MOSFET: MSI A88XM-E45 VS Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 VS Asus A88XM-A

[l3entumbling]

Hello Guys, Help me please.

 

I'm in need a mATX, A88X motherboard. The only ones that are available on my favorite local store are the following:

 

1. MSI A88XM-E45
2. Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3
3. Asus A88XM-A

My dilemma is that I kinda like the gigabyte because it's pure black without accent colors, but I noticed that it does not have a heatsink on the MOSFET unlike the MSI. I plan to use A10-7850k and overclock it to 4.2 or 4.4 maybe. Does the heatsink in the MOSFET really matter? 

 

Please enlighten me guys, which is best between the three to use when overclocking.

 

Thanks

 

[Sauron]

The mosfet heatsink only really matters for very aggressive overclocking. Personally I like ASUS boards because of the excellent bios, but really you should probably go for the cheapest or the one you like the most.

[l3entumbling]

Thanks Sauron,

 

7850k runs stock at 3.7GHz and boosts to 4.0GHz. Let's say I can overclock it to 4.4GHz, would you consider it as aggressive? 

[Prysin]

Thanks Sauron,

 

7850k runs stock at 3.7GHz and boosts to 4.0GHz. Let's say I can overclock it to 4.4GHz, would you consider it as aggressive? 

my 7870k is running at 4.6GHz using a Gigabyte A88X ITX board....

 

ITX... as in, not a OC board..

 

aslong as you got decent airflow over the motherboard, and the motherboard has a heatsink on the mosfet/VRM, then you'd be fine.

 

FM2+, even if you push it hard, wont get anywhere NEAR bulldozer in TDP.

 

 

also, remember that unless you disable ALL power saving functions, when using the iGPU of a Kaveri APU, the APU will downclock the CPU part to 3GHz no matter what when the iGPU is in use.

[l3entumbling]

my 7870k is running at 4.6GHz using a Gigabyte A88X ITX board....

 

ITX... as in, not a OC board..

 

aslong as you got decent airflow over the motherboard, and the motherboard has a heatsink on the mosfet/VRM, then you'd be fine.

 

FM2+, even if you push it hard, wont get anywhere NEAR bulldozer in TDP.

 

 

also, remember that unless you disable ALL power saving functions, when using the iGPU of a Kaveri APU, the APU will downclock the CPU part to 3GHz no matter what when the iGPU is in use.

 

Yeah that's weird, Gigabyte put a mosfet heatsink on their iTX board, while their mATX board does not have any.. I guess I'll go with MSI A88X on this one..

[Prysin]

Yeah that's weird, Gigabyte put a mosfet heatsink on their iTX board, while their mATX board does not have any.. I guess I'll go with MSI A88X on this one..

also, overclocking the CPU gives near nothing in return. my 7870k scores the same at 4.6GHz as at stock speeds. when benchmarking it.... you are better off overclocking the iGPU.

[l3entumbling]

also, overclocking the CPU gives near nothing in return. my 7870k scores the same at 4.6GHz as at stock speeds. when benchmarking it.... you are better off overclocking the iGPU.

hey thanks Prysin,

 

Have you checked out the mobo options? I you were me, what would you choose?

[Prysin]

do you have a GPU?

if so, ignore FM2+, buy a FX 6300 instead.

if no, get the FM2+ Asus board

[l3entumbling]

do you have a GPU?

if so, ignore FM2+, buy a FX 6300 instead.

if no, get the FM2+ Asus board

 

why asus? what's your rationale? 

[arnavvr]

MSI

[l3entumbling]

MSI

 

why? 

[arnavvr]

why? 

 

Reliability ASUS boards die too quickly and have horrible RMA service. @KingCry can back me up.