Micro-ATX AM3 boards?

paradigm · 16 Jun 2011 at 11:35

Hi guys,

In my 3rd machine I've currently got an old AM2+ board with a Phenom II x3 720 Black Edition, but due to the board's age, I haven't bothered with overclocking, and it also doesn't support ACC/Core Unlocking.

I'm looking to rebuild this machine with a view to running it as an HTPC, with a Radeon HD5770, and a couple of USB3 external HDD enclosures.

I'm struggling to find a (not extortionately priced) mATX board, that supports core unlocking, has decent overclocking capabilities, USB3, and if possible SATA3 6Gbps.

Does such a thing exist?

Also, what can I realistically expect from the 720BE? I've never overclocked it!

Reaper 392 · 16 Jun 2011 at 13:50

i cant even find anything that has everything you want.

what i have found is:
- MSI 870A-G54: Full ATX, USB3, SATA 6GB/s, core unlocking, £70
- Gigabyte GA-880GMA-UD2H AMD 880G: mATX, USB3, SATA 6GB/s, no core unlocking: £81
- Asus M4A88TD-M EVO/USB3: mATX, USB3, SATA 6GB/s, no core unlocking, £85 (USB3/sata3 version of my own motherboard)

i couldnt find a single mATX motherboard that officially said it supported core unlocking, but i know my own motherboard does support core unlocking, yet it wasnt mentioned in the information for it, so you may want to ask about this in the custimer service section

alex24 · 16 Jun 2011 at 13:53

I have the GA-880GM-UD2H, which is similar to the one linked above, and I can confirm it supports core unlocking (but no success on my Sempron). I would then assume that the GA-880GMA-UD2H also supports it, but it is pretty pricey!

paradigm · 16 Jun 2011 at 13:58

Definitely has to be mATX, as the case won't take anything larger.

Might be able to drop the SATA 6Gbps, but not the USB3, does that make it any easier?

Reaper 392 · 16 Jun 2011 at 14:00

paradigm said:
Definitely has to be mATX, as the case won't take anything larger.

Might be able to drop the SATA 6Gbps, but not the USB3, does that make it any easier?

nope, USB3 and sata 6GB/s is easy. core unlocking is the pain in the bum

*edit*
the asus in my list supports core unlocking:
http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3/M4A88TDM_EVOUSB3/

*edit 2*
the gigabyte also supports core unlocking:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3424#ov

no idea what the unlock success is like though

paradisiac · 16 Jun 2011 at 14:01

just out of interest, if you are limited due to the size of the case, is there enough room in the case for decent airflow? if not then unlocking cores and overclocking isnt really an option, so those features could be dropped.

paradigm · 16 Jun 2011 at 15:54

paradisiac said:
just out of interest, if you are limited due to the size of the case, is there enough room in the case for decent airflow? if not then unlocking cores and overclocking isnt really an option, so those features could be dropped.

Airflow will be fine, and the CPU will be watercooled

paradisiac · 16 Jun 2011 at 16:07

how about the ASRock 890GM Pro3, only has 1 USB 3 socket though

ASRock said:
■Phenom II X6 6-Core CPU Ready
■Supports UCC feature (Unlock CPU Core)
■ASRock DuraCap (2.5 x longer life time), 100% Japan-made high-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors
■Supports CPU up to 140W
■Supports Dual Channel DDR3 2000(OC)
■Supports ATI™ Hybrid CrossFireX™
■Integrated AMD Radeon HD 4290 graphics, DX10.1 Class iGPU, Shader Model 4.1, Max. shared memory 512MB
■Built-in 128MB DDR3 1333MHz SidePort Memory
■Multi VGA Output options: D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI
■1 x eSATAIII Connector, 5 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 2 x IEEE 1394 ports
■Supports ASRock Instant Boot, Instant Flash, OC Tuner, IES, OC DNA
■ErP/EuP Ready
■7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection, DAC with 110dB dynamic range (VIA® VT2020 Audio Codec) , Premium Blu-ray audio support

EDIT : you can pick up a USB 3.0 hub for £15-£25 so maybe that would be for the future.

Cookeh · 16 Jun 2011 at 16:11

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-177-MS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1782

??

EDIT: Nevermind, no USB3.

Expansion card?

cuki777 · 16 Jun 2011 at 16:16

USB 3.0 ***

paradisiac · 16 Jun 2011 at 17:37

cuki777 said:
USB 3.0 ***

your point??

Cookeh · 16 Jun 2011 at 21:50

Any reason you cant use an expansion card?

paradigm · 16 Jun 2011 at 23:05

Cookeh said:
Any reason you cant use an expansion card?

For what?

I can't use a PCI SATA 6Gbps card, as the thoretical bandwidth of PCI is far too low for it to be worthwhile (plus I don't think they exist).

I guess I could get a USB3 PCI card, but then if I'm finding SATA 6Gbps onboard, it will likely have USB3 onboard anyway.

paradisiac · 17 Jun 2011 at 08:29

paradigm said:
For what?

I can't use a PCI SATA 6Gbps card, as the thoretical bandwidth of PCI is far too low for it to be worthwhile (plus I don't think they exist).

I guess I could get a USB3 PCI card, but then if I'm finding SATA 6Gbps onboard, it will likely have USB3 onboard anyway.

the 890GM i suggested has the SATA III ports, but only 1 USB 3.0, so a card or hub would be required to get more that 1 external drive connected.

barrymcd · 11 Dec 2011 at 09:54

the msi 785gm-e65 , is a micro-atx board that supports AM2+, AM3, processor's and it has 6 sata3 ports, 1 pci-e 2.1 X 16 slot, 1 pci-e X1 and 2 pci slots , on the back panel is spdif-out , hdmi , 1394 firerwire , gb ethernet , hd-audio jacks , 3 X usb 2.0 , vga , dvi-d, the board has onboard hd4200 gpu with sideport memory upto 512mb @1700mhz and supports ddr3 ram up 16gb @ 1600mhz .