Got $360 for AM3 CPU/Mobo/RAM.

[BlackOmega]

What I'm looking for is a crossfire board since I already have 2 4870's, it also has to have at least 1 accessible PCI slot for my XFi.

So what is the best bang for my buck?

BTW, I will be using my CM590 and a Xigmatek darkknight to cool whatever CPU I wind up getting.

Thanks.

 

[mav2000]

If u r planning to go am3 then the best bang for buck board would be the msi gd70, hands down. Team it with 1600 mhz low voltage tight timing ram and u r good to go. Today the 550 be would probably be your best bet for a hig clocking cpu and u might just get lucky with an unlock to 4 cores.

 

[BlackOmega]

Thanks for the reply.

What about a GB UD4P? Would my 2 4870's saturate the PCIe lanes @ 8x? (Would be using a 945 most likely).

 

[Kenshai]

If you're looking at a 945 you don't have as many options on your board selection, due to cost. 945 is $170 and the board will run you $170. Though coincidentally a forum member is selling the GD70 for $135 not a bad deal if you ask me.

 

[BlackOmega]

Well I've found a combo deal for a 945/UD4P/4GB OCZ platinum for $357 shipped. Thats why I was asking about that board.

And if you're saying that the board would limit my OC, what would it limit it to?

 

[Kenshai]

Well I've found a combo deal for a 945/UD4P/4GB OCZ platinum for $357 shipped. Thats why I was asking about that board.

And if you're saying that the board would limit my OC, what would it limit it to?

You're more limited by the chip than the board. From my understanding the 945 clocks pretty well, upwards of 3.6ish. I'm sure the combo deal would work well, you may notice the difference from the dual x8 compared to the dual x16. I've never really seen the same results from two separate review sites.

 

[BlackOmega]

Do you mean the chip is limited by the locked multiplier?

As for bandwidth regarding the GPU, when I ran my 4870 in a 16x slot then a 2x slot, while there was some improvement, it wasn't nearly as much as you'd think it be. And that's on PCIe 1.0 slots.

 

[Kenshai]

Do you mean the chip is limited by the locked multiplier?

As for bandwidth regarding the GPU, when I ran my 4870 in a 16x slot then a 2x slot, while there was some improvement, it wasn't nearly as much as you'd think it be. And that's on PCIe 1.0 slots.

Yes your cpu will be more limited with not being able to play with the multi.

Now as I said I've never seen a definitive answer on the gpu's with slower pcie lanes. I doubt there would be much difference.

 

[BlackOmega]

I have never worried about a locked or unlocked multiplier. Thats never been a bonus for me. I OC through the BIOS and all of the boards I've OC'd on (socket 939) have been able to easily surpass the 330MHz reference clock mark. One even hit 405MHz.

I was just hoping there was someone here with experience using the UD4P and what kind of reference clocks they were able to achieve.

 

[Melvis]

I was going to suggest that mobo http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=3010

I have used alot of gigabyte motherboards in the past and i find them great, but i have yet to play with a AM3 Mobo, give me a month or two and i would tell you.

 

[BlackOmega]

Well now I have a dilemma. I can get 2 possible combos which is the better of the 2?

Combo 1: 945/Gigabyte 790XT-UD4P/OCZ platinum CAS:7 1.9v

Combo 2: 945/DFI 790FXB-M3H5/G.Skill CAS:9 1.6v

So which would you get?

 

[Kantastic]

I'd grab the 2nd combo.

 

[BlackOmega]

I'd grab the 2nd combo.

Thanks for your input

 

[JrRacinFan]

I would go with the first, DFI boards haven't been that good as of late.

 

[BlackOmega]

I would go with the first, DFI boards haven't been that good as of late.

Thanks for the advice. I've been hearing that lately but I haven't seen any concrete evidence about it. I am a fan of DFI's older 939 stuff, I have 3 of their boards, all of which are excellent.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

I just wanted to say you shouldn't worry about the 8x by 8x issue. The cards you are using will not saturate a 8x PCI-e connection. The only cards I know of that really need the dual 16x are the $350+ cards, 4870 X2, GTX 285, and GTX 295. Getting a board with the dual x16 will help future proof it as we cannot be sure what the 5000 series will need in Crossfire.

 

[Kantastic]

Getting a board with the dual x16 will help future proof it as we cannot be sure what the 5000 series will need in Crossfire.

Exactly my reason for picking the 790FX.

 

[BlackOmega]

I just wanted to say you shouldn't worry about the 8x by 8x issue. The cards you are using will not saturate a 8x PCI-e connection. The only cards I know of that really need the dual 16x are the $350+ cards, 4870 X2, GTX 285, and GTX 295. Getting a board with the dual x16 will help future proof it as we cannot be sure what the 5000 series will need in Crossfire.

Thanks for the reply. I've read up on the 58xx series cards and supposedly they have more throughput than a 4870x2. But for the life of me I cannot remember whether the review said it would saturate an 8x lane or a 16x lane.