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Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Motherboards > Gigabyte 970A-3D or ASUS M5A87

Gigabyte 970A-3D or ASUS M5A87

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Motherboards Gigabyte 970A-3D or ASUS M5A87

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Hello,
i need some help and it will be very helpful if somebody can give me opinion.

I decided to upgade my motherboard and CPU.
I was wondering between Gigabyte 970A-3D or ASUS M5A87. I bought Gigabyte 970A-3D motherboard - CPU is Phenom II X3 720 BE on it, but i have problems when i unlock the 4th core on the CPU. The problem is that the computer freezes with no reason a lot. If someboy can give me advice or opinion what to do. Also my front audio conection is not working and i wrote about thet in another discussion like answer to the person who was asking for decision of his same problem.

So, my question is is it wort it to return this motherboard and to take the ASUS just because i will be able to unlock the core (the core use to work ok before on another motherboard) or is not, because the Gigabyte has more options at all and newer chipset.
Thank you in advance

Reply to venkucio
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First try to reset the BIOS.

Reset the CMOS memory the right way as is described in the motherboard manual using the clear CMOS link with the power cord unplugged.

How To Clear CMOS @ http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixt [...] arcmos.htm

SWF file

Reply to Nikorr
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Second, if it does not help, update the BIOS.

Reply to Nikorr

I did it already, but it`s not working. I`m wondering is it the motherboard or the CPU. That`s why i asked which board is better choice. On this one i can install 2 Video Cards and up to 32 GB memory, it has more USB conectors on the back and 970 chipset, the ASUS - 1 PCI Express Slot, up to 16 GB memory, but i think it has better settings to play in the BIOS , if you want to do some overclock.Can i compare 32 GB max to 16 GB max and second video card with just one more core for the CPU.Wich one is better to have? That`s what i`m wondering. Thank you.

Reply to venkucio
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It also depends on if that 4th core is really defective (so it will never work), or if it was working, and just disabled to turn it into an X3.

Reply to Nikorr

yes, i saw in internet that this is possible, but the CPU is working, just when for example i wathc video on YouTube and try to go Full Screen it freezes and i have to restart the PC, or i tried to re-run the assessment for the Windows Experience Index and it freezes there too. When the 4th core is disabled doesn`t do this. I haven`t checked if it will freeze for other reason , like play game or something else, i probably need to run some test , but i`m not sure wchich one exactly. The problem is that i saw somewhere in internet before to buy the board that one person was complaining about the same problem but there was no solution in the discussion there.


Message edited by venkucio on 02-07-2012 at 03:24:33 PM
Reply to venkucio
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OK, did u do a clean install?

Reply to Nikorr

yes, i did. do you think it can be related to the memory - Patriot Viper II Sector 5 Edition 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz CL9 DIMMs (PGV38G1333ELK), but is 1.65v and now is working at 1.5v default from the board and is not 1333MHz ,instead is 1066MHz . Or related to the Video Card - Sapphire (11166-01-20R) ATI Radeon HD 5450 512MB GDDR3.

Reply to venkucio
- 0 +

dodnt eve think about buying m5a87 ,the think sucks.
really , i have only problems...

Reply to caplive
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