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View Full Version : AM2+ And AM3 Compatible With AM2 Motherboards

HellasVagabond
07-20-2007, 11:39 PM
Currently if you want to upgrade from an AMD processor older than the AM2 socket you’re going to have to buy a new motherboard. This means that while the prices of the processors themselves may be enticing, the prospect of potentially changing your entire system may change your mind. However, with its AM2+ and AM3 CPUs AMD will be ensuring that they are backwards compatible with current motherboards thus when Phenom finally hits the streets socket AM2, Athlon 64 X2 and FX owners will be able to purchase the new model without changing motherboards.

Source: AMD (http://www.amd.com/gb-uk/)
tkpenalty
07-20-2007, 11:48 PM
Thats it.... im getting the M2N-E SLI ASAP!

At least there is still a company that knows how annoying it is to sell mobos..
Azn Tr14dZ
07-20-2007, 11:53 PM
Good news...if I can't afford a C2D Setup soon, then I will go with an AM2 Setup, and I can use AM2+ and AM3 CPUs...(just not DDR3)
a111087
07-21-2007, 12:51 AM
as i understand some features will not work on AM2 boards
HellasVagabond
07-21-2007, 12:53 AM
True....New hardware improvements that new AM2+ and AM3 mobos will have wont be possible in older models...However i dont think we will see any major differences. Besides AMD stated that they will roll out Bios updates for all AM2 boards in order to make the best out of this.
PVTCaboose1337
07-21-2007, 12:54 AM
I think the HT speed goes up a bit, but that never really did anything.
HookeyStreet
07-21-2007, 01:09 AM
AMD did state this from the beginning (that AM2 mobos will be upgradeable to AM3)
HellasVagabond
07-21-2007, 01:19 AM
This aint exactly an upgrade...Its a Backwards Compatibility between the new AM2+ , AM3 cpus with the oldest AM2 motherboards.
Nemesis881
07-21-2007, 01:41 AM
This is a good move seeing as AMD has been down for a while. :toast:
HellasVagabond
07-21-2007, 02:05 AM
Perhaps this will boost AMDs sales a bit which is a good thing...Lets hope it works.
quickie
07-21-2007, 02:19 AM
I kept this in mind when I built my system. It's been known for a while now that AM2+/AM3 will work on the AM2 (provided a BIOS update).
WarEagleAU
07-21-2007, 02:24 AM
one of the new mobos for the phenom processor is supposed to have either the capability or actually be able to run DDR3 modules. Cant remember where I read about it though.

BTW, isnt Phenom also coming in socket 1207 for possibility of 8 execution cores? also.I hear tale of a socket 1207+ for these as well.
Sovereign
07-21-2007, 03:01 AM
I kept this in mind when I built my system. It's been known for a while now that AM2+/AM3 will work on the AM2 (provided a BIOS update).

Thats exactly what I did. I decided to stick with the AM2 knowing that AMD was going to release backwards compatible Phenoms. I decided to save myself a bunch of money instead of hopping on the C2D bandwagon for awhile and then moving back to AMD once their Barcelona/Phenom CPUs hit the market! :pimp:
PVTCaboose1337
07-21-2007, 04:42 AM
Thats exactly what I did. I decided to stick with the AM2 knowing that AMD was going to release backwards compatible Phenoms. I decided to save myself a bunch of money instead of hopping on the C2D bandwagon for awhile and then moving back to AMD once their Barcelona/Phenom CPUs hit the market! :pimp:

My thoughts exactly!
a111087
07-21-2007, 04:52 AM
anyway... THIS IS AWSOME!!! :rockout:
Sovereign
07-21-2007, 08:20 AM
Welp, I know what I'm getting myself for a birthday present! It so happens that my b-day is in October, around the time the Phenom will be released... :pimp:
mandelore
07-21-2007, 08:43 AM
Welp, I know what I'm getting myself for a birthday present! It so happens that my b-day is in October, around the time the Phenom will be released... :pimp:

mines December, and yes, my thoughts exactly :) :)

the Q is tho, i have an a8r32-mvp delux 939 mobo with my opty 185, should i go am2, am2+ or am3? i wouldnt mind ddr3 if the prices drop and latencies to match
erocker
07-21-2007, 09:21 AM
Yeah, I'm waiting for full fledged AMD / DDR3 goodness before I drop my 939.
Judas
07-21-2007, 09:52 AM
Im lost now whats AM2+?
adamdon89
07-21-2007, 12:34 PM
Im lost now whats AM2+?
Its just basically AM2 plus this:


