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- HOTNESS UNHOT
Tiger Direct has the AMD A4-3400 Llano 2.7GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6410D AD3400OJHXBOX + MSI A55M-P33 FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) Micro ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS + 2 x 4GB CMX4GX3M1A1333C9 XMS3 4GB DDR3 PC10666 1333MHz RAM for $140 - $20 rebate [Exp 12/31] - $20 rebate [Exp 12/31] - $20 rebate [Exp 12/15] - $5 rebate [Exp 12/31] = $75 with free shipping.
$75
No USB three.0 ports or header on this board.
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/A55M-P33.html#/?div=Basic
You can get the CPU alone for $19 + $4 shipping after rebate today at Tiger Direct (see posting in Off Topic). I'd want a more up to date board (this one is a micro ATX) than this one, otherwise, seems to be a good deal...
IDK seem perfect for a light weight HTPC box, as USB 3.0 wouldn't bringing any assistance to that type of build... What add on accessory would benefit by that standard? Or a perfect young child or grandparents box.
While honestly I see no value in an APU build on a ATX mobo, seems like just unwanted excess. What can an APU build on ATX bring you that's not on a Micro-ATX... besides more slot to fill? There goes the whole low watt efficiency platform thinking. I suppose there was those unlocked Llano’s with no graphic that could be used, but those set-ups weren’t/aren’t cheap, and to "red-headed step-child" to keep my attention.
It's all about price for less than ideal hardware, Casecutter. If it's cheap enough it's reasonable because the cost is low enough to justify the hardware choice... USB 3 . 0 would allow faster transfer rate though the USB for a 3 . 0 flash drives or external drive, TV tuner, etc... Micro ATX are a good form for a home media player/server...
Here's a better board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138361
3.0 is not that mainstream yet. How many people actually have upgraded their desktops because usb 2.0 is obsolete. I don't that there is that demand yet plus there is the whole cloud computing which might render the usb x.0 no longer necessary since all data will end up somewhere in the cloud.
few people having memory issues with this combo kit. buyers beware.
sob sob cry.
You can't add a matching, 2 dollar USB 3 expansion card?
Sure, you can. But with a micro ATX form motherboard, you don't have a lot of expansion lots though.... The point is there is a better choice... Native USB 3 . 0 built into the motherboard would be better... Just because it may not be in wide spread use now doesn't mean it won't be later now.. A little careful selection now might pay off later... Also, MSI is not my near the top on my list for motherboard manufacturers...
Tiger Direct rebates: the gift that keeps on taking.
If I building true a home media center HTPC why go with an external device? Then how many external USB 3.0 tuner stick are there, while wouldn’t those be for the laptop crowd?
Wouldn’t you just get a Hauppauge HVR-1250 Hybrid recorder in the PCI-E 1x slot. While IDK for how much I’m going to move content flash/portable HDD, to say 3.0 is a must, I’d use E-SATA from a card reader or PCI bracket.
For me I just want something to be able to record, watch, and then dump. I suppose if you’re needing to keep all you're Burn Notices' or Big Bangs' sure. Me I just don't see the value for what I do. But I will say the Biostar at least does offer a pin header connector so if the media case has the conductivity to a front USB 3.0, you don't need to do the pass-thru cable.
Hmm, the price is good but if I were working 4 rebates, I'd also want USB 3 for the effort.
For 4 rebates, I'd want a Pot belly sandwich.
Rebates are easy to deal with these days. Especially when using Chome and I have everything fill in for me. I have yet to be denied a rebate, and I do a lot of them. Don't be such a sally.
As long as its not a Zotac rebate you should get it. I will never trust Zotac.
#8, you go with an external drive to image your primary drive quicker or, for instance, when your friend brings over his porno collection and you need USB 3 .0 transfer speeds. You might only have a small window of time to watch the filthy productions while the wife is away... Nothing worse than having the wife catch you transferring porno files onto the home media player because it was taking so long to complete the transfer. So it could theoretically help save a marriage opting for a USB 3 .0 enabled motherboard...
Perhaps some time in the future, USB 3 .0 will be the norm and you will be stuck with only a USB 2 .0 port on this motherboard... Remember back to when USB 1 .1 was common. I wonder if someone was claiming the same for USB 2 .0 support...
#12, Most every master rebator would agree with you except for artcab. artcab gets his Zotac rebate in 10 days or less, or so he ostensibly claims...
Uh, life's too short to deal w/ ECS, Bio* or MSI. Not if U paid me...I'd rather eat mayonaise sandwiches for a week to pay for a better MB.
#13 - http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/esata_still_faster_usb_30
Here's a decent deal on a Biostar Motherboard $49 with $10 rebate (No USB 3 .0 though)
BIOSTAR A880GZ AM3+ AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX AMD Motherboard HDMI, 8GB DDR3, G Bps LAN, 4 x SATA3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138345