Have a CPU and video card - thoughts on mobo?

[Reckoning]

AMD FX 4100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996

MSI 7770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127687

I've built computers plenty but MOBO's have always thrown me off. As long as the CPU fits on the MOBO and you have enough RAM slots and the correct Vid Card slot... why pay $200 for a MOBO when you can get it all to run on a $50 MOBO? Just for expansion in the future? Quadrupling your price for a possibility of expanding isn't in my budget so what are your thoughts on a MOBO for these 2? I heard on TigerDirect.com you need a 9 series MOBO to handle the FX4100. Side note, I bought a 550W PSU

 

[Jad Chaar]

Well, price sometimes matters if you are an enthusiast. For example, some ASUS motherboards on the Z77 side go for like $400 bucks because they have better on board audio, and have the option to liquid cool the board (plus there are better passive heatsinks for improved cooling). These are just 2 examples of what your money will get. Also, higher end boards may have more SATA 6GB/s ports. I would recommend getting a $100 motherboard from Amazon or Newegg. Tiger direct is overpriced. I would put your money saved from the motherboard to getting a 650Ti. It will get you ~25% better performance over the 7770.

 

[Reckoning]

Well the 7770 is $125.. I got it for $95 + a free Far Cry 3 game ($60 Value) so I'm going with it. It will suite my needs just fine, I'm just looking for some input on a MOBO

 

[Jad Chaar]

Any AM3+ motherboard will be fine. I recommend ASUS though: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131873. I think $100 bucks is probably a good deal for a motherboard for an AMD platform. Look for any motherboard that has UEFI BIOS. It could save you in the future. As for the GPU though, the 7770 wont play FC3 that well lol.

 

[hood6558]

JC713 said: As for the GPU though, the 7770 wont play FC3 that well.
Yeah, I heard that FC3 is quite GPU-intensive, so why bundle it with that card? Maybe so they can sell you a more expensive video card after you get frustrated with low frame rates, stuttering, etc.
Here's one of the the cheapest motherboards that will fit your needs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128564
Yes, it's got a 760G chipset, but the FX 4100 is compatible if using BIOS version F3 or newer (which is probably already loaded).

 

[Jad Chaar]

JC713 said: As for the GPU though, the 7770 wont play FC3 that well.
Yeah, I heard that FC3 is quite GPU-intensive, so why bundle it with that card? Maybe so they can sell you a more expensive video card after you get frustrated with low frame rates, stuttering, etc.
Here's one of the the cheapest motherboards that will fit your needs - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128564
Yes, it's got a 760G chipset, but the FX 4100 is compatible if using BIOS version F3 or newer (which is probably already loaded).

I wouldnt go cheap on the motherboard. I think he is better off with a lower end card instead of his motherboard failing.

 

[hood6558]

I wouldnt go cheap on the motherboard. I think he is better off with a lower end card instead of his motherboard failing.

OP stated in his first post that he'd prefer a $50 motherboard over anything more expensive, so I'm trying to work with him, and I agree that a $50 board is a risk, but look at the CPU he has - not a really a high-end piece (95w) and not a good overclocker, so the crappy board might live, if it's not DOA.

 

[Jad Chaar]

Ah right. Confusing this with another similar thread.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Any motherboard from ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI or ASRock will be okay. ATX boards are a better choice due to the larger amount of expansion slots available. Look for solid polymer Japanese-made caps and at least 2-4 USB 3.0 ports. Everything else is extra IMHO, but not necessary. Features such as more power phases and on-board CMOS reset buttons are nice to have, but ultimately unnecessary, especially if you're not going to overclock/tweak any parts frequently.
With that in mind, this motherboard will do nicely for you.

Also, I hope that 550W PSU is a good-quality one; that's the most important component in any rig, IMHO.