Search for top mainboards featuring a 220W AM4 connector.
Search for top mainboards featuring a 220W AM4 connector.
I need some guidance on locating a new mainboard with an AM3+ 220W power connector. My current setup uses an AMD Fx 9590 and I'm experiencing issues, possibly due to insufficient power supply. The board I have is an Asus Rog Crosshair Formula Z, which only provides 140W, whereas my CPU requires 220W. I've searched for compatible boards but have had trouble finding options, especially since they're mostly from China or the USA. I'm now exploring alternatives and would appreciate any advice. Updated June 7, 2023 by GanjajoggiBig
They're quite expensive, only a handful of boards could fit that chip, production has been limited, and they've been unavailable for some time. You're mainly searching for models with the 990FX chipset. Cooling will be a challenge—you'll need a powerful solution to keep it running. Your mainboard lists support for the 9590 even though its labels suggest otherwise; those '140w' ratings were probably fixed early on, so you can disregard them. Asus claims it works after a BIOS update and with adequate cooling. If you need more options, this site has several boards listed.
Sticking with FX makes sense if you upgrade to a used Ryzen 1600/2600 or 3600 setup with a good motherboard and RAM. This avoids cooling headaches and gives better power efficiency and performance. You might even be able to sell that crosshair for a fair price, just like with the 9590. If you really want to fix the issue without switching platforms, tell me more about what’s going wrong—maybe it’s VRM problems? Then you’ll notice throttling because the CPU isn’t reaching its full temperature.
It does involve power consumption. The 9590 consumes significantly more power compared to a more efficient model like the 5700x, even when considering CPU, RAM, and board components aren't a full system. Selling your current units could yield a used 1600/2600 combo that still outperforms the older FX while using less power. If you're not convinced, check real reviews to see how it handles a Ryzen 1600—numbers speak for themselves.
I mean the rate at which the CPU runs—most are under 4 GHz, right? That’s a good thing because it means the system is still efficient. It’s not a full PC, but it’s worth the investment. I don’t need it anymore, and I don’t want to be without a computer for too long.
Not quite satisfactory, unfortunately. I’d likely opt for the Dark Rock Pro 4 instead—it’s more affordable and probably handles the workload better. I’m not very familiar with that liquid cooler or its actual performance. You can check the cooler tier list for alternative options. It’s true that Ryzen-based chips will outperform the 9590 while staying cooler, which is accurate. FX’s IPC and efficiency were really poor (plus each module shares a floating point unit, so it often behaves more like a quad-core setup). AM3+ wasn’t a strong generation and nearly hurt AMD financially. Still, as you said—just getting a cooler is usually cheaper than buying an entire system unless you can sell your components, which isn’t always straightforward.