Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H or GA-MA790FX-DS5?

ET3D · Mar 23, 2009, 09:35 PM

As discussed in my other thread "Your thoughts on my planned new PC", I'm going to order a new PC. Talked with the PC store today, and did some more checking of availability of dual PCIe-16 motherboards here in Israel. (There's a much smaller selection than in the US.)

I found out that the GA-MA790FX-DS5 is available for not a lot more than the GA-MA78G-DS3H I wanted to buy. I checked Gigabyte's site, and it's compatible with the Phenom II.

The advantages of this board is that it's a high end one, so likely better built, with two full PCIe-16 slots (not 4x for the second, like the GA-MA78G-DS3H). It also has a better selection of ports at the back (because no space is taken by video output).

On the down side, it's older tech. It uses an older south bridge (SB600 vs. SB700) and as I understand it the chipset doesn't support quad-crossfire (not that I'm ever going to use quad crossfire, and the GA-MA78G-DS3H probably doesn't have that either).

However, I'm not entirely sure what all the actual differences are. Hopefully someone here is well versed in this. Any suggestion?

ET3D · Mar 23, 2009, 09:57 PM

The discussion on the thread linked below suggests that the GA-MA790FX-DS5 may be somewhat problematic.

GAMA790FXDS5 - My experience - PC Perspective Forums

mkk · Mar 23, 2009, 10:00 PM

I would lean towards the newer technology, but most on what I've read about the Southbridge. Unless some specific port on the back of the older card is of special interest or if you plan to overclock a lot, which the older but more expensively built board might be somewhat better at. I wouldn't aim towards a second 3870 card either but in case you find one cheap to throw in I would expect the 4x PCIe 2.0 bus to actually be good enough for that use.

ET3D · Mar 23, 2009, 10:37 PM

Here's another thread which makes me think it's better to go with the newer (but lower end) MB:

AMD Processors Forums - SB600 vs SB700 sv SB750 ?

Mac Daddy · Mar 24, 2009, 01:24 AM

I would go with the GA-MA790FX-DS5

Mar 23, 2009, 09:35 PM	#1
ET3D Hopeless Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dreamland, near the pool of infinite graphics cards Posts: 3,057 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H or GA-MA790FX-DS5? As discussed in my other thread "Your thoughts on my planned new PC", I'm going to order a new PC. Talked with the PC store today, and did some more checking of availability of dual PCIe-16 motherboards here in Israel. (There's a much smaller selection than in the US.) I found out that the GA-MA790FX-DS5 is available for not a lot more than the GA-MA78G-DS3H I wanted to buy. I checked Gigabyte's site, and it's compatible with the Phenom II. The advantages of this board is that it's a high end one, so likely better built, with two full PCIe-16 slots (not 4x for the second, like the GA-MA78G-DS3H). It also has a better selection of ports at the back (because no space is taken by video output). On the down side, it's older tech. It uses an older south bridge (SB600 vs. SB700) and as I understand it the chipset doesn't support quad-crossfire (not that I'm ever going to use quad crossfire, and the GA-MA78G-DS3H probably doesn't have that either). However, I'm not entirely sure what all the actual differences are. Hopefully someone here is well versed in this. Any suggestion? Last edited by ET3D; Mar 23, 2009 at 09:46 PM.

Mar 23, 2009, 09:57 PM	Thread Starter #2
ET3D Hopeless Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dreamland, near the pool of infinite graphics cards Posts: 3,057 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	Re: Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H or GA-MA790FX-DS5? The discussion on the thread linked below suggests that the GA-MA790FX-DS5 may be somewhat problematic. GAMA790FXDS5 - My experience - PC Perspective Forums

Mar 23, 2009, 10:00 PM	#3
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H or GA-MA790FX-DS5? I would lean towards the newer technology, but most on what I've read about the Southbridge. Unless some specific port on the back of the older card is of special interest or if you plan to overclock a lot, which the older but more expensively built board might be somewhat better at. I wouldn't aim towards a second 3870 card either but in case you find one cheap to throw in I would expect the 4x PCIe 2.0 bus to actually be good enough for that use.

Mar 23, 2009, 10:37 PM	Thread Starter #4
ET3D Hopeless Dreamer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dreamland, near the pool of infinite graphics cards Posts: 3,057 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	Re: Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H or GA-MA790FX-DS5? Here's another thread which makes me think it's better to go with the newer (but lower end) MB: AMD Processors Forums - SB600 vs SB700 sv SB750 ?

Mar 24, 2009, 01:24 AM	#5
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H or GA-MA790FX-DS5? I would go with the GA-MA790FX-DS5 __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen