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5 Good AMD AM3+ and FM2+ Gaming Motherboards 2014

Want to build the ultimate AMD PC gaming rig? After finding your processor getting the right motherboard is one of the most important steps.
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Want to build the ultimate AMD PC gaming rig? After finding your processor getting the right motherboard is one of the most important steps.

Building a gaming PC is all about getting the best bang for your buck. With solid options for both their AM3+ FX series as well as newer Kaveri FM2+ socket APUs AMD is very competitive in the budget to high-end PC building space.

While a new AMD FX processor/architecture probably won't come within the next two years mid-range options like the FX 8350 should still continue to be a solid option for those wanting to maximize their core processing power for the money they spend.

If it's been a while since you've built a PC and you're confused about the compatibility of newer motherboards in 2014 here's a brief list that should help you.

Am3+ and FM2+ AMD Processor Compatibility

AM3+ Motherboards

Compatibility for these motherboards goes back several years and includes FX, Phenom II, Athlon II, and Sempron 100 series processors. Supports up to a PCIe 2.0 standard (non-synthesized).

FM2+ Motherboards

When AMD initially released its Llano K10 architecture back in 2011 I figured that socket FM1 might last more than just one generation - it didn't. While socket FM2 lasted through Trinity and Richland if you want to use one of AMD's newer steamroller core Kaveri APU and Athlon CPU, you'll need a socket FM2+ motherboard. FM2+ motherboards are backward compatible with FM2 based APU and CPU.

What Else is New with FM2+?

FM2+ motherboards offer native support for 4k resolution displays on HDMI port, PCIe 3.0, as well as DX11.1.

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5 Good AM3+ Motherboards for the Money 2014

Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z

*Looking for a FM2+ motherboard? Scroll down to see my 5 favorite options.

If you're really trying to get the most out of your FX series processor, then a good way to do that is with Asus' Crosshair V Formula-Z. This motherboard represents a high quality design with plenty of overclocking features for a very reasonable price and holds most of the world records as well.

By no means am I suggesting that if you're going with a budget build you go with this board. In that case you'd be better of going with a budget board and putting more towards your CPU and GPU.

I also don't necessarily suggest this board for those going for a pretty standard overclock as this can easily be handled by the Asus Sabertooth Model or Pro models.

That being said if you do want the highest level of performance for your gaming rig, then this can provide it.

Key Features Include:

Up to 32GB of DDR3 2400 (OC), 3 x PCIe 2.0 x 16, 8 x SATA 6Gb/s, Supreme FX III Audio Chipset, Extreme Engine Digi+ II, 3 Qay SLI/CrossFire X, and supercharged LAN.

5 stars for Crosshair V Formula from Asus
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Under $150 - Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0

In terms of value and power usage the Asus M5A99FX is probably my favorite. Find it on rebate and you can get it for under $120. For that $120 you get many of the same military-grade quality components of higher-end boards with similar overclocking features that you need while not paying for those you don't want if you're not setting world records.

While this board did receive a Tom's Hardware Smart Buy award I feel it's perfect for the Avid power user, but again, not necessarily the budget user or those looking for a small overclock. Those buyer's may be more interested in what I recommended in my $500 budget PC gaming build.

Good AM3+ Motherboard Under $100

Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P

A motherboard I'd use in conjunction with a budget processor like the FX 6300 would be the Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P. You should still be able to get a solid overclock while giving priority to your CPU and GPU budget.
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A motherboard I'd use in conjunction with a budget processor like the FX 6300 would be the Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P. You should still be able to get a solid overclock while giving priority to your CPU and GPU budget.

Asus M5A97 R 2.0 Am3+ Motherboard

A solid alternative to the Gigabyte board above is the Asus M5A97 which features Asus' Energy Processing Unit and TurboV processing unit. It's also a solid option if you're building a Home Theater Gaming PC with PC Remote GO!
See all 10 photos
A solid alternative to the Gigabyte board above is the Asus M5A97 which features Asus' Energy Processing Unit and TurboV processing unit. It's also a solid option if you're building a Home Theater Gaming PC with PC Remote GO!
See all 10 photos

A Good Budget AMD Am3+ Motherboard Under $50

If you find this Gigabyte board on rebate, you can get it for under $40 this month. While this board isn't meant for overclocking, most likely if you're in this price range you're just trying to put together a standard rig and dedicating as much money to your GPU/CPU as possible.

