Help finding a motherboard

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  1. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
       #1

    Help finding a motherboard


    Hi,
    I've currently got an ASRock 960GM/U3S3 motherboard, with an AMD FX6300 as a CPU and I'm wanting to upgrade my board so I can get a few extra features. I've looked everywhere that I can think but cannot find anything to match what I'm looking for.
    The essential requirements that I want are obviously, an AM3+ socket so I can continue to use my current CPU (I don't want a CPU upgrade just yet) and it must be micro ATX to fit inside my case (Fractal Design Define Mini). The features that I want over my current board is as follows; minimum of 2 SATA 6Gbps ports, a USB 3 header as well as USB 3 on the back. If possible could somebody find a motherboard with two PCIe x16 slots? I need one for my GPU and a PCIe x1 for a wifi card but being able to expand would be nice to have.
    The less essential features that I would like, but wouldn't be disillusion about not having is 4 RAM slots, and maybe a UEFI interface (I don't even know if those are available on AM3+ boards at all).

    I feel as though I'm being picky with these, but I really cannot find anything to match those specs, so if you can't either please tell me and I'll try to remove some specs to ease the search. The nearest one that I've found is this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-GA-.../dp/B009FC3YJ8 but it only has SATA 3Gbps, and one PCIe x16 slot.

    Thanks you everybody who has a look in advance
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,741
    W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x64 VM | Linux Mint VM
       #2

    I think the features you'll struggle to find are the midboard USB 3.0 header and the second PCIe x16 slot. I've just been through the three Micro-ATX boards ASUS offer and they're the two missing features on all of them. I'll keep looking though.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I'm not 100% set on the second PCIe x16, although it would be nice. As far as the USB 3 header goes, I've got an adapter to go from a USB 3 port to a USB 2 port, so I could live without it but it would be annoying to have to reach behind my computer every time I have to plug in my external HDD as my PC isn't in the most accessible position. What's the position on the UEFI interface?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Also, why do so many AMD boards have legacy PCI slots on them? I don't see any modern PC use them and even a second PCIe x1 would be more useful...
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  5. Posts : 757
    Win10 Pro 64-bit
       #5

    Tomtom111 said:
    Also, why do so many AMD boards have legacy PCI slots on them? I don't see any modern PC use them and even a second PCIe x1 would be more useful...
    Some of us use PCI sound cards because they're more flexible and provide greater output levels than onboard sound chips.:)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I get the logic behind using a sound card, that's not what I was talking about. I was saying why legacy PCI is still put on boards, even though PCIe x1 would be of much more use, at least to me.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I've been looking some more, and I cannot find anything that meets all my specs, the nearest board being the MSI 760GMA-P34 (FX) , which lacks the second PCIe x16 slot and drops two RAM slots. I have one question about it though, if I were to put a dual slot GPU into the PCIe x16 slot, would that render the PCIe x1 completeley useless? Not as in disable it but would it block it? I will want to put my Wi-Fi card into the x1 slot, so obviously it being unusable really isnt any option. Check my specs below for my Wi-Fi card.

    Extra: I did also find this board: Asus M5A88-M EVO which as far as I can tell would be ideal, but just my luck it is discontinued.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,741
    W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x64 VM | Linux Mint VM
       #8

    That was one of the three ASUS boards I was looking at. Hunt around for one as you can't go wrong with ASUS.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 365
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I've been looking everywhere I can think of, but to no avail. Every website I go to say 'Discontinued' or 'End of life'. I can't even find any second hand ones

    Edit: I just found a listing for a used one on Amazon.com, but it's $199.99 plus p+p, and as I'm in UK that be a lot. Plus $200 seems a lot for a board that is around 3 years old.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,741
    W7 Pro x64 SP1 | W10 Pro IP x64 | W8.1 Pro x64 VM | Linux Mint VM
       #10

    It is a lot, I'll have an ask around as I know a couple of system suppliers. The chances of them having one are slim to none but it won't hurt to ask.
      My Computer


 
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