ASRock 970 Extreme4 vs Asus M5A97-Pro

[Frakk]

Which is better?

I currently have the Asus, but i think i over cooked it a couple of days ago and now the only way i get get my computer to run without issues and play BF3 is by running the CPU at stock.

Before the overcook it was fine OC'd and now its almost unusable unless the CPU is at standard clocks.

I'm looking to replace it but i'm not going back to the same board. i hope the ASRock is a stronger board, my question is,- is it?


I did have an ASRock many years ago with an 3400+ CPU and it was absolutely solid.

Thanks

 

[saint19]

That ASRock is very solid and also have good options for overclock but maybe you want give an opportunity to this Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128510

 

[Frakk]

I did look at it, its more expensive then the 970 ASRock i'm talking about and actually still slightly more expensive then the 990 Rock equivalent, and users here have not been particularly kind to it, complaining of heat and USB problems. I have the same NB heat problems on my Asus so you understand its put me right off it.

Thank's saint19.

 

[bldegle2]

AsRock is pretty good..

check sig, never a problem, I did add little heatsinks to the hottest chips, really helps...

laterzzzz......

 

[mjw21a]

So Frakk, did you get that AsRock board? I'm looking at it myself though I can't really find any quality reviews of it...

 

[Frakk]

So Frakk, did you get that AsRock board? I'm looking at it myself though I can't really find any quality reviews of it...

No not yet, my Asus seems to be fine now, i think i'm going to keep it until i rebuild again.

 

[mjw21a]

I might need to wait till I get a job myself... Running low on funds.... Will sell this Mac Pro I've got lying around.... Should pay rent for a fortnight....

 

[Frakk]

Its this bloody recession, i'm a self employed Web Creator / Coder by trade, back in 2008 all was well, now i'm just ticking over, i certainly can't afford to throw 100's of £'s at hardware whenever something takes my fancy, i have pawned off a bunch of PC's / MAC's and laptops, now i have one newish laptop and my toy is also my work horse.

MAC's are ridiculously over rated IMO, but for that reason they also hold there value.

 

[mjw21a]

Yeah, just a 2nd-3rd level support tech myself, no real specialisations at this point.... There doesn't seem too be many job opportunities right now.... Waiting to hear back regarding one, something of a pay cut from my last job but anything is better than nothing right?

Anyways, my upgrade bug has been itching ever since bulldozer came out..... Will wait for Piledriver though....

 

[Frakk]

I'm also waiting to see how PD turns out, it should be out Q4 this year.

Yeah, its best to keep going even if your getting less for the same work, having a noticeable gap in your work history is never good.

 

[oldbrave]

Frakk> is that NB heatsink hot to the touch or not?
If not then you should pull it off and clean the chip and heatsink of the old tim and put some new thermal compound on it and replace the heatsink.
It wouldn't hurt to shim the springs with a couple of composite washers like you get in the screw packages with a new MB.
If it is hot then maybe a 40mm or 60mm fan will help out !

 

[Frakk]

Yes its hot but i don't want to have to cover the MOBO with noisy little fans, it should work well enough without owner modifications

As i said it seems fine now.

 

[mjw21a]

Spot on dude.... No need, just get one bg sucker side fan..... My 200mm fan keeps the chips cool, and is inaudible over my Delta screamers ;oP

Pushes a constant 110CFM

I ended up coming full circle to where I was 10 years ago where fan noise is concerned. My HTPC dowstairs is silent and doesn't need much, my gaming rig, well, airflow out the wazoo. So long as the fans never ramp up past their minimal 71CFM then the noise is bearable. It's never done so yet.

 

[Frakk]

I think my new case has cured it, in the old case (where this problem happened) the case temps were 12c higher then room temp, in the new one its 2c higher under P-95 torture.

I have 1x 200mm front, 1x 120mm exhaust, 1x 120mm top fans, that's not great but the inside of this case is so well designed the air flow through it is fantastic.

The only upgrade i plan is a 200mm for the top, but i'm having problems finding one that will fit, i was looking at an Antec Big Boy but it turns out the screws are in the wrong place and it will not fit, as it happens all 200mm fans have different fittings layout.

Whats worse is the Coolermaster 200mm fans i can find are for the front and not meant to be mounted up side down. that's a bit of a fail for CM not to provide HAF compatible 200mm top fans on the market.

Anyone with any ideas on what 200mm fans will fit in the top of my CM HAF 912+ Case? <- is that beter asked in a new post?