Pros: Great Layout - Good Features - Great Price!
Cons: AM3+ issues with Piledriver tech. Not fully supported.
BSOD's for days!
Cant go 3 hours without a freeze or BSOD
Other Thoughts: I purchased this board back in February of this year, I am a Broadband Analyst by trade and my home PC is a must! This was a budget build but had I known these would be the case I would have put out a bit more.
CPU - FX6300
Ram set 1 - G.skill DD3-1333 PC3-10666 4 G sticks X2
Ran Set 2 (Purchased it this weekend) PNY XLR8 8Gb stick -1600 Mhz -Cas 9 - 1.5v - DDR3 PC3 12800
When I received the board I stick a fresh isntal of Windows 8 on it, after contacting Microsoft about various BSOD's they remoted in ran their test for about 5 min and another BSOD issue - logged back in tried again and crash they tried for 3 hours. This is after me trying to reinstall Win 8 3 more times OFC.
So, Windows 7 - installed fine, posted, default UEFI Bios settings - BSOD's or freezes and pretends to be receiving input.
Tuned settings, turned X-boost on - stabile for days with X-boost, but it seems to have an excelorator problem, Games when played are out of sync videos are choppy. Turn X-boost off tand that goes away but so does the stability.
Bios was under volting and does not detect proper timings from both sets of ram. changed to 1.5 V on ram and proper timings (9-9-9-24) and still no resolve.
Extensive ram testing, multiple NEW sticks of ram (I've invested more in new hardware at this point than I would have if I would have purchased new $200 board =x)
needless to say after MONTHS of trial and error, and doing my part in ironing out all possible bugs, its past my return time for new egg, and the flimsy structure on the board and its odd PCI-E clips (Broke on day 1) I now have voided any chance of an RMA with ASRock. AVOID THIS BOARD! Months of work, and still giving me issues...
This board is coming out next pay period and I will never buy anything from ASRock again..
Oh and customer service / Tech support from them - It's non exsistant.
Manufacturer Response:
Dear ASRock Customer
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
For the BSOD, please download and update the latest BIOS at "
ASRock > 970 Pro3 R2.0 " .
Set the UEFI BIOS default.
Test with single memory module on A1 or A2 slot, switching another memory if its same issue.
Check the CPU is not overheating.
If you have any technical issues please contact us at
ASRock > Support Request Form. We will assist you shortly.
Thank you
ASRock SUPPORT
Tech Support Email:
ASRock > Support Request Form