Options for a friend's build

[Maelstrom]

Ok so last night my friend asked me to help him build a parts list for a new computer that he plans to build. He doesn't really know much of the current hardware out now, and he wants me to recommend a cpu/mobo + case. He didn't tell me a budget, so I'm going to give him a few choices, a Core i7, phenom II x4, and phenom II x3. However, I don't know which mobos to choose for these 3 procs ( I have an idea on the core i7, but no clue on phenom II).

Here are the choices I plan to give him:

Core i7 (High priced build)

CPU-Core i7 920
Mobo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136063
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186163
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374
Which of these 3 is best? Or is there others out there that are even better?

Phenom II X4 (Middle priced build)

CPU- Phenom II X4 955
Mobo- I have no idea, this is where i need help

Phenom II X3 (Budget price build)

CPU-Phenom II X3 720
Mobo- same deal, no idea

As for the case, I was thinking HAF 932.
Any help regarding the mobos, or any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[TheLaughingMan]

I personally recommend these two boards for a Phenom II 955 build.

MSI 790GX-G65 AM3

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X AM2+

I these for the 720, since it is a budget thing.

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+

EVGA 113-M2-E113 nForce 730a AM2+/AM2

Please note, that an AM3 processor (All Phenom II's and Athlon II's) will work in an AM3 and AM2 board. However, an AM2/AM2+ processor will not work in an AM3 board. If you friend goes with the middle price and already has DDR2 RAM he intends to keep, go with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790X

 

[Maelstrom]

I personally recommend these two boards for a Phenom II 955 build.

MSI 790GX-G65 AM3

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X AM2+

I these for the 720, since it is a budget thing.

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+

EVGA 113-M2-E113 nForce 730a AM2+/AM2

Please note, that an AM3 processor (All Phenom II's and Athlon II's) will work in an AM3 and AM2 board. However, an AM2/AM2+ processor will not work in an AM3 board. If you friend goes with the middle price and already has DDR2 RAM he intends to keep, go with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790X

Ok cool, thx for the suggestions. I was looking around and found the Asus Crosshair III, that any good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131392 I've had good experiences with my Rampage Formula so I might go with that

 

[TheLaughingMan]

The Asus Crosshair III is a great board. Any of the 790FX chips will be great boards, I would stick with MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, and maybe ASRock.

The 790FX boards have multiple full speed PCI-E X16 2.0 slots. They are intended for Crossfire GPU configurations and extreme OCing. At a $200 price point, I personally (coming from a guy with a Phenom II) would pay the extra like $80 and getting the i7 920 configuration.

 

[n-ster]

I think the ud3 x58 should be much more than enough for an i7 mobo... RAM would be : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148246

 

[Maelstrom]

The Asus Crosshair III is a great board. Any of the 790FX chips will be great boards, I would stick with MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, and maybe ASRock.

The 790FX boards have multiple full speed PCI-E X16 2.0 slots. They are intended for Crossfire GPU configurations and extreme OCing. At a $200 price point, I personally (coming from a guy with a Phenom II) would pay the extra like $80 and getting the i7 920 configuration.

Good point, ill just stick to a lower priced board then

I think the ud3 x58 should be much more than enough for an i7 mobo... RAM would be : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148246

Ok good to know, and I had planned on including that ram in the list

 

[LittleLizard]

If i7 i would go with the Bloodrage
If PII X4 i would go with the GD70
If PII X3 i would go with Asus 790gx or Gigabyte 790x