AM3 cpu On AM2 mobo?

cogman · 01-09-10, 05:44 AM

Can a am3 cpu fit in am2 motherboard? or do they have to be the same

Deadbot2_1973 · 01-09-10, 07:03 AM

Yes. AM3 chips are backwards compatible. Note that this is a one way street. AM2/AM2+ will not work with an AM3 board. You will be limited to DDR2 memory as well.

Kuroimaho · 01-09-10, 07:17 AM

AM3 cpus work on AM2 mobos (and AM2+ as well). You won't be able to set different V for the core and IMC as AM2 mobos have a single power plane. I could get the 550BE to 3.6G and the IMC to 2.6G in mine.

The real question is the quality of the PWM and the cooling the board has or you can add to it as those boards weren't always designed for such power hungry cpus.

Of course your mobo's maker had to release an updated Bios for the new cpus to work.

cogman · 01-09-10, 11:20 AM

so.. if i get this motherboard http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159073

and this cpu http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173368

I will be happy? just to say again if any of you where mistaken..

Am3 Cpu WORKS on a AM2 Motherboard ?

Neuromancer · 01-09-10, 11:29 AM

Yes you will be good to go with that.

cogman · 01-09-10, 11:57 AM

Awsome. Thanks for you help guyss

Kilroy Was Here · 01-09-10, 04:41 PM

As you can see by my signature (if you look it up) I have a AM2/AM2+ board and an AM3 processor, and it works great!

cogman · 01-10-10, 04:52 PM

just a quick question related to this thread, can a am2 cpu fit in a am2+ mobo?

QuietIce · 01-11-10, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cogman

just a quick question related to this thread, can a am2 cpu fit in a am2+ mobo?

Yep! Same socket exactly. The only difference is the HT Link. AM2 has HT 1.0 (2x 1000MHz) and AM2+ has HT 3.0 (2x 2600 MHz).

Note that an AM2 (aka K8) CPU can only run 1000 MHz on the Ht Link - even if it's HT Link 3.0 ...

AlabamaCajun · 01-11-10, 10:25 PM

There are serveral checks to make.
For an AM3 board it has to be an AM3 with DDR3.
The AM3 CPU will run in the AM2+ mobo as long as it does not exceed the wattage. If you can keep a 95W board's VRegs cool you might get away with running the 120 watt cpu if avoid the overclocking and voltage bumps. A 965 may run on those low watt boards if under-volted and cooled. I would not buy these boards if you are just getting a new mobo. You are still taking a risk by dropping one in a 95W board you already have. Don't expect rock stability either as the VRegs are taxed with all four cylinders running.
Most of the AM2 boards will not work with the AM3 CPUs and may not work with some of the AM2+ chipc either (I have some and they either don't boot or randomly reboot).

cogman · 01-12-10, 04:12 AM

But they all said it works fine ^^^

Neuromancer · 01-12-10, 04:45 AM

Good eye AC... I did not say anything about it not supporting 120W CPUs.. I do see it has no sinks on the FETs which means it definitely is not a 140W TDP capable board.

I cant find any information on GBs website either.

EDIT:NM IT supports 140W processors...(although if you are going to OC, you want to sink those fets.)

Board is fine though its a gigabyte so its cheap for hte options you get

AlabamaCajun · 01-12-10, 07:01 PM

I did put sinks on one board to squeeze a few extra watts out of a Matx board but just 95W from an 87w board.

QuietIce · 01-12-10, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cogman

Can a am3 cpu fit in am2 motherboard? or do they have to be the same

AM3 CPUs will run in most AM2+ motherboards but few AM2 motherboards because of BIOS issues. Most board manufacturers just haven't and won't update the old BIOS' in the AM2 boards so they'll recognize AM3 CPUs. Even with AM2+ boards you should check with the manufacturer - most of them have an on-line list of compatible CPUs for each board.

As for the board you referenced, it's an AM2+ and should be fine.

[threadjack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlabamaCajun

I did put sinks on one board to squeeze a few extra watts out of a Matx board but just 95W from an 87w board.

Hey, Alabama!

Long time, no see ...

[/threadjack]

Bluefalcon13 · 01-13-10, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietIce

AM3 CPUs will run in most AM2+ motherboards but few AM2 motherboards because of BIOS issues. Most board manufacturers just haven't and won't update the old BIOS' in the AM2 boards so they'll recognize AM3 CPUs. Even with AM2+ boards you should check with the manufacturer - most of them have an on-line list of compatible CPUs for each board.

As for the board you referenced, it's an AM2+ and should be fine.

[threadjack] Hey, Alabama!

Long time, no see ...

[/threadjack]

This is true... I was looking to do piecemeal upgrades, starting with an Athlon II X4 620, but, even though SOME people have gotten my current board to accept and run a 620, and I would be upgrading the board later, I think I am just gonna drop the ~450 for 4gigs of DDR3-2000, an AM3 board, and the 965BE. Now if I could only get the wife to sign off on the purchase, I'd be sitting dandy

01-09-10, 05:44 AM	Thread Starter #1
cogman Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK	AM3 cpu On AM2 mobo? Can a am3 cpu fit in am2 motherboard? or do they have to be the same
	QUOTE Thanks

