AM3 vs. AM3/AM2+/AM2 socket MB's

[pekingman]

Is there really any advantage to buying an AM3 specific MB versus one that is compatible with AMD's previous sockets?

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

DDR3

 

[monovillage]

Only the PhenomII x4 920 and 940 don't have a DDR3 memory controller. All other PhenomII and AthlonII have both DDR2 and DDR3 controllers. There will be a point in time when (imo) AMD will discontinue having a DDR2 controller and their newer CPUs will be limited to AM3 DDR3 only. The not yet released PhenomII x4 965 3.4 GHz has both, not sure about the PhenomII x4 975 3.6GHz. So it's more of a future upgrade advantage.

 

[nenforcer]

Performance advantage with DDR3 on AMD is not quite there yet but there is really no point in not buying an AM3 DDR3 motherboard if you are buying new.

Other than the fact that only AMD has them available! No AM3 DDR3 motherboards from nVidia available yet!

 

[hondaf17]

Bump!

I'm wondering the same thing. There's a group of motherboards that are "AM2+" or "AM2+/AM3", and then there' just "AM3".

How does the plan "AM3" compare to the others that are "AM2+" or "AM2+/AM3"?

What's the difference? If you get an AM2 motherboard that's AM3 compatabile, aren't you future-proofed without paying the premium for "AM3"???

TYIA,

 

[midnight growler]

AM2+ motherboards only take DDR2 ram but both cpus. AM3 motherboards only takes DDR3 ram and only AM3 cpus.

AM3 processors work on AM2+ motherboards because they have both ddr2 and ddr3 controllers (for now). This is is why some motherboards are labeled "AM2+/AM3," in reality both are the same (although you may need to update a BIOS)
AM2+ processors do not work on AM3 motherboards because they do not have a ddr3 controller.

The base question to decide is what ram and cpu to get. Honestly there is not yet much difference between the different ram. HOWEVER there is a difference between the availability of cpus. The popular AM2+ 940 is sold out everywhere, meaning AMD is probably retiring it, and probably the only other AM2+ Phenom II as well. For a performance cpu, AM3 cpus are pretty much the only way to go now.

While you can use AM3 processors on AM2+ boards that support it, you run the risk of future AM3 processors not supporting your ddr2 ram and you're only going to save about $25-$50. Unless you can get a screaming hot newegg deals on this, the small "premium" will probably just not be big enough to matter for you.