HyperTransport 3.0 operating at up to 2 GHz

Split power planes: one for the CPU cores, and the other for the Integrated Memory controller (IMC). This will improve power savings especially with integrated graphics if CPU cores in sleep mode but the IMC still active.
Dippyskoodlez
07-21-2007, 12:41 PM
AMD did state this from the beginning (that AM2 mobos will be upgradeable to AM3)

K10 should have a DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller on the CPU, so they should be "set" for a while when it comes to memory.
Ben Clarke
07-21-2007, 12:59 PM
Excellent. Looks like I'll be getting quad-core after all.
Sovereign
07-21-2007, 03:14 PM
mines December, and yes, my thoughts exactly :) :)

the Q is tho, i have an a8r32-mvp delux 939 mobo with my opty 185, should i go am2, am2+ or am3? i wouldnt mind ddr3 if the prices drop and latencies to match

Since you don't already have an AM2 board or setup, I'd recommend just hanging onto your current system until the new AM2+ or AM3 boards hit the market. That way, you'll be able to take advantage of DDR3 memory without having to buy another motherboard again. Besides, it's not like your current Opty 185 setup is a slouch by any means... :D
breakfromyou
07-21-2007, 04:23 PM
one of the new mobos for the phenom processor is supposed to have either the capability or actually be able to run DDR3 modules. Cant remember where I read about it though.

BTW, isnt Phenom also coming in socket 1207 for possibility of 8 execution cores? also.I hear tale of a socket 1207+ for these as well.

The socket AM2/AM2+ Phenom's will use DDR2. The socket AM3 AMD processors will use DDR2 or DDR3, depending on the motherboard/socket you use. AM2 and AM2+ = DDR2, AM3 = DDR3. AM3 processors will be backwards compatible with socket AM2 and AM2+ motherboards. It's a great idea to make everything compatible.

Phenom FX will be on 1207/1207+ (HT3.0 on 1207). Quad-FX might be decent with a pair of Phenom FX processors.
KBD
07-21-2007, 04:37 PM
Are they going to make quad cores for AM2+/AM3 or that will be limited to socket 1207?
breakfromyou
07-21-2007, 05:12 PM
They're making quad cores for AM2/AM2+/1207/1207+ and in 2008, AM3 and whatever socket that replaces 1207...

Phenom = AM2
Phenom FX = 1207.

There will be Quad core FX processors, but there will also be Quad FX, which will be on 1207 for a total of 8 processing cores. The FX-80 series will be a single processor/single socket processor, while the FX-90 series will be for Quad FX.

link for more info.

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/7762/amd_prepares_phenom_fx_lineup/index.html
rhythmeister
12-20-2007, 11:15 AM
Can anyone confirm that the Phenom CPU works in any of the AM2 Biostar micro ATX boards? Biostar tell me that the Phenom is NOT supported in their AM2 boards but this seems to go against what AMD are stating and I want a Phenom! :banghead:
devguy
12-20-2007, 05:24 PM
Can anyone confirm that the Phenom CPU works in any of the AM2 Biostar micro ATX boards? Biostar tell me that the Phenom is NOT supported in their AM2 boards but this seems to go against what AMD are stating and I want a Phenom! :banghead:

From what I've heard so far, they will not work. However, Biostar hasn't released a BIOS patch for the AM2+ processors yet, so keep your chin up. At $200, the Phenom is actually a decent option right now, but I'm still going to wait for the triple core (quad core on a limp) without the TLB errata in March before I move to K10.