Hi, currently this is my rig:

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-880GMA-UD2H with onboard graphics HD4250
CPU: Phenom II X2 555 BE (unable to unlock to 4 cores)
Cooler: Hyper 212 evo
PSU: Seasonic G 550w
RAM: 4 gig Corsair DDR3 1333 x 1
HDD: 500gig
DVD: LG LiteOn
GPU: Leadtek geforce GTX650 (not installed yet)

I want to upgrade the mobo to a low-budget gaming rig but I want to keep the CPU and the rest of the equipments as they are. At the same time, the new mobo is to be able to be linked as a HTPC to my LCD tv and hi-fi.

Would you guys please recommend a suitable mobo for me? My budget is very low +/- RM250 yeah I know not much I can afford right now. My choice mobo brands are: Asus, Gigabyte & MSI; Asus & Gigabyte preferably.

many thanks in advance.

bob

This post has been edited by bobds78: May 30 2013, 10:05 PM

I am not sure if my mobo broken , the CPU was unlocked to x4 when I set it up early last year but I noticed just a couple days back that the "unlocking" was undone and now it is back to x2! Is this possible?

And also I noticed that the temp is rather on the high side even at idle. Its always above 70C (from sisoft sandra & CPUID HWMonitor, really abnormal i think. I go into setup and noticed the same temperature. So I went to check online, some says its the NB chip, its ok and it shud be high to run properly they say. I don't think so coz when I try to unlock it again, the system didn't even get pass the sign on page, and getting worse if you attemp continuously meaning, it doesn't even get pass the POST! Weird I think. I suspect the mobo somehow couldn't control the temp as it getting warmer, I check every fan they all running fine.

So the best guess is: change the mobo, since the rest of the components seem ok. I don't think the CPU kaput already.

Any ideas? And any recommendation for a mobo? I am looking at Gigabyte ga-970a-d3. Is this ok?

thanks

quote=Clem1982,May 31 2013, 09:20 AM]erm... a 970 do not have any on-board displays so better to go back with 880 chipset since you wanna connect directly to your TV

not too sure about the software part though sry 

[/quote]

I dont need onboard display coz already have gtx650. And as for spdif optical, i can jyst buy one and fit it (if the gigabyte 970 doesnt hane it. Any suggestions? so 970 can do the job?

This post has been edited by bobds78: May 31 2013, 01:48 PM

thanks mate. appreciate it.

Hi,

I am now closing in on 3 am3+ MOBOs between Asrock 970 Extreme3 / Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 / Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3.

Please advise.

many thanks