Best AM3+ board?

famas

famas

famas

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Hey all

I'm planning a new build using a FX-8 8320.

I'm having a hard time deciding which mother board to get.
I want to have a dabble into overclocking so need a decent board.

I've read that the Asus Sabertooth is a great performer but I dont need sli/xfire.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 AMD 990FX (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £158.99
Total : £168.59 (includes shipping : £8.00).




I've also read that the asus M5A97 EVO R2.0 is a stable board and clocks well, its also a much cheaper board.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus M5A97 EVO R2.0 AMD 970 (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £89.99
Total : £99.89 (includes shipping : £8.25).




Is it worth spending more for a 990 chipset board even though i wont be using sli/xfire, are there other features which improve them over the 970 chipset?

Or can I save a bit of money and get a 970 board with the same performance? if so which board is best?
 
Hm if your after a good board and still want to save some cash, maybe have a look at the M5A99?

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

M5a99x was a brilliant board hence why they made the r2 I believe (else why would they make a second one)
It may be worth looking at mate, you are looking at £20 more.

The sabertooth is an excellent board. I was stuck between choosing a sabertooth or the crosshair v formula z in my new build. But my old build used the M5A99X from OCUK as I got a good deal on it.
 
cheers for the recommendation i'll have a look into that board.

Its another 990 board though, I think if i where to go for the 990 chipset i'd probably get the sabertooth.

Question is, is there a 970 board that's as good?
 
iirc the 970 chipset is the 870 chipset re-badged with SATA3. I'd aim for 990 myself. TBH I really regret getting rid of my 4GHz x6 1055T and 890 board (Asus M4A89GTD Pro/USB3). Nothing has really felt like an upgrade since, despite the numbers :(
 
The only difference between 970 and 990 is the level of Crossfire/SLI support. On 970 boards you tend to see 16x and 4x slots.

The Sabertooth has improved power/thermal design over the 970 EVO board, so will reach very high overclocks better, but the 970 board is more than capable of 4.7GHz or so. I've never seen anything but praise for the Asus 970 EVO board, it's the only one I'd personally consider under £100 if you want to overclock at all. The Sabertooth is arguably the best AM3+ board of all in terms or price/features, but it's quite expensive.
 
cheers for the input guys.

If the only difference is the level of sli/xfire support i might save a bit of money and go for the asus 970 evo, unless there is another board worth a look?
What about MSI and ASrock's offerings?

Still tempted by the sabertooth though just because i've heard its such a good board.
Argh the decisions!
 
famas said:
What about MSI and ASrock's offerings?
Click to expand...

Leave those brands alone when choosing a board for your 8 core fx. Higher clocks require quality VRMs to take the voltage under load. I find that Asrock and MSI board quality isnt up to scratch when you are really pushing your CPU. I have used the Evo and Sabertooth before. The sabertooth is a great board and is only really bested by the Formula-Z
 
The Asus VRM design is excellent, the 6+2 does better than equivalent boards. It may limit overclocking to about 4.7-4.8GHz, but for that level or higher I'd be looking at the Sabertooth or Crossfire anyway.
 
Ahh, been out of the loop for a while. Running a UD5 990FX at the mo with an 8320 at 4.8GHz, more because it was free, didn't have to go shopping for it :p

I do rate Asus' high end AMD stuff very highly tbh
 
d_brennen said:
Ahh, been out of the loop for a while. Running a UD5 990FX at the mo with an 8320 at 4.8GHz, more because it was free, didn't have to go shopping for it :p

I do rate Asus' high end AMD stuff very highly tbh
Click to expand...

A free UD5 is nothing to complain about ;) What kind of cooling are you using for 4.8GHz? It seems the newer ones can reach that on a midrange air cooler, while the older ones needed high end or water.

As for the Sabertooth - it varies a lot in price, I'd shop around for it.
 
Go for the sabertooth if you shop around you might find it for 135. I just cant decide between sabertooth or formula
 
famas said:
cheers for the input guys.

If the only difference is the level of sli/xfire support i might save a bit of money and go for the asus 970 evo, unless there is another board worth a look?
What about MSI and ASrock's offerings?

Still tempted by the sabertooth though just because i've heard its such a good board.
Argh the decisions!
Click to expand...

Sabertooth it is, honestly!

I would've gone with the sabertooth no questions asked if my crosshair v formula z was not on sale. If you don't mind spending extra on a high quality, brilliant spec'd and looking board then you have a winner
 
Avenged7Fold said:
Leave those brands alone when choosing a board for your 8 core fx. Higher clocks require quality VRMs to take the voltage under load. I find that Asrock and MSI board quality isnt up to scratch when you are really pushing your CPU. I have used the Evo and Sabertooth before. The sabertooth is a great board and is only really bested by the Formula-Z
Click to expand...

I totally agree, I bought the fatality because of 12phases on the cpu, but now im getting beasted by a sabetooth because this fatality is too sensitive on the vrms.

the asus M5 has many complaints of throttling soon as the vrms get warm.

in hindsight I wish I wasn't a cheap arse and got the CHVF
 
d1nky said:
I totally agree, I bought the fatality because of 12phases on the cpu, but now im getting beasted by a sabetooth because this fatality is too sensitive on the vrms.

the asus M5 has many complaints of throttling soon as the vrms get warm.

in hindsight I wish I wasn't a cheap arse and got the CHVF
Click to expand...

Try adding a small fan to the VRMs. That can help fix throttling issues.

Asus makes a few 970 boards. The cheapest are no good for the 8 core CPUs. The EVO ones are very good though.
 
really depends if OP is overclocking, if not then the asus M5 or even asrock extreme3/4 would be good choices, and save money.

if overclocking then as you say something better, additional vrm cooling would be needed.
 
cheers for all the input guys.

I will be having a go at overclocking but it will be my first proper time.

Seems the sabertooth is getting the nod so its top of the list at the moment with the m5A97 evo second if money becomes an issue.

I think the crossfire is out of budget unfortunately.
 
famas said:
cheers for all the input guys.

I will be having a go at overclocking but it will be my first proper time.

Seems the sabertooth is getting the nod so its top of the list at the moment with the m5A97 evo second if money becomes an issue.

I think the crossfire is out of budget unfortunately.
Click to expand...

The UD5 is in budget an 8 Pack says is one of the good ones:)
 
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