ASRock 890FX

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rossotron

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• Apr 30, 2011

• #1

I am anticipating the release of AMD's Bulldozer line. In the meantime, I want to upgrade my P4 chip. Newegg lists this motherboard as AM3+. Will I be able to use a 955 BE chip even though it's a socket AM3?

 

trents

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• Apr 30, 2011

• #2

There was a thread on this recently. Seems to me someone said they found out that the AM3+ CPUs would be downwardly compatible with socket AM3. This has generally been AMDs approach. But please don't take my input as the final word.

 

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rossotron

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• #3

I'll try to contact ASRock and see what they say. It would be awesome if its backwards compatible with socket AM3 chips.

 

netmask

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• May 1, 2011

• #4

That's the major difference. Asrock claims engineering issues using only (bios or UEFI?) firmware updated AM3 boards and not AM3+ boards. Btw I ordered that mobo and can pass my experiences as soon as it arrives.

 

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thanks that would be great!

i'm hopeful i can use the AMD 955BE chip since newegg lists chips compatible with it are Phenom IIs Athlon IIs and Sempron 100 series CPUs.

 

Last edited: May 1, 2011

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QuietIce

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• May 1, 2011

• #6

...

 

Last edited: Jun 7, 2011

netmask

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• May 1, 2011

• #7

QuietIce said:

AMD isn't claiming BD will work with AM3 boards, only AM3+, and even though the socket is AM3+ I'm not so sure the board electronics are (in fact, I'm betting they're not).

Click to expand...

Probably true and surely creepy imho.

 

trents

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• May 1, 2011

• #8

I may not have answered the original question you asked as I reread the thread. What I said was that I believe socket AM3+ CPUs will be downwardly compatible with socket AM3 boards, not the other way around. Just as now socket AM3 CPUs are downwardly compatible with socket AM2+ boards.

 

Know Nuttin

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• May 1, 2011

• #9

AM3+ sockets are supposed to be compatible with AM3 CPU's.

 

trents

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• May 1, 2011

• #10

Yeah, unless there is a change in the memory technology employed it usually goes both ways.

 

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http://hothardware.com/News/Mud-In-The-Water-Asus-Claims-Existing-Boards-AM3-Compatible/

"Look at the stanchion that's circled in both images. The AM3 socket blocks off two pins while the AM3+ socket blocks off just one pin. In theory, this explains why AM3 chips can work in AM3+ motherboards but not vice versa."

So i guess the 955 BE will work!

 

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QuietIce

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• May 2, 2011

• #12

...

 

Last edited: Jun 7, 2011

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• #13

I'd like to thank everyone for helping me answer my question.

890FX here i come!