Case Custom
Audio Device(s) AuzenTech X-Raider W/OP637
Power Supply Custom modded Corsair 750HX
Software Win 7 64/Solaris Utility
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06--21963 so far
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
223 (0.03/day)
Location
Boston Area, MA
Processor Core i7-930
Motherboard Asus P6T
Memory 2x2GB Corsair DDR3-1333
Video Card(s) Asus HD4850-1GB
Storage OCZ Summit 120GB
Display(s) Dual Dell SP2208WFP 22in
Power Supply Corsair 520HX
BTW didnt want to start a new thread, but does AM3 boards support DDR2 ram. I have looked at a couple of mobos, but they only show DDR3 support. Is it a given or do they not support DDR2?? I would love to get a new asus or gigabyte mobo, but dont want to sped more on the ram.

If you want DDR2 you'll have to get a AM2+ board, (AM3 CPUs will fit in AM2 and allow DDR2)

The prices on DDR3 aren't that bad now compared to DDR2, and now's a good of a time to make the transition as any. Also that MSI 790FX-GD-70 is just hotness :D
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
631 (0.09/day)
Location
Omaha, NE
System Name Media PC
Processor Intel Core-i5 4460
Motherboard Asus H97i plus
Cooling Noctua LH-9i with upgraded NF-A9, x2 Noctua NF-F12
Memory 8GB x2 Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz kit
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Super clocked GTX970 itx
Storage 1TB western digital black 2.5"
Display(s) Samsung 55" Plasma
Case Fractal Design Node 202
Audio Device(s) Onboard DSP, sound forwarded to Onkyo receiver in 2.1 mode
Power Supply Fractal Design 430w itx PSU
Mouse Logitech Wireless gaming mouse
Keyboard Logitech Wireless, Xbox One S controller
Software Windows 10 pro
If you want DDR2 you'll have to get a AM2+ board, (AM3 CPUs will fit in AM2 and allow DDR2)

The prices on DDR3 aren't that bad now compared to DDR2, and now's a good of a time to make the transition as any. Also that MSI 790FX-GD-70 is just hotness :D

actually, in a lot of cases, ddr3 is less expensive, especially kits rated for higher frequencies. The only expensive parts for AM3 right now are the motherboards. If you want something with full features you gotta pay, granted, a full featured AM3 board is usually less expensive than a x58 or other intel boards.
 

HolyCow02

New Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
1,638 (0.28/day)
Location
New York
System Name Shredder
Processor Phenom II 955 @stock (for the time being)
Motherboard MSI 790FX-GD70
Cooling Noctua U12P
Memory 8 GB muskin DDR3 1600 @ 7-7-6-18
Video Card(s) 2x Sapphire 4870 1GB
Storage 64 GB Super Talent UltraDrive SSD | 2 x WD Caviar Black 500GB in RAID1
Display(s) Samsung 22" 2ms GTG
Case Thermaltake Spedo Advanced Package
Power Supply Corsair HX1000
Software Vista Business 64-bit
And the mobo's aren't that bad. Still far cheaper than any i7 board... $150 for a DFI board isn't bad at all.
 
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
2,723 (0.45/day)
Processor i5-7600k
Motherboard ASRock Z170 Pro4
Cooling CM Hyper 212 EVO w/ AC MX-4
Memory 2x8GB DDR4 2400 Corsair LPX Vengeance 15-15-15-36
Video Card(s) MSI Twin Frozr 1070ti
Storage 240GB Corsair Force GT
Display(s) 23' Dell AW2310
Case Corsair 550D
Power Supply Seasonic SS-760XP2 Platinum
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Yea, and there are so much better boards coming out for AMD, like the recently announced Asus Crosshair 3 which I'm sure will carry a hefty price premium even over the most expensive AM3 motherboard currently out right now. But even then, it will probably still be cheaper than i7 boards.

I'm actually thinking to go AMD on their next gen 32nm processors, hopefully they won't need another new socket and will be fully compatible with AM3 motherboards, that would just be fantastic.
 
Joined
Apr 15, 2009
Messages
2,914 (0.53/day)
System Name N/A
Processor i7-4790K
Motherboard Asus Z97-A
Cooling Thermalright True Power 140
Memory 2 x 8GB GeIL Potenza 2400Mhz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 970 Gaming
Storage 2TB Seagate Barracuda
Display(s) 24" Samsung 1080p LED Monitor
Case Phanteks Enthoo Pro
Power Supply Corsair TX650W
Mouse Logitech MX518
Keyboard Corsair K70 (Brown MX)
Software Windows 8.1
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Messages
1,238 (0.20/day)
Location
SoCal
Processor AMD Phenom II 1055T @ 3.6ghz 1.3V
Motherboard Asus M5A97 EVO
Cooling Xigmatek SD1284
Memory 2x4GB Patriot Sector 5 PC3-12800 @ 7-8-7-24-1T 1.7V
Video Card(s) XFX Radeon HD 7950 DD @ 1100/1350 1.185V
Storage OCZ Agility 3 120GB + 2x7200.12 500GB Raid1
Display(s) QNIX QX2710 27" LCD 1440p @ 120hz
Case Cooler Master 690M
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC892
Power Supply Enermax Liberty 620W Eco Edition
Software Windows 7 Professional x64 / Ubuntu 12.04 x64
Get the MSI board from ZZF instead. Much cheaper and FS!
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
458 (0.08/day)
Location
Bangalore, India
System Name Project [E]
Processor AMD Ryzen 3500x @ 4.2 Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte B550 Aurous Pro
Cooling Air cooled
Memory 16 Gb Crucial Ballstix @ 3600 Mhz
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 3060
Storage 500 GB Crucial NVME, 500 GB Crucial Bx500
Display(s) 27" Acer 1440p
Case Caselabs
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply 1000 Watt Cooler Master Gold
Mouse Logitech
Keyboard TT Esports Mechanical
Software Windows 10
So which AM3 mobo is really good and also has the possibility to unlock the 4th core and srun stable. I have the 720be unlocked on the biostar ddr2 mobo as of now.
 
