[Gladiator@]

Hey guys. I'm building a new PC, but there's one thing that is making me think a lot, so I decided to ask for your opinions. This one thing is the motherboard.

These are the - important - specifications of the computer I'm building:

- Phenom II X4 955 3.2GHz AM3 AMD
- 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz Gold TXC OCZ
- ATI Radeon HD5770 1Gb XFX

Now I'm not sure of what motherboard I should choose, between these two:

M4A88TD-M

What's hot: Sata 3, Chipset AMD 880G/SB850, onboard Radeon™ HD 4250 GPU...
What's not: 1 PCI slot, 1 PCIe slot...

Full specs: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - M4A88TD-M

M4A785TD-V EVO

What's hot: 2 PCIe slots, onboard Radeon™ HD 4200 GPU, overall a more robust board...
What's not: Sata 2, older chipset (Chipset AMD 785G/SB710)...

Full specs: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - M4A785TD-V EVO

The motherboard I really wanted is this one:

M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3

But it's not available in Brazil yet and nobody knows when it will be.


So, which one should I buy and why? The M4A88TD-M is newer and supports SATA 3, while the M4A785TD-V EVO is more robust.

BTW, I think I should say that I can't/won't buy a NVidia GPU or an Intel processor, so please, let's just talk about the motherboard.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SCHUMI_4EVER]

The more robust board.
The other board is like buying a flashy motorbike when what you actually wanted was a car.

 

[-StrikE-]

The first one M4A88TD-M if the reduced PCI/e slots aren't a problem, the second one looks more robust but its not really that much of a difference, but if you can wait definitely wait for the last one. Also Sata 3 isn't the only advantage there's USB 3.0 to and the tech used in the 8XX is definitely better.

PS: I for one ain't a fan though of integrated GPU's, also couldn't this also be a possibility ? http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=YATvwCy0OZLGNWwp or something on the 870 ?

 

[Gladiator@]

I think I should have made a poll.

The more robust board.
The other board is like buying a flashy motorbike when what you actually wanted was a car.

hmmm, yeah. There's something that bothers me about the M4A88TD-M. With a HD5770 connected I won't be able to use the only PCI slot it has, because whatever I plug in there will probably block the GPU's cooler. ._."
In the other hand, the M4A785TD-V EVO's technology is a little dated.

The first one M4A88TD-M if the reduced PCI/e slots aren't a problem, the second one looks more robust but its not really that much of a difference, but if you can wait definitely wait for the last one. Also Sata 3 isn't the only advantage there's USB 3.0 to and the tech used in the 8XX is definitely better.

PS: I for one ain't a fan though of integrated GPU's, also couldn't this also be a possibility ? ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - M4A87TD EVO or something on the 870 ?

Having only one PCIe slot isn't a problem, but, as I said above, it's like having no PCI slot. Looking at that pic, a PCI card would block the GPU's cooler, wouldn't it? Also, the M4A88TD-M doesn't support USB 3.0. But that isn't a problem either 'cause I could probably buy a PCI card with some USB 3.0 ports later.

I would wait for the M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3, but without a release date it could take too long to come or not even come to Brazil at all, and I don't know how much it would cost.

Yeah, the integrated GPU would only be used in case of emergency. I'm buying a 5770.

Thanks for your comments, guys. But I'm still not convinced of what motherboard to buy.

That board you posted is actually quite good. It's almost twice as expensive as the other two. But it might be worth it.

 

[masta.g.86]

Personally, I would go with Gigabyte. They're cheaper and just as good as ASUS boards nowadays, imho, so long as you get a board from the "Ultra Durable" line. (they use solid capacitors)

Phenom II 965 instead of the 955. The 965 is a tad faster, runs cooler, and OCs better. Slightly more expensive, but if you get a Gigabyte board you'll still save money overall.

 

[SCHUMI_4EVER]

I think I should have made a poll.



hmmm, yeah. There's something that bothers me about the M4A88TD-M. With a HD5770 connected I won't be able to use the only PCI slot it has, because whatever I plug in there will probably block the GPU's cooler. ._."
In the other hand, the M4A785TD-V EVO's technology is a little dated.



Having only one PCIe slot isn't a problem, but, as I said above, it's like having no PCI slot. Looking at that pic, a PCI card would block the GPU's cooler, wouldn't it? Also, the M4A88TD-M doesn't support USB 3.0. But that isn't a problem either 'cause I could probably buy a PCI card with some USB 3.0 ports later.

I would wait for the M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3, but without a release date it could take too long to come or not even come to Brazil at all, and I don't know how much it would cost.

Yeah, the integrated GPU would only be used in case of emergency. I'm buying a 5770.

Thanks for your comments, guys. But I'm still not convinced of what motherboard to buy.

That board you posted is actually quite good. It's almost twice as expensive as the other two. But it might be worth it.

Actually it would block one of your PCI-e 1x slots, not your PCI slot. That long whitish slot is the PCI slot, the short ones are the PCI-e 1x slots.


