Phenom II X3 710 mobo

[DrMrLordX]

So what's a cheap AM2+ motherboard that will support the X3 710, hit an HTT of 284 (or higher) reliably, and have enough BIOS settings to tweak the processor well enough to OC it to 3.6 or 3.7 ghz (provided sufficient cooling and a solid-enough chip)?

There are some dirt-cheap AM2+ boards out there, but I have my doubts about their available BIOS settings and the overall reliability of the boards when delivering higher-than-stock voltages.

 

[1stezekiel]

what do ya consider cheap ? less then 100 ? less then 150 ? the biostars with the 790 gx chipsets start at 99 bux ....... the asus m3a78-cm is pretty good . its about 75 bux .

 

[DrMrLordX]

Less than 100 if possible.

That Asus board you linked looks pretty good, but it's out of stock on the Egg. It's probably available elsewhere. I'm not really in the market right now but knowing that board is out there is helpful nevertheless.

I'm really asking this question because there's a current line of thinking right now that paying the extra $20 for the X3 720 BE is a good deal because you'll be able to OC it to its limits more easily on a cheap motherboard - one that presumably will have HTT limitations. Realistically speaking, any cheap motherboard unable to hit 284 mhz HTT (the speed where the lowly 710 hits 3.7 ghz) probably won't have sufficient power regulation or BIOS settings to hit the desired 3.6-3.7 ghz that people would want from a 720 BE anyway.

Take a look at this sad little board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813135074

This poor dog only lets you run up the HTT and that's about it. You can forget about tweaking any voltages in BIOS. In fact, most of the sub-$70 segment seems to have problems with BIOS options. Some have none, some lack memory settings (and interestingly enough many have no CPU multiplier options which sucks for those 720 BE owners), some just can't tweak the NB, etc etc.

It seems like people getting the 720 BE can forget about using the unlocked multi to get the chip to run faster than a 710 on cheap, feature-poor boards.

 

[1stezekiel]

i bought mine at compusa . its about the same price . i actually owned the asus . pretty good board . i just got spoiled and bought the delux..... doh ! the biostar for 99 bux is supposed to be pretty good . from what ive read biostar has the overclockers heart right now .

 

[heyheybooboo]

I keep finding these Thermalright HR-09S Type 2 slanted mosfet coolers and they keep selling out ....

The 70mm 'short side' works great for the Biostar 790GXs and lines up well with the mounting holes.

 

[poohbear]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Less than 100 if possible.

That Asus board you linked looks pretty good, but it's out of stock on the Egg. It's probably available elsewhere. I'm not really in the market right now but knowing that board is out there is helpful nevertheless.

I'm really asking this question because there's a current line of thinking right now that paying the extra $20 for the X3 720 BE is a good deal because you'll be able to OC it to its limits more easily on a cheap motherboard - one that presumably will have HTT limitations. Realistically speaking, any cheap motherboard unable to hit 284 mhz HTT (the speed where the lowly 710 hits 3.7 ghz) probably won't have sufficient power regulation or BIOS settings to hit the desired 3.6-3.7 ghz that people would want from a 720 BE anyway.

Take a look at this sad little board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813135074

This poor dog only lets you run up the HTT and that's about it. You can forget about tweaking any voltages in BIOS. In fact, most of the sub-$70 segment seems to have problems with BIOS options. Some have none, some lack memory settings (and interestingly enough many have no CPU multiplier options which sucks for those 720 BE owners), some just can't tweak the NB, etc etc.

It seems like people getting the 720 BE can forget about using the unlocked multi to get the chip to run faster than a 710 on cheap, feature-poor boards.

im totally w/ u on this & looking forward to getting a x3-710 & put the $20 towards a better video card. I'd go w/ biostar for $95. They've been making awesome overclocker mobos recently: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138140


Since the memory controller is on the cpu, u're not gonna notice a diff between mobos except in features. It also has the latest 790gx 750sb chipsets so u're good to go.

However, i read that the x3 710 might actually have its vcore locked too, which would seriously hinder overclocking performance. I'm a bit worried yet skeptical about this since its from one source that was comparing them to the locked X4s. he said since the X4s voltages were capped, then possibly AMD did same w/ locked X3s. If this were indeed true, then i would pay the extra $20 for a 720. Must confirm first though since it was just a comparison he was making.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: poohbear

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Less than 100 if possible.

That Asus board you linked looks pretty good, but it's out of stock on the Egg. It's probably available elsewhere. I'm not really in the market right now but knowing that board is out there is helpful nevertheless.

I'm really asking this question because there's a current line of thinking right now that paying the extra $20 for the X3 720 BE is a good deal because you'll be able to OC it to its limits more easily on a cheap motherboard - one that presumably will have HTT limitations. Realistically speaking, any cheap motherboard unable to hit 284 mhz HTT (the speed where the lowly 710 hits 3.7 ghz) probably won't have sufficient power regulation or BIOS settings to hit the desired 3.6-3.7 ghz that people would want from a 720 BE anyway.

Take a look at this sad little board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813135074

This poor dog only lets you run up the HTT and that's about it. You can forget about tweaking any voltages in BIOS. In fact, most of the sub-$70 segment seems to have problems with BIOS options. Some have none, some lack memory settings (and interestingly enough many have no CPU multiplier options which sucks for those 720 BE owners), some just can't tweak the NB, etc etc.

It seems like people getting the 720 BE can forget about using the unlocked multi to get the chip to run faster than a 710 on cheap, feature-poor boards.

im totally w/ u on this & looking forward to getting a x3-710 & put the $20 towards a better video card. I'd go w/ biostar for $95. They've been making awesome overclocker mobos recently: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138140


Since the memory controller is on the cpu, u're not gonna notice a diff between mobos except in features. It also has the latest 790gx 750sb chipsets so u're good to go.

However, i read that the x3 710 might actually have its vcore locked too, which would seriously hinder overclocking performance. I'm a bit worried yet skeptical about this since its from one source that was comparing them to the locked X4s. he said since the X4s voltages were capped, then possibly AMD did same w/ locked X3s. If this were indeed true, then i would pay the extra $20 for a 720. Must confirm first though since it was just a comparison he was making.

Neither X3 nor X4 Vcores are locked. Virtually any Phenom II review demonstrates this - you shouldn't even need to ask.