Joined
Jul 19, 2006
Messages
43,585 (6.74/day)
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard ASUS TUF x670e
Cooling EK AIO 360. Phantek T30 fans.
Memory 32GB G.Skill 6000Mhz
Video Card(s) Asus RTX 4090
Storage WD m.2
Display(s) LG C2 Evo OLED 42"
Case Lian Li PC 011 Dynamic Evo
Audio Device(s) Topping E70 DAC, SMSL SP200 Headphone Amp.
Power Supply FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000W
Mouse Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard Tester84
Software Windows 11
Asus M4A79T without a doubt. Awesome board. It's all up to the processor and motherboard bios to unlock the 4th core.
 
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
1,645 (0.28/day)
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
System Name Current
Processor i5 2500k @ 4.5
Motherboard ASRock Z77 Extreme4
Cooling Xigmatek Gaia
Memory 2x4G G-skill Sniper
Video Card(s) GTX 680
Storage 128 Crucial M4, 1 TB Seagate Baracuda
Display(s) Shimian Achieva 27"
Case Corsair 400R
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsais HX-620
Software Windows 7
So which AM3 mobo is really good and also has the possibility to unlock the 4th core and srun stable. I have the 720be unlocked on the biostar ddr2 mobo as of now.

If you're not having an issue with unlocking 4th core and oc'ing it, I wouldn't switch motherboard. I'm unsure if any of the am3 boards can unlock it, didn't look into am3 much when building my system.
 
Joined
Apr 15, 2009
Messages
2,914 (0.53/day)
System Name N/A
Processor i7-4790K
Motherboard Asus Z97-A
Cooling Thermalright True Power 140
Memory 2 x 8GB GeIL Potenza 2400Mhz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 970 Gaming
Storage 2TB Seagate Barracuda
Display(s) 24" Samsung 1080p LED Monitor
Case Phanteks Enthoo Pro
Power Supply Corsair TX650W
Mouse Logitech MX518
Keyboard Corsair K70 (Brown MX)
Software Windows 8.1
Asus M4A79T without a doubt. Awesome board. It's all up to the processor and motherboard bios to unlock the 4th core.

the 4th core can be unlocked?
will that actually give it quad core performance?
which motherboards can unlock it?
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
458 (0.08/day)
Location
Bangalore, India
System Name Project [E]
Processor AMD Ryzen 3500x @ 4.2 Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte B550 Aurous Pro
Cooling Air cooled
Memory 16 Gb Crucial Ballstix @ 3600 Mhz
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 3060
Storage 500 GB Crucial NVME, 500 GB Crucial Bx500
Display(s) 27" Acer 1440p
Case Caselabs
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply 1000 Watt Cooler Master Gold
Mouse Logitech
Keyboard TT Esports Mechanical
Software Windows 10
Ok will check up on M4A79T, there also seems to be a delux version though...and my 4th core is unlock able and also OC'ed
 
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
1,645 (0.28/day)
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
System Name Current
Processor i5 2500k @ 4.5
Motherboard ASRock Z77 Extreme4
Cooling Xigmatek Gaia
Memory 2x4G G-skill Sniper
Video Card(s) GTX 680
Storage 128 Crucial M4, 1 TB Seagate Baracuda
Display(s) Shimian Achieva 27"
Case Corsair 400R
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsais HX-620
Software Windows 7
the 4th core can be unlocked?
will that actually give it quad core performance?
which motherboards can unlock it?

There are a few motherboards with early bios versions that can unlock it, I'm using one of em, the asus am2+ board and the biostar board. Those I know for sure can do it.

Ok will check up on M4A79T, there also seems to be a delux version though...and my 4th core is unlock able and also OC'ed

Apparently with modded bios, you can unlock the cores on the m4 boards. So if you want to flash those, I'll send you the link from XS.
 
Joined
Jul 19, 2006
Messages
43,585 (6.74/day)
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard ASUS TUF x670e
Cooling EK AIO 360. Phantek T30 fans.
Memory 32GB G.Skill 6000Mhz
Video Card(s) Asus RTX 4090
Storage WD m.2
Display(s) LG C2 Evo OLED 42"
Case Lian Li PC 011 Dynamic Evo
Audio Device(s) Topping E70 DAC, SMSL SP200 Headphone Amp.
Power Supply FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000W
Mouse Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard Tester84
Software Windows 11
the 4th core can be unlocked?
will that actually give it quad core performance?
which motherboards can unlock it?

It depends on the processor and bios revision of the motherboard. You may have the right bios revision but the processor just might not be able to unlock. My current processor can be unlocked but the 4th core is utterly useless and unstable.
 
Top