As for the dated chipset unless you're planning on overlocking, and you don't strike me as an enthusiast Glad, you won't lose anything. The better chipsets main job is to offer more performance for enthusiasts to squeeze out of the board though in this case it also accommodates the new tech of SATA3 and USB3. Both will run your 3.2Ghz processor the same way providing you keep it at stock (and a little beyond that).





Anyways I reckon it's about time you look at what options Gigabyte provides you with if you do plan on overclocking cuz that mATX board is just a no go despite the better tech (and the fact you're not losing a PCI slot).

 

[Lasnap]

Actually it would block one of your PCI-e 1x slots, not your PCI slot. That long whitish slot is the PCI slot, the short ones are the PCI-e 1x slots.

what hes afraid of is that the card sitting int he pci slot will block the fan of his new hd5770 and cuase it to eaither overheat the 5770 or to overheat the card int he pci slot.

 

[-StrikE-]

hmmm, yeah. There's something that bothers me about the M4A88TD-M. With a HD5770 connected I won't be able to use the only PCI slot it has.

That could be a problem i forgot about the 5770 size....

Personally, I would go with Gigabyte. They're cheaper and just as good as ASUS boards nowadays, imho, so long as you get a board from the "Ultra Durable" line. (they use solid capacitors)

Phenom II 965 instead of the 955. The 965 is a tad faster, runs cooler, and OCs better. Slightly more expensive, but if you get a Gigabyte board you'll still save money overall.

I endorse this since 7XX at least gigabyte has done a great job especially with there UD line. Made quite a few configs using this and they all perform great.

 

[SCHUMI_4EVER]

what hes afraid of is that the card sitting int he pci slot will block the fan of his new hd5770 and cuase it to eaither overheat the 5770 or to overheat the card int he pci slot.

Ah I see, I thought he meant he would not be able to put a card in there in the first place...and yeah that could be a problem...

 

[Lasnap]

thats one reason im going to try to stay away from microatx boards for my next build cuase i have a large gts 250 and an x-fi extremegamer soundcard unless of course the motherbard has 2 pci-e x1 slots between the pci-e x16 slot and the only pci slot on the board. that will help with space issues.

 

[MT]

How much is it costing glad?

 

[Gladiator@]

Ok guys. I'll take a look at some Gigabyte motherboards. I decided to go with the board strike linked me to (pic below) if I don't find a good Gigabyte for a good price.

M4A87TD Evo

This one is like a merge of the good things the other 2 offer. But it's also US$130 more expensive.

Personally, I would go with Gigabyte. They're cheaper and just as good as ASUS boards nowadays, imho, so long as you get a board from the "Ultra Durable" line. (they use solid capacitors)

Phenom II 965 instead of the 955. The 965 is a tad faster, runs cooler, and OCs better. Slightly more expensive, but if you get a Gigabyte board you'll still save money overall.

Here, the 965 costs about US$ 30 more than the 955, I don't think it would be worth it when facing the benefits it has over the 955.

How much is it costing glad?

Hey, Mire. :thumb:

This is what I'm paying:

Plus R$ 529,00 for the motherboard if it's the M4A87TD Evo (or the cost of a Gigabyte's) and R$ 550,00 for a 23" Full HD LED monitor.

So, it'll cost about R$ 2500,00.

Note: US$ 1,00 = R$ 1,75

I'll post again after I see some Gigabyte motherboards, so you guys can help me choose between the M4A87TD and the Gigabyte's.

 

[MT]

I am pretty sure it is a good price, but nothing that I can afford atm. The motherboard really costs salty like that?

 

[-StrikE-]

How much those this cost there ? http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3517#ov

 

[Gladiator@]

I am pretty sure it is a good price, but nothing that I can afford atm. The motherboard really costs salty like that?

Yeah, the M4A87TD Evo does. "/

The M4A88TD-M and the M4A785TD-V EVO cost around R$ 300,00. But they didn't convince me.

How much those this cost there ? GA-870A-UD3 (rev. 2.1) - GIGABYTE

Hey Strike, I couldn't find that exact model for sale here. But I found these:

GA-890XA-UD3

Full specs: GA-890XA-UD3 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE

Price: R$ 535,00 ( ~~ US$ 302,00) - A little more expensive than the M4A87TD Evo (US$ 298,00).

GA-770T-USB3

Full specs: GA-770T-USB3 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE

Price: R$ 369,00 (~~ US$ 208,00).

 

[SCHUMI_4EVER]

Link us to the site Gladiator.

 

[Gladiator@]

K, this is one of the best sites I use, Schumi:

Gigabyte: AM3 - Gigabyte

ASUS: AM3 - ASUS

Of course, the pages are in portuguese.

BTW, I found that motherboard (GA-870A-UD3) you linked me too, Strike. It's costing R$ 519,00 (US$ 293,00).

 

[SCHUMI_4EVER]

Hmm, I like this board.
MB AM3 Gigabyte GA-790XT-USB3 - Rev 1.0 - Box :: WAZ - A melhor loja de informática

It's nice and in the middle of everything, price wise and spec wise.

 

[masta.g.86]

That's my motherboard, but with USB 3.0 added.

Very excellent board.

 

[SCHUMI_4EVER]

Your motherboard? your sig needs an update? with an i7?