Conclusion
AMD has a large userbase here in the country with the majority of self-built budget systems usually built around an AMD processor. As we’ve mentioned earlier, APUs have found their home in this market but many upcoming enthusiasts still want a system they can tinker with yet still meet their budget. The MSI 970A-G43, despite being a decked-out ATX board still squeezes itself in its current pricing whilst maintaining an attractive feature set. Let’s break down the scores.
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Performance is largely dependent on the processor used. In AMD’s case, you can slap in an old Phenom II and still yield impressive numbers. Still, the AMD 970 chipset, or the entire 990FX line along with the supporting 800 series, are held back by AMD’s lack-lustre latest-generation chips. For day to day tasks, the 970A-G43 can complement any FX processor just fine. It still gets an above-average score for managing to hold down a top-end competitor and roll along it side by side.
Build quality is impressive despite the bare-bones nature of the board. With minimal heatsinks, the board is very capable yet we’d have to point out that the north bridge tends to get hot and the PCB is still shitbrown. Average.
Functionality scores high with modern features likes USB3.0 and SATAIII packed on the board. The ability to do CrossfireX is also another solid option which gives the board room to grow with the user giving it more longevity and staying power. Excellent.
A humble bundle of the bare necessities is included with the board. Nothing else. Just SATA, backplate, disc and documentation. Average.
Finally we get down to value and this is where the board shines. Retailing for as low as Php2,890, couple this board with any FX processor or Phenom II and you got yourself a very capable gaming system that’ll happily support any lower-midrange graphics card. A perfect score.
Wrapping things up, the MSI 970A-G43 is easily a top choice if you’re building a quick, no-frills system without the unnecessary fluff of gaming and OC boards. I’ve had a lot of experience with MSI’s entry level products and until now I’m still happily typing this article in a 5-year old, beat-up MSI LGA775 board which really speaks for how well MSI’s products hold up over time. The MSI 970A-G43 is no exception showing it can hang with the big boys of the AM3+ arena yet still offer itself in a price point lower than the cheapest FX processor you can get for it.
We highly recommend the MSI 970A-G43. MSI backs this motherboard with a 3-year warranty.
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