Questions-GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3 AM3+

[toostrike]

Hi

I built my first pc last year.I want to upgrade the motherboard,ram and video card.I have a GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX.I am also using a Hyper 212 plus with  G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ.With this set up my system has been running fine for the last year.My biggest concern is memory.I have about 1mm clearance between the ram and the Hyper 212.Very close,but it works.I also have  sound card,and a nic card.

I plan on getting a GA-970A-UD3 AM3+ AMD 970 motherboard,a EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 card,and for ram,I'm not sure.

Current specs
Antec 900

ASUS VH236HL-P Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor w/height & swivel adjustment 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000 :1

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail

EVGA 01G-P3-1373-AR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked EE 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm -Use 2 fans for push and pull. CPU idles at 27c Load 38-40C.

Rosewill RC-401-EX 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express Gigabit Low Profile Network Card - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W

(2) LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model

(2) Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

(1) Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive


Here are my concerns...


1.As I mentioned,I have using a Hyper 212 plus and plan on buying 8gigs of memory(2x4).Im wondering what ram I should use with the GA-970A-UD3 board,and a hyper 212 plus to insure ram clearance.

2.I'm using a 23" monitor,so 1 gig of video ram should be sufficient using aGeForce GTX 560 Ti.My present board the GA-MA790GPT-UD3H has a similar set up to the GA-970A-UD3 board.On my present board the 460 blocks the middle PCI express slot.I did not want to use the PCI express that sits next to the north-bridge,so I am using the 3rd slot for my nic card ,and there is about a 1/8" inch gap between that and the video card.So far,it has been fine.My question here,is after market cooling on the video card.I heard that can take up alot of space.Any suggestions here will help in my decision.I still plan on using my nic card,but that will be below the 560.I hope I still have my 1/8 inch gap clearance below the video card,and of course concerned with the amount of room above for after market cooling for v-card.  

3.Are extra heatsinks needed  to insure proper cooling for the  GA-970A-UD3 AM3+.This has nothing to do with the motherboard,but my 460 has no mosfet cooling.I bought some copper heatsinks to correct that problem.I'm trying to prevent surprises.

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi toostrike, 

Ok I view :
the motherboard:
http://www.gigabyte.com/fileupload/product/2/3907/4462_big.jpg

Socket: AM3+
Type of CPU : Support for AMD AM3+  FX
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3907#sp

the heatsink:
cpu are compatible but is not clear if a socket is or is not compatible. AM3+ 
Noise : 13 at 32 dBa 
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6603



My idea is to change to a different fan could be quieter and above all a little less to have more space for the ram.

Otherwise find another heatsink.

Gloup_Gloup

[GunHo]

I have the hyper 212 plus installed on my GA-970a-ud3 with Kingston khx1600c9d3x1k2/8gx Black memory. I cannot get memory into the  closest socket to the cpu with this HS&F (perhaps low profile)  I don't need any other heat sinks, as the mobo has that covered (no loose  heat sinks ether)
My case has good air flow  so I'm not having any real problems with this board.  Bios f3

Rosewill Destroyer
AMD 965 @ 3.8
8 gig ddr3 1600
6850
1 terabyte , 1 500 gig Western Digitals 

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi GunHo, 

On reading your post, I have not mentioned in my last post, that depending on the power of the fan in the case, it is possible not put (not to installe) a fan on the heatsink.

Gloup_Gloup

[toostrike]

I have the hyper 212 plus installed on my GA-970a-ud3 with Kingston khx1600c9d3x1k2/8gx Black memory. I cannot get memory into the  closest socket to the cpu with this HS&F (perhaps low profile)  I don't need any other heat sinks, as the mobo has that covered (no loose  heat sinks ether)
My case has good air flow  so I'm not having any real problems with this board.  Bios f3

Rosewill Destroyer
AMD 965 @ 3.8
8 gig ddr3 1600
6850
1 terabyte , 1 500 gig Western Digitals  

I read all the reviews on this motherboard on newegg,and the general opinion was,it's a solid board.I think its a given if i use 2 fans I will be blocking one of the ram slots,unless I find low profile.Its hard to find low profile ram that's 2 x 4gigs.I only plan on putting  8 gigs total, ram on this board.Is it possible to use the other slots that are not blocked?I don't mind if a slot is blocked ,as long as I can use 8 gigs of ram.


Gloup_Gloup - Thank you for the links.I'm doing a mini overhaul on my pc and bought all new fans for my Antec 900.I also bought a 200mm to replace the top fan.That fan seems like its going to be a PITA.I have the original 900.I read its really easy to break the clips on the case getting to that fan,but it's all or nothing.Since this is the Gigabyte forum,I will figure this out.

As far as the fans on the heatsink,I'm sure if I only used (1) fan on the Hyper 212 I would not have any ram concerns,but I love the cooling  push and pull provides.

My pc runs 24/7,and I game alot,so this overhaul is a must.

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi toostrike, 

Thanks a lot for your comments.

I forgot give a infos...  I also Tower Antec Nine Hundred (900). The first version.

Gloup_Gloup.

[absic]

Hi toostrike,

not sure what's available in the USA but if possible get some Corsair Vengeance Low Profile modules: http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/vengeance/vengeance-low-profile-8gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cml8gx3m2a1600c9.html as these would fit. I have a 16GB kit on my GA-990FXA-UD5 and they fitted underneath the Noctua NH-D14 without a problem.

[toostrike]

Hi toostrike,

not sure what's available in the USA but if possible get some Corsair Vengeance Low Profile modules: http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/vengeance/vengeance-low-profile-8gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cml8gx3m2a1600c9.html as these would fit. I have a 16GB kit on my GA-990FXA-UD5 and they fitted underneath the Noctua NH-D14 without a problem.

Thanks for looking out! The ram I have now runs at 1600 MHz at 9-9-9-24 timings..I found the same ram you suggested with the same timings,on NewEgg in the US,for under 50 dollars.Reviews were great on this brand.I did not see this ram on the approved  memory list of Gigabyte,but did find  something very similar to these sticks,on the approved list,the difference,they weren't low profile.These should work!

The only bad comments I found on the GA-970a-ud3 were memory issues.(ie) cant get the ram to run in dual channel or bad ram slots.If your running 2 sticks,would use Dimm slots 1 and 3?

It seems all these sticks that advertize heat spreaders on ram are a marketing hype.I concentrate on good air circulation through my case.

One more thing.The cpu-vcore on my current motherboard was set at 1.4 volts.I was able to overclock to 3.5G at 1.32v on the cpu v-core,and runs stable.I had it stable at 1.28v until I played Crysis,and had alot of crashes.I raised the cpu-v-core back to 1.32v and has been stable for 6 months.I'm assuming the GA-970a-ud3  is defaulted to 1.4v, on the cpu-vcore, out of the box.

[GunHo]

At this time I'm only using 2 x 4 gig memory so the blocked slot is a non issue for me. Since I'm only using 1 fan, I could move it to the back of the heat sink and clear up the first slot if needed. I have the hyper blowing out to the rear case fan so I'm not sure if I'd gain anything going push/pull. I'm  running the memory at 1600   999 27 t1 after trying 1333 at tighter settings, but liked the 1600 speed better.