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AM2/+ or AM3???

AM3 cpus can work in AM2/AM2+ MB's if there is a bios update for that board that adds support for them. It depends on the board, you can usually just look up your specific model on the manufacturer's site and look at its cpu support list.

But AM2/AM2+ cpus CANNOT work in AM3 MB's, period.

For the Biostar MB, you can see on its Cpu support list that it does indeed support the x2 250, so you would be good if you bought that cpu.
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/cpu_support.php?S_ID=499
 
Basically, the AM3 CPU's have a memory controller for DDR2 and DDR3, so they can work with either one. AM3 boards use DD3, while AM2+ boards use DDR2. AM2 CPU's only have a memory controller for DDR2, so they will only work with the AM2/AM2+ boards.
 
Cool...since this is supposed to be a CHEAP (price wise) computer, I think I will go for the Athlon II X2 250 Regor then for $60 Cant hardly beat that. Plus DDR2 is still dirt cheap for the 800 speed...even for 4 gigs. That will be all I need in addition to a power supply. Thanks guys
 
You may find that DDR3 is now even more dirt cheap than DDR2. You can pick up a basic 2x2gb kit for $40, less with rebates. DDR2 is more like $55+ for the same amount.
 
douglasb said:
Basically, the AM3 CPU's have a memory controller for DDR2 and DDR3, so they can work with either one. AM3 boards use DD3, while AM2+ boards use DDR2. AM2 CPU's only have a memory controller for DDR2, so they will only work with the AM2/AM2+ boards.
Click to expand...

but i've seen am3 boards that use ddr2...so why couldn't am2 cpus work in a board like that?
 
f4phantom2500 said:
but i've seen am3 boards that use ddr2...so why couldn't am2 cpus work in a board like that?
Click to expand...
that would be a hybrid board. They are still AM2+ boards, just that they include 2 DDR3 slots for AM3 cpus to take advantage of the newer memory.
 
Iron Woode said:
that would be a hybrid board. They are still AM2+ boards, just that they include 2 DDR3 slots for AM3 cpus to take advantage of the newer memory.
Click to expand...

Ya, I got an intermediate board, Asrock N68C-S UCC, which has two DDR2 slots and two DDR3 slots for my younger brother's replacement. While you can pair AM3 cpu with DDR2 OR DDR3 memory, AM2 cpu like 4850e can't boot at all using DDR3 from this budget board. In other words. AM2 must use DDR2 given its lack of built-in DDR3 memory controller.

Btw, I love this Asrock board for its backward compatibility and CPU upgradability.
 
f4phantom2500 said:
so this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-595-_-Product

is actually an am2+ board?

note that it doesn't have any ddr3 slots; when i bought the board i was under the impression that it's an am3 board with solely ddr2 support.
Click to expand...
its an AM2+ board.

it says so right in the title: ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

AM3 cpus have both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers. AM2 cpus have only DDR2 memory controllers.

That board supports both cpus.

My HTPC uses a GA-MA770-UD3, which is an AM2+ board with DDR2 only. I can run a 6 core AM3 if I wanted to.
 
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Iron Woode said:
its an AM2+ board.

it says so right in the title: ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

AM3 cpus have both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers. AM2 cpus have only DDR2 memory controllers.

That board supports both cpus.

My HTPC uses a GA-MA770-UD3, which is an AM2+ board with DDR2 only. I can run a 6 core AM3 if I wanted to.
Click to expand...

other than the board having to support ddr2, is there any other prohibitive factor that would keep you from using an am2+ chip in an am3 board? (i'm not sure if an am2[+] chip is pin compatible with an am3 socket...). couldn't it be an am3 socket that just so happens to be on a board that uses ddr2?

note that in the description of the board it explicitly says it's am3.

"Take advantage of the powerful multi-core AMD Phenom II and Athlon II processors with this board's AM3 socket."

also, on asus's website the board is listed under the am3 motherboard category, not am2/am2+ motherboard category.
 
