Every year I always spend some time to write an article
about mainstream PC platform recommendation for choosing the high C/P value mainstream products.
Users can pay less get more performance products.
AMD stuck in 65nm for couple year and not much progress.
It caused two main weaknesses for Phenom X4 CPU, high power consumption and over heat.
That’s why I didn’t write too many reviews with AMD platform.

Since 2009, AMD launched 45nm CPU and still keep in parity.
After then, AMD announced a series X2/X3/X4 CPU, and also can enable cores and L3 cache.
It makes AMD ramp up the market share in 2nd half 2009. Of course, the parity motherboard is also the key factor.
Especially the economy crisis in 2009, the users lower their cost in many consumer products.

AMD CPU highest C/P one is Athlon II X3 425/435, the price is around 66~75 USD.
This CPU may enable quad cores by MB south bridge.
However, please be aware that it’s not 100%.
If it’s unstable, please back to the tri-core to operate.
Another model is Athlon II X4 620/630, the price is around 93~107 USD.
The main difference with Phenom II X4 is no L3 cache.
It also has opportunity to enable it to be complete Phenom II X4.
This time I use Phenom II X2 545 for quad core test. You cannot find this model in the market already.

Besides, I use Micro-ATX MB which is AMD main segment in few years.
AMD uses their leading UMA performance and lower price to compete with the other chipset provides.
This article introduces three 785G MB to enable Phenom/Athlon II being X4 and OC performance.

First model is DFI LANPARTY BI 785G-M35
The market price is about 108USD.


Lower Left Corner
1 X PCI-E X16
1 X PCI-E X1
2 X PCI
LAN chip is JMicron JMC250
Audio chip is Realtek ALC885 and use tantalum chip capacitor for better audio quality


Lower Right Corner
6 X black SATAII by SB710. SATA2 and support RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 0+1
1 X IDE


Upper Right Corner
4 X DIMM DDR3 support 800/1066/1333/1600(O.C.)
The maximum DDR3 capacity is 16GB. DDR3 1600 no need to OC CPU.
Next by is 24-PIN power connector


Upper Left Corner
AM3 CPU Socket, 4+1 PWM
Next to heat sink is hynix 128MB DDR3 SidePort Memory



Second is GIGABYTE GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H
The market price is about 99 USD.


Lower Left Corner
1 X PCI-E X16
1 X PCI-E X1
2 X PCI
LAN chip is Realtek 8111C
Audio chip is Realtek ALC889A supports 7.1 channel and Dolby Home Theater technology


Lower Right Corner
5 X light blue SATAII by SB710. SATA2 and support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10 and RAID JBOD。
1 X IDE


Upper Right Corner
4 X DIMM DDR3 support 800/1066/1333/1600/1800(OC). The maximum capacity is 16GB DDR3.
Next by are Dual BOIS and 24-PIN power connector


Upper Left Corner
AM3 CPU Socket, 4+1 PWM
It also has 128MB DDR3 SidePort Memory

nice.. may continue..

Hey windwithme, you can post up the whole review without having to wait for people to reply in between each post!

ow can edy? i thought it's limited..

tested with my msi 785GT-e63...

really2 good mobo for rana athlon2 425 x3

but my oc limited due to my 450w psu

ned to change it asap.

system as siggy...

capable to unlock sumthing?

it was never that way to begin with.
thats why when other people post reviews here, they always reserve a few posts below the first.

anyways,
Windwithme, when you continue to post up the rest, i'll invisible the posts so it will look neat.

yes.... but my proc unlucky... not stable at all... wont boot

Third one is BIOSTAR TA785G3 HD
The price is around 80USD, the cheapest in these 3 models. It’s also the only one without solid capacitor design.


Lower Left Corner
1 X PCI-E X16
1 X PCI-E X1
2 X PCI
LAN chip is Realtek RTL8111DL
Audio chip is Realtek ALC888 supports HD Audio 8+2 channels.


Lower Right Corner
6 X yellow SATAII by SB710.SATA2 and support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10
1 X IDE
Power、Reset buttons and debug LED


Upper Right Corner
4 X DIMM DDR3 support 800/1066/1333/1600(OC). The maximum capacity is 16GB DDR3.
Next by is 24-PIN power connector


Upper Left Corner
AM3 CPU Socket, 4+1 PWM
Next to heat sink is SAMSUNG 128MB DDR3 SidePort Memory


IO comparison from up to down are GIGABYTE-DFI-BIOSTAR
You can see GIGABYTE has eSATA and 1394
DFI has complete S/PDIF fiber and coaxial output


Three 785G models all have different advantages.
No matter they are good components, better spec or lower price.
User can choose by budget, brand, after service and personal like.
In picking MB, there is no better or worse at all.


BIOS will be more focus in OC setup.
The below setups are 785G running at 300MHz below.

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H BIOS screen


It also supports enable core 3 only option.
If your CPU cannot be stable in quad core, you can back to try 3 cores as well.


Built-in HD4200 default clock Core/Memory is 500/1066


DFI LANPARTY BI 785G-M35 BIOS screen