Is Phenom backwards compatible with older AM2 mobos?

[996GT2]

I'm currently running an OC'd X2 3600+ in an MSI k9N Platinum nForce 570 Ultra mobo. Is this first gen AM2 board capable of running Phenom x4/Phenom x3 CPUs?

 

[bryanW1995]

http://global.msi.com.tw/index...od_no=252&maincat_no=1

magic 8 ball says no dice

 

[Mloot]

If I am reading this correctly, your board does not support Phenom cpus. It looks like you have to have the 2nd version of the board in order to run a Phenom.


EDIT: Whoops, bryanW1995 beat me to it.

OP, I'm in the somewhat the same boat as you, except I'm looking for a board to replace my S939 setup. I wasn't looking to upgrade this quickly, but a Phenom 9500 basically fell into my lap for a couldn't-pass-it-up-price (on Craigslist, of all places) so now I'm getting my parts together over the next couple of weeks for my rebuild.

 

[dajeepster]

you need an AM2+ board... you might be able to run it in an AM2 board, but then you would be seriously down clocking the processor... and that's even if the board will recognize it. I've heard of a couple people doing that... but WHY!??!

and that's only if the AM2 board will recognize it.... and... WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!??!

just my 2cents

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: dajeepster
you need an AM2+ board... you might be able to run it in an AM2 board, but then you would be seriously down clocking the processor... and that's even if the board will recognize it. I've heard of a couple people doing that... but WHY!??!

and that's only if the AM2 board will recognize it.... and... WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!??!

just my 2cents

If you have a nice AM2 board that supports Phenom CPUs and don't want to overclock, then there is nothing wrong with updating the BIOS and dropping in a cheap quad.

Certainly though, AMD's promise of AM2 Phenom support is not what anyone expected. The performance hit from AM2 vs. AM2+ at stock isn't big at all, but overclocking is very hard with AM2 boards. And this is if your board supports it; the majority of AM2 boards do not have a Phenom-compatible BIOS.