Gigabyte AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 ATX DDR3 1600 LGA 1150 Motherboards GA-970A-DS3P
Status: Gigabyte AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 ATX…: Unavailable on Amazon as of . SpecPicks has no in-stock listing with matching specs on file; the search below lists current offers. eBay sellers may still list this model new or used.
Bottom line: The Gigabyte AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 ATX DDR3 1600 LGA 1150: Six native SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5 and JBOD support; main trade-off: AM3+ socket limits you to FX, Phenom II and Athlon II CPUs - no Ryzen path.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Six native SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5 and JBOD support
- ✓ Handles up to 32 GB DDR3 across four DIMM slots, up to 2000 MHz overclocked
- ✓ Two legacy PCI slots for vintage sound and capture cards
- ✓ Dual x16 slots (x16 + x4) enable AMD CrossFire dual-GPU setups
Cons
- ✗ AM3+ socket limits you to FX, Phenom II and Athlon II CPUs - no Ryzen path
- ✗ DDR3-only memory; DDR4 and DDR5 kits will not fit
- ✗ Second x16 slot runs at x4, throttling the secondary CrossFire card
- ✗ Only 4 USB 3.0 ports; the other 12 are USB 2.0/1.1 era speed
Manufacturer description
The Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P is an AM3+ ATX motherboard built for AMD FX, Phenom II, and Athlon II builds, and it remains a go-to board for anyone rebuilding or repairing an AM3+ system. Four DDR3 DIMM sockets accept up to 32 GB of memory at 1066, 1333, 1866, or 2000 MHz (overclocked), giving you headroom well past what most FX-era rigs shipped with. Storage is handled by six native SATA 6Gb/s connectors with RAID 0, 1, 5, and JBOD support, so you can run an SSD boot drive alongside a mirrored or striped array without an add-in card. Expansion is generous by retro-build standards: a full x16…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Gigabyte AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 ATX DDR3 1600 LGA 1150… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CPUs work with the Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P?
It supports AMD AM3+ FX processors plus AM3 Phenom II and Athlon II chips. Check Gigabyte's CPU support list for your exact model and the BIOS revision it needs.
How much RAM can this motherboard hold?
Four 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets support up to 32 GB total, at DDR3 2000 (overclocked), 1866, 1333, or 1066 MHz.
Can I run two graphics cards on this board?
Yes. It has two PCI Express x16 slots with AMD CrossFire support, though the second slot runs electrically at x4, so the pair is not balanced.
Does it support SSDs and RAID?
It has six native SATA 6Gb/s connectors supporting up to six SATA 6Gb/s devices, with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and JBOD.
Are there legacy PCI slots for older expansion cards?
Yes, two standard PCI slots alongside three PCI Express x1 slots, which is why this board is popular for retro builds using period sound and capture cards.
How many USB ports does the GA-970A-DS3P have?
Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports and 4 USB 3.0/2.0 ports rated at up to 5 Gbps, with Gigabyte On/Off Charge technology.
Key Features
- CPU: AMD AM3+ FX processors; AMD AM3 Phenom II processor/ AMD Athlon II processor
- Memory: 4x1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory; DDR3 2000(O.C)/1866/1333/1066 MHz
- LAN: Realtek GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)
- Expansion Slots: 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16); 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4);3 x PCI Express x1 slots; 2 x PCI slots
- Storage Interface: 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors supporting up to 6 SATA 6Gb/s devices; Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and JBOD
- USB: Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports; 4 USB 3.0/2.0 ports
Full Specifications
| CPU | AMD AM3+ FX processors; AMD AM3 Phenom II processor/ AMD Athlon II processor |
|---|---|
| LAN | Realtek GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit) |
| USB | Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports; 4 USB 3.0/2.0 ports |
| Brand | GIGABYTE |
| Memory | 4x1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory; DDR3 2000(O.C)/1866/1333/1066 MHz |
| USB 2.0 | 6 |
| Platform | No Operating System |
| CPU Model | Athlon |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1150 |
| Model Name | GA-970A-DS3P |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Chipset Type | AMD 970/SB950 |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Model Number | GA-970A-DS3P |
| Chipset Family | AMD 970 |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16); 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4);3 x PCI Express x1 slots; 2 x PCI slots |
| Mfr Part Number | GA-970A-DS3P |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Number of Packs | 1 |
| Number of Ports | 27 |
Ready to buy?
Gigabyte AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 ATX DDR3 1600 LGA 1150 Motherboards GA-970A-DS3P is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
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