A Good CPU/GPU Combo Under $300 for this Board

Want the most out of your rig? Try putting this board with a FX 6300 CPU and an R9 270X for a great CPU/GPU combo under $300 that will allow you to run modern games in 1080p.

Benchmark Example: A game like Battlefield 4 with this CPU/GPU combo should net you an average of 68FPS on High Detail Settings in 1080p.

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5 Good FM2+ Motherboards for the Money 2014

When you're looking at FM2+ motherboards you're generally talking about a budget build and therefore want to avoid overspending on the motherboard. Anything over $100 you'd actually have to question whether you'd be better off going with a similar AM3+ option.

There are exceptions to this like a Home Theater or Mini ITX builds that simply have no AM3+ options available.

Other than that you're FM2+ build is really there just to give you the most amount of performance possible for the money you spend. This is best accomplished by going with one of the less expensive options below along with a Athlon GPU combination or stand alone APU. Going into this with a multi-GPU setup in mind you'd have to question, again, whether or not you'd be better with an AM3+ setup.

FM2+ Motherboards Under $50

This is the price point I feel that is really appealing for micro ATX builds. While a mini ITX board could charge more for additional features, gamers wanting to build these PCs expect an inexpensive price tag along with quality parts.

The two motherboards below are my picks this month due to their price this month along with functionality.

GIGABYTE GA-F2A55M-HD2 FM2+/FM2 AMD A55 HDMI Dual-link DVI D-sub Dual UEFI BIOS Micro ATX Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-F2A55M-HD2 FM2+/FM2 AMD A55 HDMI Dual-link DVI D-sub Dual UEFI BIOS Micro ATX Motherboard

Includes support for FM2+/FM2 socket APU and Athlon CPUs as well as up to Triple-Monitor Support. Features 8 USB 2.0 and 4 Sata 2 Ports.

 
MSI A78M-E35 FM2+ / FM2 AMD A78 (Bolton D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
MSI A78M-E35 FM2+ / FM2 AMD A78 (Bolton D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Despite its low price this board does a pretty decent little overclock and features MSI's OC Genie 4 which takes you all of about 1 second to set up.

 

GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-D3H FM2+ Motherboard Layout

The GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-D3H is a solid option if you can find it in the $75 price range.
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The GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-D3H is a solid option if you can find it in the $75 price range.
GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-D3H FM2+ AMD A88X (Bolton D4) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-D3H FM2+ AMD A88X (Bolton D4) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

This is the perfect board for those looking for plenty of features with all of the bells and whistles you don't need. The quality is substantially better than the boards above with Ultra Durable 4 Plus and it has extras like compatibility for DDR3 2133 memory , HDMI, Dual-Link DVI, and D-Sub ports for Triple-Monitor Support.

Those who want to overclock can do so; however, you may want to consider some heatsinks for the MOSFETs.

 

A Good AMD Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard for HTPCs

For me, this is where the socket FM2+ processors and APU hold the most appeal. Small form factor Mini ITX builds along with inexpensive APUs that combine both my graphics card and processor just make sense.

This board comes with everything you need to get set up quickly and has features that most want like built-in Wi-Fi.

Additional technical specifications include; 1 PCIe x 16, 4 x Sata 6GB/s, up to 4 USB 3.0/2.0 Ports, and support for up to 64GB of DDR3 2133 system memory.

See all 10 photos
See all 10 photos

A Good Gaming FM2+ Motherboard for Overclockers 2014

In my opinion you have to really know a motherboard like this well in order to know why you'd purchase it. If you're looking for raw FPS, then you might get an AM3+/CPU combo option that works better. If you want to make the most out of your small form factor FM2+ build, then this will help.

That being said in my opinion the main reason for purchasing this motherboard falls more in line with its gaming features which include Killer E2200 Networking, Onboard Audio with the Realtek ALC1150 Chipset, and all of the expansion and rear panel ports you want for your HTPC or small form factor gaming rig.

Overall it's not for everyone, but for those looking to make the most of their FM2+ setup.

Which Type of AMD Build do You Plan on Making?

Interactive Reader Poll:

  • AM3+
  • FM2+
  • Other
See results without voting

© 2014 Brandon Hart Last updated on August 20, 2014

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