Super budget mobo replacement

[CharlieRich]

Hi Guys,

First off, my current Asus mobo just gave up and is basically completely dead, so I need a replacement pretty sharpish

When I originally specced my machine I restricted myself by choosing a MicroATX AM3+ platform (stupid mistake, should have gone Intel)

Anyway I was thinking of buying this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-215-MS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2640

Anyway, has anyone got any experience with this board? Any other suggestions?
Your help is much appreciated

 

[Avenged7Fold]

You didnt list your CPU.

Would avoid MSI and Asrock boards if you have a 6 or 8 core fx cpu. If you have a fx8xxx then the minimum i suggest is the M5A97 EVO. If it is the 6 core, then you could get away with the non evo one but overclocking will be limited.

 

[CharlieRich]

You didnt list your CPU.

Would avoid MSI and Asrock boards if you have a 6 or 8 core fx cpu. If you have a fx8xxx then the minimum i suggest is the M5A97 EVO. If it is the 6 core, then you could get away with the non evo one but overclocking will be limited.

Whoops, my CPU is an AMD Bulldozer FX 4130 at 3.9GHz

I'm not too fussed about over clocking at the minute, don't need a super-duper mobo, just wondering if there are any alternatives out there

 

[Avenged7Fold]

Okay, the CPU is on the weaker end of the FX series, so if you dont overclock and wont be upgrading, you can get away with a cheaper board on a 760 chipset. However if you plan on upgrading the CPU or overclocking or getting multiple cards, you will have to get a half decent board as you need one to take the extra power of the overclock or upgraded CPU.

So if you wont be upgrading the CPU eventually and dont plan on using multiple cards then the best option budget board would be this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-466-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1481

I have one myself and can say that Asus boards are rock solid and come with a certain quality no matter what price bracket they are in! Though this board isn't full of features and has lower quality components compared to other higher end Asus boards, i would be willing to bet that the build quality would still be one up from the vast majority of MSI and Asrock boards within £20 of its budget.

If you eventually want to upgrade to a beefier CPU, wants a board that can handle the power of overclocks then the following are acceptable.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-502-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-559-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-560-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

If you can stretch the budget to get one of the above, it will serve you well.

 

[CharlieRich]

Okay, the CPU is on the weaker end of the FX series, so if you dont overclock and wont be upgrading, you can get away with a cheaper board on a 760 chipset. However if you plan on upgrading the CPU or overclocking or getting multiple cards, you will have to get a half decent board as you need one to take the extra power of the overclock or upgraded CPU.

So if you wont be upgrading the CPU eventually and dont plan on using multiple cards then the best option budget board would be this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-466-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1481

I have one myself and can say that Asus boards are rock solid and come with a certain quality no matter what price bracket they are in! Though this board isn't full of features and has lower quality components compared to other higher end Asus boards, i would be willing to bet that the build quality would still be one up from the vast majority of MSI and Asrock boards within £20 of its budget.

If you eventually want to upgrade to a beefier CPU, wants a board that can handle the power of overclocks then the following are acceptable.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-502-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-559-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-560-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

If you can stretch the budget to get one of the above, it will serve you well.

Thanks for your help Avenged7Fold, I have ordered a Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 as a replacement.

I've had a few Asus boards now and this is the first one I've had any issues with (which I probably inadvertently caused anyway) so fingers crossed it wont happen again