AM2 mobos compatible with K8 heatsinks?

[MegaRoll]

Im thinking of getting a new silent PC spring/summer '06 and during the planning process (yeah, I know its still winter) I noticed that certain heatsinks support AMD K8 CPUs. Now it would make sense (to me) that the new AM2 CPU/mobos would be in the K8 category since they have 940 pins but I dont want to get my hopes up too early and get a huge smack in the face when I have to stick with stock heatsinks and fans.

Also, since I have most of the parts planned out, hows this case/cooling system?

Antec P180 w/stock fans
Thermalright XP-90 heatsink + Panaflo 80mm fan
Zalman VF700LED - CU (whats the difference between CU and ALCU?)

 

[Dave Sz]

Since there is no am2 mobo out how can you expect anyone to give you a correct answer?

 

[MegaRoll]

Well the only big differences between the 939s and AM2s are the inlusion on 1 pin and the ability to use DDR2. Would they really redesign the whole mobo just for that?

 

[MDE]

Anyone that does know for sure couldn't tell you for fear of AMD killing their first born child. Or just suing them, whichever they feel like. Logic says to keep the current design because it works.

 

[Mrvile]

It'll most likely have the same design, at least from a HSF compatability standpoint. And if not, I'm certain that there will be adapters.

 

[Operandi]

According to this AM2/M2 will not use the same heatsink mounting system.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: Operandi
According to this AM2/M2 will not use the same heatsink mounting system.

That's a shame...

But it looks like the only thing that's really changing is how the reference cooler is mounted...if the whole stock mount was removed and replaced with a dedicated aftermarket HSF mount, I'm sure most of the K8 HSF's would still work.

 

[rise]

yeah, but it says the retention bracketis attached by 4 screws where the k8's are two screws.

 

[MegaRoll]

Thats a shame.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: Operandi
According to this AM2/M2 will not use the same heatsink mounting system.

That's a shame...

But it looks like the only thing that's really changing is how the reference cooler is mounted...if the whole stock mount was removed and replaced with a dedicated aftermarket HSF mount, I'm sure most of the K8 HSF's would still work.

I'm sure that's true. The same way for example the XP-90 is compatible with both AMD 754/939 and P4 sockets despite them having very different retention brackets.

 

[TheRyuu]

Any third party HS will just come out with another retention bracket to "adapt" there HS to fit the AM2 socket (and maby include a backplate!!!!!!)

The backplate on my Mobo is huge, how can they go to no backplate, do they want the mobo to crack????? But I gather this will change on a mobo to mobo basis?

 

[Hard Ball]

Actually, if you read the article posted by Operandi:
http://www.frostytech.com/permalink.cfm?NewsID=46730

It also appears as though the Socket-M2 retention frame may be backwards compatible with existing socket 939/940/754 AMD K8 heatsinks (note the center tab on either side).

It likely will be no problem for current HSFs

 

[Zensal]

To answer your question about the Zalman, the CU means it is all copper. ACLU means it is mostly aluminum with some copper. The all copper conducts heat slightly better, but is on average about $10 more.

 

[Vegitto]

Weird, I thought S-AM2 was supposed to be LGA?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Zensal
To answer your question about the Zalman, the CU means it is all copper. ACLU means it is mostly aluminum with some copper. The all copper conducts heat slightly better, but is on average about $10 more.

AlCu, not ACLU (American Civil...).

 

[Hard Ball]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
Weird, I thought S-AM2 was supposed to be LGA?

That's Socket F (S1207)