mATX AM2 board.

[Omastar]

I've got an X2 3600+ that's been sitting idly by for months now, and 2GB of DDR2 I picked up cheap; all I need now is the motherboard.

I'm thinking of putting this together in an Apeiva/Aspire/whatever it is X Qpack for a nice, quiet HTPC/file server, and I need a good mATX motherboard.

My only reservation is spending more than $100, so let's keep 'er below that price point.

Note, I don't want or need SLI/CF, and I'd prefer a board based on the AMD 690G chipset--no nForce, please. ;)

Also, voltage options, RAM timings, other 'advanced' options are a necessity. Nothing extreme, but I'd like to be able to get a mild overclock out of this CPU.

Thanks a lot.

BTW, I think the 3600+ is a CAAIG stepping, for what it's worth.

[funnyperson1]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138057

[Omastar]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138057

I was just looking at that before I posted the thread. Definitely a top contender.

[nate39]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128056

This is the one I am about to use for a build for a friend of mine. Everything I can find out about it seems positive.

[khurios2000]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128056

This is the one I am about to use for a build for a friend of mine. Everything I can find out about it seems positive.

i 2nd this board

[perkam]

Both look good, I second the Biostar.

A couple of rules when buying AMD mobos.

Don't buy Asus.
Don't buy Asus.
Don't buy Asus.
What's Asus?
Who's Asus?
You bought an Asus?
Return it.
And don't every buy one ever again.

Perkam

[Lostfaith]

heh, I've got the Asus m2a-VM no problems here, just chugging along with a 0.816-0.992Vcore 2ghz brisbane 24/7 & a 1gb stick ocz.

Don't like Asus's beta bioses though.

[funnyperson1]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128056

This is the one I am about to use for a build for a friend of mine. Everything I can find out about it seems positive.

There was a guy on OCForums who said there were no voltage adjustments (and had a bios screen to prove it):
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=526679

He said he pressed Ctrl+F1, thats how he got to the overclocking page in the first place.

Its odd because he was using the same bios version as the HardOCP review that did have all the voltage options.

[PhilDoc]

There was a guy on OCForums who said there were no voltage adjustments (and had a bios screen to prove it):
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=526679

He said he pressed Ctrl+F1, thats how he got to the overclocking page in the first place.

Its odd because he was using the same bios version as the HardOCP review that did have all the voltage options.


I think I read something over at the Gigabyte site that some of this model's boards don't support overclocking. I can't remember if it was one of the revisions, if so, which revision it was, or if it was a bios thing. If you're truly intersested in this board you may want to visit their site to see whats up.

[funnyperson1]

I think I read something over at the Gigabyte site that some of this model's boards don't support overclocking. I can't remember if it was one of the revisions, if so, which revision it was, or if it was a bios thing. If you're truly intersested in this board you may want to visit their site to see whats up.

See that alone would keep me from buying this board, its just shady business to send review samples that are beast overclockers, and then cripple the board in the next revision.

[Kayin]

Get a Biostar. In the mATX, I've found no better. Good full ATX too...

[PhilDoc]

See that alone would keep me from buying this board, its just shady business to send review samples that are beast overclockers, and then cripple the board in the next revision.


I agree. I wish I could remember where I read that though. I was looking at this board, but didn't want to get one that wouldn't overclock.

[funnyperson1]

Apparently Kyle saved the overclocking bios from his review:
http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=5248471&postcount=36

So someone with the S2H can try that, but I wouldn't but the board and take a chance on it.

[PhilDoc]

Apparently Kyle saved the overclocking bios from his review:
http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=5248471&postcount=36

So someone with the S2H can try that, but I wouldn't but the board and take a chance on it.


Normally, I like Gigabyte, I've owned several and have always had good luck, but with this one I have to again agree. I would be leary about why they disabled overclocking in the first place.

[Omastar]

lol perkam, don't worry. I'm not giving Asus my money after the horrible experience I had with 3 A8N-SLIs. For the quality of high-end boards, I find Asus too overpriced.

I'm thinking of going with the Biostar.

Thanks, guys.

[alpha0ne]

I HATE Biostar :mad:


They make the very best mATX board as linked above but its not for sale in AU, like all Biostar boards :mad: :(

[fakhrain]

Biostar is good! TA690G