Asrock AOD790GX/128M AMD790GX - Advice on system build please

I know the ASRock board is pretty good, and it's running on the 790GX platform, which is a really good platform. The integrated graphics are the best ever made, and it's tweaked for multimedia performance. This board even has built in memory for the integrated graphics, which is nice. I didn't even know they made an X2 7750...dual core Phenom, huh? Interesting. I may go that route while waiting for the Phenom II AM3 processors to come out. You can do dual display on that board. One limitation of the 780G/790GX integrated video is that you have one built in digital and one analog port, so even if the board comes with separate HDMI and DVI connectors, only one can be used at a time. It doesn't appear this is an issue with this board, as it comes only with a DVI connector and a DVI/HDMI converter. You may need to get another adapter to convert the VGA connector to DVI if you're using two digital monitors, or you may have some lying around, but displaying on two monitors otherwise would be no problem. Another thought...do you know if that chip is available OEM? The retail chips generally cost more and come with a fan, which you won't be using anyway. Just a consideration.

Looking good so far it seems? 

I've had decent experiences with Asrock in the past, but TBH, I'd be far more inclined to recommend this: (requires a discrete graphics card, but preferable IMHO) or.. (integrated graphics) and I'd say go for the quad, hands down. If you could possibly come up with the money for a Phenom II 940, I'd say that's the best route, but even if not, you could still get a 9600 for just a little more than the dual-core you chose: [Edit: link doesn't work for some reason, a X4 9600 is ~$100 on newegg]

I'd still recommend even an X3 over an X2(truly negligible price difference, X3s are cheap), Reaper scales very well with more cores, you mentioned overclocking, but you won't get much of an overclock with that X2, unless you invest in a $50+ aftermarket heatsink, which still won't approach the power of a triple-core. Also, the 790gx is aimed at gamers who want to run multiple graphics cards in Crossfire, for audio and most mainstream uses, the 780g or 770 are just as good, and cheaper. I'd also question that boards OCing ability, as the chipset heatsinks are tiny, whereas most other motherboard manufacturers 790gx/790fx boards have large chipset heatsinks with heatpipes and mostfet coolers.

By all means, do whatever you think is best... Be sure to report back what kind of stock OC you got, then we'll do a benchmark comparison to my 2.2ghz stock quad with my $30 cheaper motherboard and a TLB errata patch.

AOD790GX is a great board and overclocker 

Hey Rick, thanks for reporting. Great to hear you're fully satisfied with this board. I'm so glad I found out about it. Guess my choice is done. I've read nothing but good things on this board. And like I said before, it's ready for AM3 CPU's, has many connection possibilities (incl. FW et all) etc. Hope you enjoy this board for a long time to come. :D Cheers, Raphael ;)

funkster1 just as an el cheapo alternative...for a ton of traks. for 150 buks or so here one can find refurbed dual amd's all day. with xp on. put a nice 7200 rpm drive with a fat cache in for another 80 buks. bout 230 buks total. bout 130 euro according to the currency convertor i used on the net. addd more for a raptor drive of course.

funkster1 HAVE A GREAT YEAR MATE. yes i see your position. but do yourself a favor .. 32 mb cache 7200 drives are just a likkle bit extra dough. here dirt cheap. well worth it imho. use one for win boot n one to record to. you should find win boots faster the more cache in the drive. i dont know bout asrock now...but in the past ive known a few people use em in a daw...n seemed to work well. in fact in one case someone i knew who spent oodles on the mainboard took the micky outta someone else i knew who went asrock . guess what ?? the guy with the asrock just kept on rockin,,, n the guy with the elite expensive mainboard had lotsa probs. obviously this was an isolated incident...but ive never been sold on buying expensive mainboards...anyway cos the tech changes so fast. just watch the capacitors on mainboards. you want good types/no leakage over time. god bless.

Nice piece of gear.