ASRock 970 Extreme3 Review: A Blast from the Past

Welcome back to another Geeknite review! Today, we’re diving deep into the vault of vintage tech to bring you a review of the ASRock 970 Extreme3 motherboard. Yes, you read that right. We’re reviewing a motherboard that might be older than some of the socks in your drawer. Let’s see if this relic from the past still holds up in today’s fast-paced tech world.

Introduction

The ASRock 970 Extreme3 was a popular motherboard choice back in the day, known for its affordability and decent feature set. But in 2025, does it still make sense to use this ancient piece of silicon? Or should it be left in the history books alongside floppy disks and dial-up modems? Let’s find out!

Specifications

Here’s a quick rundown of the ASRock 970 Extreme3’s specs:

Feature	Specification
Chipset	AMD 970 + SB950
CPU Support	AMD AM3+ FX/Phenom II
Memory Support	DDR3 2100+(OC)
Expansion Slots	2 x PCIe 2.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1, 2 x PCI
Storage	6 x SATA3
USB	2 x USB 3.0, 8 x USB 2.0
Audio	7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC892)
LAN	Gigabit LAN
Form Factor	ATX

Performance

Gaming

When it comes to gaming, the ASRock 970 Extreme3 can handle older titles and some modern games, but don’t expect it to run Cyberpunk 2077 at ultra settings. Pair it with a decent GPU, and you might get away with some 1080p gaming, but this motherboard is definitely not meant for high-end gaming rigs.

Productivity

For productivity tasks like web browsing, office applications, and even light photo editing, the ASRock 970 Extreme3 holds up surprisingly well. Its support for AMD FX processors gives it enough horsepower to handle daily tasks without breaking a sweat. However, for more demanding applications like video editing or 3D rendering, you’re better off investing in a modern motherboard and CPU combo.

Features

The ASRock 970 Extreme3 comes with a decent set of features for its time:

• XFast 555 Technology: ASRock’s proprietary technology that promises better performance in terms of LAN, USB, and RAM. In reality, it might make a difference, but don’t expect miracles.
• Advanced V8 + 2 Power Phase Design: This provides more stable power delivery to the CPU, which is great for overclocking enthusiasts.
• UEFI BIOS: A user-friendly BIOS interface that makes tweaking settings a breeze.
• Multi-GPU Support: With support for AMD CrossFireX, you can run multiple GPUs for better gaming performance. Just don’t expect it to keep up with today’s SLI setups.

Build Quality

The ASRock 970 Extreme3 has a solid build quality. The components are durable, and the board itself is well-designed. The layout is logical, making it easy to install and manage cables. However, compared to modern motherboards, it does lack some of the premium features like reinforced PCIe slots and extensive RGB lighting.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable: When it was released, the ASRock 970 Extreme3 was known for its affordability, and you can still find it at a low price today.
• Feature-Rich: For its time, it had a good set of features, including USB 3.0 and SATA3 support.
• Decent Performance: Handles everyday tasks well and can even manage some light gaming and productivity work.

Cons

• Outdated: Let’s face it, this motherboard is ancient by today’s standards. It lacks support for modern CPUs, DDR4/5 memory, and PCIe 4.0/5.0.
• Power-Hungry: Older AMD FX processors are known for their high power consumption, which means you’ll need a beefy power supply.
• Limited Upgrade Path: You’re stuck with AM3+ CPUs and DDR3 memory, which is a dead end in 2025.

Final Verdict

The ASRock 970 Extreme3 is like finding an old comic book in your attic. It’s fun to look at and remember the good old days, but it’s not something you’d use in your daily life. If you’re on a tight budget and need a basic motherboard for light tasks, it can still do the job. But for anything more demanding, do yourself a favor and invest in modern hardware.

Ready to upgrade to a modern motherboard? https://www.geeknite.com/

Stay geeky, and happy building!