Author

Topic: What a good AM3 board with 3 PCI-e slots? (Read 2016 times)

newbie
Activity: 51
Merit: 0
June 27, 2011, 04:55:23 AM
#19
MSI 790FX-GD70 is a great board and if you find a dealer still having this in stock, it's probably the best deal you can make. I bought two of those for 90€ each (125$). Four PCI-E slots and running great with 4 cards eqipped.
MSI 890FXA-GD70 is the successor with some nice new features but not really needed for mining (USB 3.0, ESata, ...). This one even has five PCI-E slots but one is only usable with a riser or a single-slot card.

If you are running just 3 cards, i still recommend a 4 or more-slot board since you can leave out one slot to let the cards breathe a little more. With three 6970s heat will be a major issue.
member
Activity: 112
Merit: 10
Asus M4A79T Deluxe? 4X PCI-E 16 (dual 16x, quadra 8x) gr8 mobo

This one is also "back ordered" or out of stock everywhere in canada

Limited quantities in Calgary at MemoryExpress http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX23676%28ME%29.aspx
newbie
Activity: 20
Merit: 0
Running 6970s.

Just wondering how you are keeping the temperature on the cards at reasonable C.  From looking at the board, if you are using GPUs that take 2 spaces, they will be right next to each other with very little space in between.  I tried that and was getting temperatures in the 90Cs when overclocked and running at 85% on fans.

using 5830s? what brand?
hero member
Activity: 1148
Merit: 501
if you have all 3 cards sandwiched on top of eachother they will get very hot.  Put something in between the cards to space them out a little bit.

I got mine spaced a little bit and put 2 120mm fans on top of them and temps stay around 70.  if they're not spaced, it's 90-95.
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
In my 3 card setup inside a Storm Sniper case I had one of my cards getting up into the high 80's, even with the big side fan on the Storm Sniper. Took the side off and pointed a desk fan directly at the cards. Dropped the temp down to around 80c.
newbie
Activity: 17
Merit: 0
Just wondering how you are keeping the temperature on the cards at reasonable C.  From looking at the board, if you are using GPUs that take 2 spaces, they will be right next to each other with very little space in between.  I tried that and was getting temperatures in the 90Cs when overclocked and running at 85% on fans.

Thanks,

im running the 5870 in the #1 slot which is on top so it runs a bit warmer but gets more air.

5870 @ 88C
5830 @ 76C
5830 @ 68C
using MSI Afterburner i have custom set the fans to run faster than auto settings, i have also install 3 extra case fans... guess it prbly helps that the unit is sitting beside a central air  vent pulling in A/C! Smiley

88c! I think you are pushing it with that temp

stable for over a week, guess ill take my chances. thx
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
I thought about going this route too, but the value is not there.  A 3x slot mobo cost almost $100 more than a cheap 2x slot mobo, in addition the power supply cost at least $50 more.  So you have a $150 overhead just to add 1 extra card, and heat with 3 card setup also becoming more of a problem.

I think you are far better off spending the extra money upgrade to a better 2x card setup with a cheap mobo.



The mobo recommended in post 2 is $129 or something at newegg. 2 slot motherboards aren't $29.

Also, then you need more power supplies. I'm already stepping from from a 4 card mb to a 3 card one, 2 cards is way too much over head cost in shelf space, psu, extra cpu, ram, usb stick...
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
Just wondering how you are keeping the temperature on the cards at reasonable C.  From looking at the board, if you are using GPUs that take 2 spaces, they will be right next to each other with very little space in between.  I tried that and was getting temperatures in the 90Cs when overclocked and running at 85% on fans.

Thanks,

im running the 5870 in the #1 slot which is on top so it runs a bit warmer but gets more air.

5870 @ 88C
5830 @ 76C
5830 @ 68C
using MSI Afterburner i have custom set the fans to run faster than auto settings, i have also install 3 extra case fans... guess it prbly helps that the unit is sitting beside a central air  vent pulling in A/C! Smiley

88c! I think you are pushing it with that temp
newbie
Activity: 17
Merit: 0
Just wondering how you are keeping the temperature on the cards at reasonable C.  From looking at the board, if you are using GPUs that take 2 spaces, they will be right next to each other with very little space in between.  I tried that and was getting temperatures in the 90Cs when overclocked and running at 85% on fans.

Thanks,

im running the 5870 in the #1 slot which is on top so it runs a bit warmer but gets more air.

5870 @ 88C
5830 @ 76C
5830 @ 68C
using MSI Afterburner i have custom set the fans to run faster than auto settings, i have also install 3 extra case fans... guess it prbly helps that the unit is sitting beside a central air  vent pulling in A/C! Smiley
hero member
Activity: 1316
Merit: 503
Someone is sitting in the shade today...
I thought about going this route too, but the value is not there.  A 3x slot mobo cost almost $100 more than a cheap 2x slot mobo, in addition the power supply cost at least $50 more.  So you have a $150 overhead just to add 1 extra card, and heat with 3 card setup also becoming more of a problem.

I think you are far better off spending the extra money upgrade to a better 2x card setup with a cheap mobo.

member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
Asus M4A79T Deluxe? 4X PCI-E 16 (dual 16x, quadra 8x) gr8 mobo

This one is also "back ordered" or out of stock everywhere in canada
member
Activity: 111
Merit: 10
Asus M4A79T Deluxe? 4X PCI-E 16 (dual 16x, quadra 8x) gr8 mobo
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
Just wondering how you are keeping the temperature on the cards at reasonable C.  From looking at the board, if you are using GPUs that take 2 spaces, they will be right next to each other with very little space in between.  I tried that and was getting temperatures in the 90Cs when overclocked and running at 85% on fans.

using 5830s? what brand?
newbie
Activity: 20
Merit: 0
Just wondering how you are keeping the temperature on the cards at reasonable C.  From looking at the board, if you are using GPUs that take 2 spaces, they will be right next to each other with very little space in between.  I tried that and was getting temperatures in the 90Cs when overclocked and running at 85% on fans.

Thanks,


i'll second the asrock extreme4.  really nice board.  I'm running 3x5830's on it.
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
are there any good part search sites? pricewatch.com seems to suck now
hero member
Activity: 1148
Merit: 501
i'll second the asrock extreme4.  really nice board.  I'm running 3x5830's on it.
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
see my signature... board works great, but not sure how easily available they are

newegg.com has it but no international shipping (Canada)
newegg.ca nor any other Canadian site I can find has it (or almost any ASRock boards)

Any ideas on a US site that might shit to Canada?
newbie
Activity: 17
Merit: 0
see my signature... board works great, but not sure how easily available they are
member
Activity: 87
Merit: 10
Was planning on the MSI 790FX-GD70 for 4 card setup but it went out of stock almost everywhere. The 890FX-GD70 is too expensive.

What is everyone using for a 3 card setup, without using 1x extension cables - 3 slots on the board with proper spacing?
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