Budget BioStar Mobos

[Caramelman]

Very very low budget gaming enthusiast (not the best combination, I know ).

Had recently locked down on a budget Quadcore AMD cpu (fm2+ socket) and am eyeing either one of these two budget mobos:

1) Biostar A58MDP Ver. 6.4 Motherboard
2) Biostar Hi-Fi A70U3P Motherboard

I've seen a few threads in here with veterans advising to stay away from BioStar. Should I really take the advice? Are these 2 mobos no good? (for a budget standard)

 

[Emerald]

I would rather go for a ASRock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157578
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157571

 

[clutchc]

As long as you won't be OC'ing the CPU, the boards will be fine. I've built with several Biostar boards over the years and never had any issue... at all. Biostar makes decent boards, they just aren't as high-end as some of the more dominant manufacturers. Keep in mind, you can get a DOA board from any manufacturer, high end or low end. What CPU did you settle on?

 

[Caramelman]

As long as you won't be OC'ing the CPU, the boards will be fine. I've built with several Biostar boards over the years and never had any issue... at all. Biostar makes decent boards, they just aren't as high-end as some of the more dominant manufacturers. Keep in mind, you can get a DOA board from any manufacturer, high end or low end. What CPU did you settle on?

Oh hello again! I'm gonna go for the AMD Athlon II X4 840. Ahh glad to know that they're decent boards. I read about the "chips" on the boards and apparently higher is better? (A70>A58 is that right?)

And while I'm here, I've read on numerous reviews that AMD stock coolers are bad. Especially in my country where its hot all year round and in my room particular there is no air conditioning and not much ventilation, would my CPU not burn out or something if I were to stay with the stock cooler for awhile? Or do you think getting something like CM Hyper TX3 Evo would be a good move to prevent overheating and the such?

 

[clutchc]

If you mean the A78 chipset, yes. That would be a bit more flexible than the A58. Wikipedia has quick breakdown of the different AMD chipsets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_chipsets

No matter the climate, AMD would not supply a cooler that would not be able to cool their CPUs or APUs properly. But if you live in a hot climate, expect the cooler's fan to be running at full RPM most of the time. Noisy! The TX3 would be a good investment. I still have my little TX3. It is surprising what a good job such a little cooler does. I am able to get my Phenom II X4 965BE to 4GHz and still stay cool with it.
What's nice about it on an AMD retention bracket, is that you can set it facing in all 4 directions. Something other coolers can't do because of the latching clips on AMD's retention bracket.

 

[Caramelman]

If you mean the A78 chipset, yes. That would be a bit more flexible than the A58. Wikipedia has quick breakdown of the different AMD chipsets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_chipsets

No matter the climate, AMD would not supply a cooler that would not be able to cool their CPUs or APUs properly. But if you live in a hot climate, expect the cooler's fan to be running at full RPM most of the time. Noisy! The TX3 would be a good investment. I still have my little TX3. It is surprising what a good job such a little cooler does. I am able to get my Phenom II X4 965BE to 4GHz and still stay cool with it.
What's nice about it on an AMD retention bracket, is that you can set it facing in all 4 directions. Something other coolers can't do because of the latching clips on AMD's retention bracket.

Oh thats great! Luckily theres some low prices for the TX3 here . Would it be better to leave my computer case open or would it be bad practise?

Also, does the CPU/Cooler come with Thermal paste? Or do I have to get some on my own?

 

[clutchc]

The TX3 should come with thermal paste: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/wp-content/uploads/tx3-021.jpg
...and the little tube it comes with will last thru many applications.

Btw, it is a Athlon X4 840 not an Athlon II X4 840. AMD has a bad habit of reissuing CPU names. The Athlon II was an older K10 chip and used a different socket and chipset. (although I don't remember there being an "840")