Main Rig? Use a XFX Nforce 750a or a Biostar TFORCE TA790GX A2+?

[ShadowMyth]

I have a bit of a dilema. I have two AM2+ mother boards & can't decide which to use as my HTPC or main gaming rig. My current hardware is what I have listed in my profile to the left, I have one Phenom x4 9500 & a Phenom x4 9550. I haven't started using the TFORCE TA790GX A2+ due to poor driver support for Windows 7 x64. I don't have the cash to invest in both systems & need to focus on one. It seems obvious, but the drivers for the TA790GX seem very poor & it has the better onboard GPU which would be better for a HTPC. What are your thoughts?

Nforce 750a: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0nforce%20750a
+ Better chipset performance
+ Much better driver support.
+ Supports SLI(I have a GTX 275)
- Supports only 8GB of DDR2
- Supports only 95w processors

TFORCE TA790GX A2+: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138128
+ Supports 16GB of DDR2
+ Supports 140w processors
+ Much better overclocking features.
+ Better onboard GPU
- Supports CrossFire(I have a GTX 275)
- Poor Windows 7 x64 driver support.

[deltatux]

Originally Posted by ShadowMyth

I have a bit of a dilema. I have two AM2+ mother boards & can't decide which to use as my HTPC or main gaming rig. My current hardware is what I have listed in my profile to the left, I have one Phenom x4 9500 & a Phenom x4 9550. I haven't started using the TFORCE TA790GX A2+ due to poor driver support for Windows 7 x64. I don't have the cash to invest in both systems & need to focus on one. It seems obvious, but the drivers for the TA790GX seem very poor & it has the better onboard GPU which would be better for a HTPC. What are your thoughts?

Nforce 750a: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0nforce%20750a
+ Better chipset performance
+ Much better driver support.
+ Supports SLI(I have a GTX 275)
- Supports only 8GB of DDR2
- Supports only 95w processors

TFORCE TA790GX A2+: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138128
+ Supports 16GB of DDR2
+ Supports 140w processors
+ Much better overclocking features.
+ Better onboard GPU
- Supports CrossFire(I have a GTX 275)
- Poor Windows 7 x64 driver support.

Use the TFORCE as an HTPC and put the 9500 in that one. Keep the NFORCE one as main rig.

Remember, all an HTPC does is video playback and serve as a media server. So, you don't need nice parts in it.

deltatux

[stormy]

Originally Posted by ShadowMyth

I haven't started using the TFORCE TA790GX A2+ due to poor driver support for Windows 7 x64.

What poor driver support? Just because Biostar is too lazy to keep their download page updated doesn't mean there isn't updated drivers for it. Irt's an AMD chipset, so just get the latest (9.10 actually, released Oct. 22) directly from AMD/ATI,

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

Just click on "Motherboard/Integrated Video Drivers" and download the one(s) you need. And if using the onboard HD3300, just use the latest Cat 9.10.