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f4phantom2500 said:
other than the board having to support ddr2, is there any other prohibitive factor that would keep you from using an am2+ chip in an am3 board? (i'm not sure if an am2[+] chip is pin compatible with an am3 socket...). couldn't it be an am3 socket that just so happens to be on a board that uses ddr2?

note that in the description of the board it explicitly says it's am3.

"Take advantage of the powerful multi-core AMD Phenom II and Athlon II processors with this board's AM3 socket."

also, on asus's website the board is listed under the am3 motherboard category, not am2/am2+ motherboard category.
Click to expand...

There is a key pin on AM3 that prevents socketing an AM2/+ CPU.
 
veri745 said:
There is a key pin on AM3 that prevents socketing an AM2/+ CPU.
Click to expand...

aah, so that's the last nail in the coffin. i'm sure i coulda found that out on my own with google...but i don't really care; the computer works lol. i wonder why these mofos marketed this board as am3. anyway, thanks.
 
If you have a Microcenter nearby, you can get an Athlon II X2 250 & Biostar A780L3G for $58 (or an x4 640 and MSI 785GTM-E45 for $96)- check this thread. Might be a cheap alternative if you don't need anything special. 🙂
 
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jlee said:
If you have a Microcenter nearby, you can get an Athlon II X2 250 & Biostar A780L3G for $58 (or an x4 640 and MSI 785GTM-E45 for $96)- check this thread. Might be a cheap alternative if you don't need anything special. 🙂
Click to expand...

little warning about the MSI board, saw a lot of people (my friend included) who have dead boards if you try to OC or raise the voltage a little. so be careful about that
 
f4phantom2500 said:
aah, so that's the last nail in the coffin. i'm sure i coulda found that out on my own with google...but i don't really care; the computer works lol. i wonder why these mofos marketed this board as am3. anyway, thanks.
Click to expand...
real AM3 boards only support AM3 cpus and only DDR3 ram.

if you see DDR2 on a board then its an AM2+ board.

AM2+ boards are transition boards; allowing you to use an AM3 cpu but still keep your DDR2 ram and even your AM2 cpu.

Asus likes mixing up this stuff.

My own HTPC is using an AM2 cpu (X2 5200+) and will be updated with an AM3 Athlon II x2 250 cpu soon.
 
LiuKangBakinPie said:
Its hard to see how a AM2 will fit in a Am3 mobo with less pinouts
Click to expand...

amd purposely made the am3 cpu backwards compatible. there is only a few pins that are different between am3 & am2+ sockets.

my board,for instance, is. It's a asus M3A32-MVP DELUXE/WIFI-AP does but windows 7 doesn't fully support is because of the 650 SB, amd didn't release drivers for it. asus never released drivers for the onboard devices for win7.
 
dawp said:
amd purposely made the am3 cpu backwards compatible. there is only a few pins that are different between am3 & am2+ sockets.

my board,for instance, is. It's a asus M3A32-MVP DELUXE/WIFI-AP does but windows 7 doesn't fully support is because of the 650 SB, amd didn't release drivers for it. asus never released drivers for the onboard devices for win7.
Click to expand...
AMD's win7 SB driver doesn't install for you?
 
Iron Woode said:
AMD's win7 SB driver doesn't install for you?
Click to expand...

they were never released for the 6xx series southbridge, there is no win7 drivers for the on board devices from asus. win7 install what default drivers are included. the latest driver listed are for vista on the asus site for my mobo.
 
dawp said:
they were never released for the 6xx series southbridge, there is no win7 drivers for the on board devices from asus. win7 install what default drivers are included. the latest driver listed are for vista on the asus site for my mobo.
Click to expand...
I found a win7 chipset driver for the 790fx/sb600 series motherboard.

let me know if you want to check it out.
 
I did extensive searching when win7 first came out and the only drivers I found were for the onboard raid controller and since I'm not raided, I really don't need them. I'm about to upgrade anyways once my tax refund comes in. just have to decide what to upgrade to, was going to get a sb2500k until that little problem popped up so I might just get a pII 1090t be with an fx890 mobo.
 
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