01-09-10, 07:03 AM	#2
Deadbot2_1973 Registered Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Being driven crazy...short drive.	Yes. AM3 chips are backwards compatible. Note that this is a one way street. AM2/AM2+ will not work with an AM3 board. You will be limited to DDR2 memory as well.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-09-10, 07:17 AM	#3
Kuroimaho Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Japan, Tokyo, Ueno.	AM3 cpus work on AM2 mobos (and AM2+ as well). You won't be able to set different V for the core and IMC as AM2 mobos have a single power plane. I could get the 550BE to 3.6G and the IMC to 2.6G in mine. The real question is the quality of the PWM and the cooling the board has or you can add to it as those boards weren't always designed for such power hungry cpus. Of course your mobo's maker had to release an updated Bios for the new cpus to work. __________________ Zalman Zmachine GT1000 I7920 4G Apogee GTZ I7, Bloodrage, 6GB, Intel X25-V, 2X WD3000GLFS R0, Hitachi 7K3 X4 R5, 580 GTX, IIYAMA 27", Corsair HX750, Steelseries 7G, XAI, SX Zalman TNN300 Q6600 3.4G, Asus P5E-VM, 2GB, WD3000GLFS, 2x501LJ, Apple 23" Zalman TNN500 Phenom 2 550 X4 3.5G, GA-MA790FX-UD5P, TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX,Tesla C1060, WD3000GLFS 3x1TB WD, Apple 30".
	QUOTE Thanks

01-09-10, 11:20 AM	Thread Starter #4
cogman Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK	so.. if i get this motherboard http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159073 and this cpu http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173368 I will be happy? just to say again if any of you where mistaken.. Am3 Cpu WORKS on a AM2 Motherboard ?
	QUOTE Thanks

01-09-10, 11:29 AM	#5
Neuromancer Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tau'ri	Yes you will be good to go with that. __________________ Naval training is to be a Fireman a Plumber a Cop/Soldier and a Medic. Then you learn your rate. There is no 911 in the middle of the ocean. If your boat catches fire you put it out or you die.
	QUOTE Thanks

AM3 cpu On AM2 mobo?

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01-09-10, 11:57 AM	Thread Starter #6
cogman Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK	Awsome. Thanks for you help guyss
	QUOTE Thanks

01-09-10, 04:41 PM	#7
Kilroy Was Here Registered Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: U.S.A.	As you can see by my signature (if you look it up) I have a AM2/AM2+ board and an AM3 processor, and it works great! __________________ CPU - AMD Athlon II X3 435 @ X4 3.5Ghz
	QUOTE Thanks

01-10-10, 04:52 PM	Thread Starter #8
cogman Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK	just a quick question related to this thread, can a am2 cpu fit in a am2+ mobo?
	QUOTE Thanks

01-11-10, 10:25 PM	#10
AlabamaCajun Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: A Labyrinth	There are serveral checks to make. For an AM3 board it has to be an AM3 with DDR3. The AM3 CPU will run in the AM2+ mobo as long as it does not exceed the wattage. If you can keep a 95W board's VRegs cool you might get away with running the 120 watt cpu if avoid the overclocking and voltage bumps. A 965 may run on those low watt boards if under-volted and cooled. I would not buy these boards if you are just getting a new mobo. You are still taking a risk by dropping one in a 95W board you already have. Don't expect rock stability either as the VRegs are taxed with all four cylinders running. Most of the AM2 boards will not work with the AM3 CPUs and may not work with some of the AM2+ chipc either (I have some and they either don't boot or randomly reboot). __________________ Main Rigs Developement -Phen2 1090T on Asus 870 Fun -Callisto 555BE, Asus 990FX Sabortooth,ATI HD3870 CDs, Labels, Printing etc- 5000BBE, GA790FX, Wintec 800 4G.HD2600XT Rendering Server- 4x Barcelona 8347s. Tyan S4980 Quad, 16G (2G Kingston per socket). Folding, Testing- Vista, Regor 265 X2 on Asus 880, dead- Phen2-940 AM2, DFI790FX-M2R,Corsair-PC6400 CL4 Theme Park Builder 3D The Game- Build-em and Ride-em.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-12-10, 04:12 AM	Thread Starter #11
cogman Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK	But they all said it works fine ^^^
	QUOTE Thanks

01-12-10, 04:45 AM	#12
Neuromancer Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tau'ri	Good eye AC... I did not say anything about it not supporting 120W CPUs.. I do see it has no sinks on the FETs which means it definitely is not a 140W TDP capable board. I cant find any information on GBs website either. EDIT:NM IT supports 140W processors...(although if you are going to OC, you want to sink those fets.) Board is fine though its a gigabyte so its cheap for hte options you get __________________ Naval training is to be a Fireman a Plumber a Cop/Soldier and a Medic. Then you learn your rate. There is no 911 in the middle of the ocean. If your boat catches fire you put it out or you die. Last edited by Neuromancer; 01-12-10 at 04:51 AM.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-12-10, 07:01 PM	#13
AlabamaCajun Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: A Labyrinth	I did put sinks on one board to squeeze a few extra watts out of a Matx board but just 95W from an 87w board. __________________ Main Rigs Developement -Phen2 1090T on Asus 870 Fun -Callisto 555BE, Asus 990FX Sabortooth,ATI HD3870 CDs, Labels, Printing etc- 5000BBE, GA790FX, Wintec 800 4G.HD2600XT Rendering Server- 4x Barcelona 8347s. Tyan S4980 Quad, 16G (2G Kingston per socket). Folding, Testing- Vista, Regor 265 X2 on Asus 880, dead- Phen2-940 AM2, DFI790FX-M2R,Corsair-PC6400 CL4 Theme Park Builder 3D The Game- Build-em and Ride-em.
	QUOTE Thanks

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