ASUS M5A97 R2.0 Motherboard

Conclusions

The ASUS M5A97 R2.0 is a good entry-level motherboard for socket AM3+ processors. With six SATA-600 and four USB 3.0 ports, it will fit the needs of most budget-conscious users who are building a computer based on the AMD FX CPU and don’t need fancy features.

Actually, the main difference between this motherboard and a high-end one is that it lacks extra PCI Express x16 slots. There is only one slot that works at x16 speed; the second PCI Express x16 slot works at x4 speed. But let’s face it: only a few people actually use SLI or CrossFireX configurations, and those users aren’t looking for value motherboards.

If you are looking for a motherboard to build a PC based on an AMD FX processor, but prefer to save on the motherboard in order to invest in a better video card, the ASUS M5A97 R2.0 is an excellent choice.