Good AM2 motherboard

xpyrofuryx

I need a good AM2 motherboard, but it has to be below $100, preferably around $70-80.

I was looking at this one: www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx

xxthecorexx

hm. i don't know much at all about am2 motherboards. there's a new holiday buyers guide over at anandtech with a few mid range am2 boards listed but the one you picked seems like a very good board too as far as features go.

 

good luck.

 

i've noticed you've been making a few cheaper builds lately, have you started building and selling on your own rather than work in (i think) the repair shop you were in.

CleffyII

Good and cheap aren't words that typically can be associated with each other.  Get this one instead, you won't need to upgrade for a couple years.  If you're really adminant about <$100 then there is this one.

maskedweasel

Well theres a few questions to be answered, like, What type of video card are you using? Are you going to use SLi? and Stuff like that. 

I bought an ECS board that had a MIR and got the board for 80 dollars,  I don't know if they have them in stock or not, but it's worked great for my system.  MSI makes decent boards. I've had a BIOS problem, as in I've had to update it a few times on one of the MSI boards I bought from newegg.  You may need to do that too, but that could be nomatter what boards you choose.

If you're staying under 100 look into this foxconn board too. They have really great options and make decent boards too. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186104 .  The ratings are all over the board, but if you know what you're doing you shouldn't have a problem.  If you can go higher in price let me know and I'll look around more.

Sevenwind

I'd reach real deep in the wallet and get an AM2+ board. That way when you can afford a amd phenom (quad core) you will be ready.

Newegg has both AM2+ boards and phenom chips for sale. And who knows maybe tomorrow morning or monday morning they will have deals. I know it is either friday morning till noon or monday morning till noon that they have their yearly special. I believe it is day after thanksgiving.

xpyrofuryx

Firstly, @ xxthecorexx. Its a combination of the two, I still very much work there, but I am selling computers at teh store.

As for what I want to do with it is run one pci-e card at 16x, no SLI, I plan to get a dedicated sound card too for it, so the onboard sound doesnt need to be that great, I am definately overclocking on this board.

I checked out anandtech's christmas list and I found this really nice Biostar board for $79, i runs off of nForce 560, and anandtech did a review on it and they called it "A pleasant suprise" and they said with the new driver update for it, it can overclock even better, and is very sturdy. Heres the link: www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp

Vashner

Don't get anything for AMD that's not AM2+...

The Gigabyte AM2+ looks good.

Rayx0r

Im a huge fan of MSI, however im not a fan of MSI if you plan on overclocking.  Theyre an awesome motherboard, its actually my only choice when I buy motherboards.  Overclocking..I just never have any luck with it.

Asus is very reliable when overclocking, even though I dont care for them.  Mainly because upgrading the bios and finding drivers had been a pain in the ass in my past experiences.

also, stay away from the 500 chipsets.  the 560's, the 570s are both nice but ive heard of issues with the 500's

Tuor7

My recommendation: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131022

The above is the board I have in my own system. I recommend this only if you are sure you won't want SLI (and if you're looking for a really cheap MB, then I doubt you'll make good use of SLI).

Others have mentioned getting an AM2+ board. Now, these boards all use the 790FX chipset, which is the top-of-the-line chipset for the AM2+ socket MBs. Later MBs will have fewer features and cost somewhat less. The point is: there really isn't any good reason to buy one if you're working within any sort of budget. If money is no object, then by all means get one; but if that were the case, you probably wouldn't be looking for such a value-minded MB. Also, the 790FX is about a week old, so you'll be an early adopter if you get one... with all the joys that involves.

The ASUS board I linked to above is a solid board using the nVidia 570 MCP chipset. It'll also handle a Phenom chip if you get one. Really, its only drawback is a lack of SLI, and it's listed below $100.

Sevenwind

I am confused. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the phenom processor is AM2+ socket? Which means it will not work in AM2 socket motherboards right?

Do you flash your bios to maybe a current one that says it supports AM2+?

 

 

Tuor7

The Phenom is backwards compatable with AM2 motherboards. The board's builders will have to release a BIOS update first, though, and some capabilities will require an AM2+ board, but the chip itself will work.

Sevenwind

I did not know that. Many thanks for the swift reply!

Still will have to hold off till tax refund comes next year to get a phenom.