Will this AM2+ motherboard run Phenom II?

[cbn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136044

These seem pretty cheap considering they are capable of running two video cards at full PCI-E 2.0 x16,x16 bandwidth.

But will it be able to handle Phenom II? Isn't Phenom II the first AMD CPU that became competive with Intel on a value basis?

 

[masteryoda34]

Yes. 790FX and 790GX based motherboards are the best platform for Phenom II.

 

[Sylvanas]

All the 790 boards are capable of using a Phenom 2 although some may need a Bios flash to work with the newer models. Instead of the board you listed I'd go with one of the 790GX boards with an SB750 over the SB600 on the board you linked above. Personally I'd recommend Biostar, DFI and MSI boards although you can't go wrong with going with any of the reputable manufacturers.

 

[masteryoda34]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas
All the 790 boards are capable of using a Phenom 2 although some may need a Bios flash to work with the newer models. Instead of the board you listed I'd go with one of the 790GX boards with an SB750 over the SB600 on the board you linked above. Personally I'd recommend Biostar, DFI and MSI boards although you can't go wrong with going with any of the reputable manufacturers.

This. Look for 790GX + SB750.

 

[cbn]

What is the advantage of SB750?

Also do these 790GX boards have the integrated graphics that work as "hybrid Crossfire" when a discrete graphics card is added to the PCI-E slot?

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: Just learning
What is the advantage of SB750?

Also do these 790GX boards have the integrated graphics that work as "hybrid Crossfire" when a discrete graphics card is added to the PCI-E slot?

SB750 -> special magic for Phenom overclocking built-in. RAID5 support (I wouldn't use it, and wouldn't recommend it). 55nm process (first for a south bridge?)

Hybrid X-Fire -> Same thing as Hybrid SLI (i.e. useless, works only with 3450 or lower)

Something like that. I am not confident on details but that's the big picture. 😉

 

[masteryoda34]

Hybrid xfire = useless gimmick.

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: lopri

Originally posted by: Just learning
What is the advantage of SB750?

Also do these 790GX boards have the integrated graphics that work as "hybrid Crossfire" when a discrete graphics card is added to the PCI-E slot?

SB750 -> special magic for Phenom overclocking built-in. RAID5 support (I wouldn't use it, and wouldn't recommend it). 55nm process (first for a south bridge?)

Since you mentioned a 55nm southbridge how is the power consumption on these AMD boards?

I have read the Intel X58 is a good 50 watts lower than the Nvidia SLI chipset motherboards.

 

[masteryoda34]

Originally posted by: Just learning
I have read the Intel X58 is a good 50 watts lower than the Nvidia SLI chipset motherboards.

Not a good comparison because X58 does not have a memory controller built into it whereas an nvidia chipset based motherboard would. (There are no nvidia i7 motherboards.)

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Just learning

Originally posted by: lopri

Originally posted by: Just learning
What is the advantage of SB750?

Also do these 790GX boards have the integrated graphics that work as "hybrid Crossfire" when a discrete graphics card is added to the PCI-E slot?

SB750 -> special magic for Phenom overclocking built-in. RAID5 support (I wouldn't use it, and wouldn't recommend it). 55nm process (first for a south bridge?)

Since you mentioned a 55nm southbridge how is the power consumption on these AMD boards?

I have read the Intel X58 is a good 50 watts lower than the Nvidia SLI chipset motherboards.

790gx is something like 1w (hardware) more efficient than 780g and up to 6-7w using advanced sleep states (which is saying a lot - the 780g was quite a power 'mizer).

The 790FX is not about power efficiency 😀 but overall I think it does well.

If you feel like you have to have x16x16 that DFI 790fx (with sb600) and a PHII 940 makes a good combo (around $305). Not sure if it is qualified for the 955BE yet ...

From a performance standpoint it's not that far from the AM3 790fx semi-Bleeding Edge

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: masteryoda34

Originally posted by: Just learning
I have read the Intel X58 is a good 50 watts lower than the Nvidia SLI chipset motherboards.

Not a good comparison because X58 does not have a memory controller built into it whereas an nvidia chipset based motherboard would. (There are no nvidia i7 motherboards.)

Is this one reason why TDP is higher on the Core i7 CPUs? (ie, some energy consumption was moved from the mobo to the CPU)