Motherboard advice needed

1. So, I'm on the hunt for a motherboard that can handle my current setup while leaving the door open for a decent upgrade down the road... My budget is sitting around $167.
I've been scouring the web and think I found a potential candidate.
It's the ASRock 960 GC-GS FX

What it supports:
Both DDR2 and DDR3—right now I'm running 2x2GB DDR2 sticks;
AM2+ and AM3+ CPUs—currently using an Athlon x2 7750 BE (AM2+);

Any thoughts?...

2. I'm currently using a Fortron FSP350-60THN-P
The real question is, will it actually power this specific build?
Mobo: ASRock 960 GC-GS FX
CPU: Athlon x2 7750BE (95W)
GPU: Sapphire 6570 2GB DDR3
RAM: 2x 2GB DDR2
Misc: 2x SATA HDDs, a DVD-RW drive, plus one cooler

Thanks.

I wouldn't change a thing... honestly, that board is pretty budget-tier; it lacks USB3.0, doesn't have SATA3, and probably won't handle any heavy-duty AM3+ processors very well.

Besides, if you're looking to game, I guess a used graphics card 😉
might be a decent temporary fix to get better performance.

ASRock 960 GC-GS FX
is the motherboard I’m looking at buying—not what I currently have. My current one finally gave up the ghost... so yeah, I need a replacement. I’m really not planning on using Craigslist again; I picked up my current board there and it barely lasted two months before dying... I just need something reliable. This PC isn't for hardcore gaming anyway, just everyday stuff... browsing the web, downloading files, watching movies and things like that...
😢PS: With my current processor, GPU, and RAM, I was actually able to run GTA V, so the power is definitely there... I just need a working motherboard.

Aha, you didn't mention the old one finally kicked the bucket 😉

The one you listed isn't exactly the worst choice, I guess 😬

Though, personally, I’d probably aim for an Intel G1820 + H81 combo with 4GB of DDR3 RAM for $250. You could sell the old gear and maybe claw back about 300-$133. It gives you a totally fresh platform with room to upgrade later and all the modern connectors. Plus, since the G1820 is quite a bit faster than your Athlon, you'd basically get a decent little upgrade along the way 😉

Hmm... an interesting approach, though I'm not sure where you were tracking prices. I've been checking Best Buy lately since it's my local go-to, and that setup would run me about $333
.
Micro Center: ASRock H81M-DGS R2 $120
CPU: Intel Celeron G1820 box 299 $100
RAM: 2x2GB kit $83

I'm not usually much of an Intel fan... but even I have to admit, this doesn't look half bad...

Look, the processor you're rocking right now is pretty ancient, so switching to that Celeron would probably feel a lot faster. If you’re just trying to keep things cheap, I guess that's your best bet. Just a heads up—don't grab 2x2GB of RAM; maybe go with a single 4GB stick instead, just to make future upgrades less of a headache.

Alright, thanks. Also, could someone please double-check if this CPU is actually compatible with that motherboard? I’m a bit out of my depth when it comes to all these Intel designations... 😵

Intel Celeron G1820

MSI H81M-E33
Crucial 4GB DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL11
Total: $253 + $13 shipping via FedEx

Not bad at all.
mbo:
the pricier option
MSI H81M-E33,1150,D3,S3,U3,HDMI,VGA,mATX

or
the budget-friendly choice
MSI H81M-E33 iH81 (S1150, DDR3, SATA II,SATA III,PS/2,USB2.0,USB3.0,LAN,Audio Line-In,Audi

Will my Fortron FSP350-60THN-P actually be able to handle the load?

The boards are identical, just cheaper 😛

Since the > pulls almost half the power of your >, I guess you won't have any issues with the PSU 😬

Alright, I suppose that covers everything for now... now I just need to find some buyers for these extra components I don't really need anymore... 🤦

Craigslist really works wonders—especially if you're coming from a major metro area. You can move things pretty quickly if you just set a fair, solid price.

I could use some advice here...

Should I go with the MSI H81M-P33, the ASRock H81M-DGS R2, or maybe the Gigabyte H81M-S2V?

Either the first or the third option comes with a 3-year warranty.

They all come with a standard three-year warranty. When you look at the specs, MSI and Gigabyte support up to 1024MB of graphics, while ASRock goes up to 1792MB. Aside from a few extra bucks in the price tag, that’s pretty much the only real difference...

That’s just some clever marketing fluff; you won't actually be able to allocate that much. The internet is absolutely flooded with people asking, "Why can't I assign 1.76GB..."

I recall a buddy running a G3258 paired with a Z97 extreme 3 who couldn't bump his BIOS allocation past 512MB.

An Intel Chip expert

I see that you want to increase the amount of dedicated memory for video on your computer using the Intel(R) graphics controller.

Regarding your inquiry, the Intel(R) graphics controllers don't actually use dedicated memory on their own; instead, they pull from the shared memory available in the RAM installed in your system.

The feature responsible for managing how much memory is utilized for video is known as Intel ( R ) Dynamic video Memory Technology, which ensures the graphics controller only uses the specific amount of RAM required to run various applications or software. You can't pre-set this to one exact fixed value; you can only cap the maximum amount of memory it's allowed to grab. Usually, when you look in the BIOS, you'll see three standard options: 128MB, 256MB, or the maximum DVMT. You might see other increments like 512MB, but those vary depending on the motherboard manufacturer and how much total RAM you have installed in your PC.

Just keep in mind that you can only set a maximum limit, not a minimum requirement.

Best regards.

https://communities.intel.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0

Looking at the lineup, that DGS board would be my absolute last choice out of those three, even if it came with a solid 3-year warranty (though that seems to depend on which retailer you buy from).

Alright, I think I’ll stick with my initial gut feeling and go with MSI. I actually tracked down a unit at Best Buy for $98.

The only thing bugging me now... I was reading online that the G1820 CPU only supports memory up to 1333MHz, so I'm a bit confused... can I actually install 1600MHz RAM without any issues?

crimsoncanyon8 said:Alright, I'm sticking with my first choice then—MSI. I actually found one for $98 at Best Buy.

The only thing bugging me now is something else I read. Apparently, the G1820 CPU only supports memory up to 1333MHz. Does that mean I can't use 1600MHz RAM?

You can, it doesn't matter. You aren't the first person to ask that, and honestly, I have no idea where people get those rumors from. Feel free to grab whatever RAM you want. Basically, just go for the cheapest option; it makes no difference if you aren't pairing it with an APU, and you aren't.

Alright, thanks.
I managed to track down some 8GB Corsair DDR3 PC1600 RAM— $129
seems like a pretty fair price to me...

Je