AMD AM3+ Motherboard Thread

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Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
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Another MSI 990FXA-GD80 review@Hardocp http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/06/01/msi_990fxagd80_990fx_chipset_motherboard_review .


The first bad review I have seen for this board,


Overall the MSI 990FXA-GD80 seemed like a work in progress rather than a finished product. At this point in time we really cannot suggest you buy this motherboard if you are looking at upgrading to a Zambezi processor later. The MSI 990FXA-GD80 simply has some growing to do. Maybe we will review this board again when MSI can point to all these issues being addressed.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
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Pics and info on MSI 990FXA-GD65 http://www.tcmagazine.com/tcm/news/hardware/38483/msis-990fxa-gd65-am3-motherboard-fully-exposed .


msi990fxa-gd65board01.jpg
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The 990FXA-GD65 comes with full support for AMD FX Series (codename Zambezi) processors and packs goodies like Military Class components (Icy Chokes, Hi-c CAPs with a tantalum core and Solid CAPs), 10-phase DrMOS, APS (Active Phase Switching), and the OC Genie II function which allows for one-click/one second overclocking AND CPU core unlocking.

MSI's board also includes four DDR3-2133 memory slots, six SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, two PCI-Express x16 slots (SLI and CrossFireX are both supported), Click BIOS, Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, four USB 3.0 ports (two on the backpanel, two on-board via a header). T
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
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I can't forget Asrock 990FX Fatality,(Curtsey of Anandtech).

IMGP2041.jpg
 

drizek

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2005
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Yes, but 9xx is supposed to support HT 3.1, the 890FX and 990FX ASRock boards say HT 3.0.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
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Yes, but 9xx is supposed to support HT 3.1, the 890FX and 990FX ASRock boards say HT 3.0.

Pretty sure its still 3.1 spec since on the MSI review ,
The new AMD AM3+ socket has been updated to HyperTransport 3.1 which is a bit faster at 6.4GT/s. If you are looking to maximize the potential of the new AMD Bulldozer 8-core CPUs running a board like the MSI 990FXA-GD80 AMD 990FX AM3+ will give you the best performance.
.
 

drizek

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2005
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The HyperTransport Consortium released an updated specification, HT 3.1, that increases the base clock speed of the HyperTransport bus from its previous version 3.0 limit of 2600 MHz (5200 MT/s) to 3200 MHz (6400 MT/s).

5200MT is 3.0.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
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5200MT is 3.0.

I think its HT 3.1 with Bulldozer CPUs,http://www.motherboards.org/content/msi-990fxa-gd80-motherboard-review?page=show .

Read this from Tomshardware,

Even with a new firmware, though, you won’t get those aforementioned features on an AM3 platform. Also, 890FX and 990FX both support HyperTransport 3.0 with transfer rates of up to 5.2 GT/s. According to MSI, 990FX adds HyperTransport 3.1 support with signaling up to 6.4 GT/s (apparently something we’ll see from the eight-core Zambezis).


http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/990fx-sli-am3,2953.html
 
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Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
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Another new review ASUS M5A97 EVO , http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/M5A97_EVO/ . (970 chipset).


ASUS has done a fantastic job on this product and in this price range, which we are sure will become more obvious once we add more AMD results to our performance compares. Good job ASUS, another stellar product; it did take a few lumps, but quickly brushed them off, and kept on fighting.


board_front.jpg
 

drizek

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2005
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I don't like that SATA placement.

No SLI. No Blueeoth.

Pass.

Are there any available for sale anywhere other than the ASRock Deluxe and ASUS Sabertooth?

Also, any ideas about how much the Crosshair V is going to cost? I've pretty much decided that I need to get a 990fx board, but I feel like the Sabertooth just isn't very good value for money, and I'm afraid to use the 890FX ASRock, I don't want to have to hack SLI on there.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
I don't like that SATA placement.

No SLI. No Blueeoth.

Pass.

Are there any available for sale anywhere other than the ASRock Deluxe and ASUS Sabertooth?

Also, any ideas about how much the Crosshair V is going to cost? I've pretty much decided that I need to get a 990fx board, but I feel like the Sabertooth just isn't very good value for money, and I'm afraid to use the 890FX ASRock, I don't want to have to hack SLI on there.

I have my heart set on the Sabertooth with BD,my new Asus Xonar DX card will give better sound then Crosshair V onboard Supreme FX2 ,plus layout seems better on the Sabertooth to me (5 year warranty is also nice),as to your question well I'm in UK and Crosshair is very close to Sabertooth price http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...903&subid=2046 .
 
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drizek

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2005
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Oh, so no 5 year warranty on the rog ? Lame.

I like that it has an extra usb3 controller and the cooling for the vrms seems better.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
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HardOCP have their Asus Sabertooth 990FX review up http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/06/07/asus_sabertooth_990fx_motherboard_review/ .


ASUS has seemingly built an very solid 990FX board, but we truly just don't know since we don't have AMD FX processors to put in the board. This just leaves us with a whole lot of meh feelings. It is not ASUS' fault. It is squarely AMD's fault. AMD and Intel have both fully borked its motherboard partners this year. First Intel with a huge chipset recall and now AMD with another no-show. Yawn.
 

frostedflakes

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
7,925
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Any news on when the Gigabyte boards will be available in the US? Would like to pick up the UD3.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7 review over@Tweaktown http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4140/gigabyte_990fxa_ud7_amd_990fx_motherboard_review/index.html .


Getting a bit more specific on the board we have here today, the 990FXA-UD7 from GIGABYTE is a great board. Performance is strong, we've got a bunch of stuff in the bundle and the board itself just looks fantastic. GIGABYTE knows how to create a good looking board and considering how shallow most of us are these days, it's indeed very appreciated.
 

drizek

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2005
1,410
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Worthless review IMO...No benchmarks on things that actually differ from board to board such as Ethernet speed, USB3/fireware transfer speed or onboard sound quality.

Most of these reviews suck TBH. The difeences between motherboards are usually within the margin of error.
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Most of these reviews suck TBH. The difeences between motherboards are usually within the margin of error.

You won't see proper reviews until BD is released,as we still don't know how well or bad they will perform on 900 series boards.

I think a lot of sites will wait then for full benchmarks.



Speaking of USB 3.0, I read Asus went with ASMedia ASM1042 USB 3.0 chipset because they said it offers the fastest performance ie faster then NEC USB 3.0 chipset etc...
 
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