A8N32-SLI Deluxe + Athlon X2 4450B advice

[NuQ]

Anyone see any problems with this? The socket is 939, but apparently it
will take non-939 chips.

<http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=744&l1=3&l2=15&l3=226&l4=0>

I have the board, but need to get a processor. I was thinking this one...

AMD Athlon X2 4450B 2.3GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core
Processor - Retail

<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103263>

Primary use will be HTPC. I know there are better boards out now with
7.1 sound and HDMI ports, but the budget is very limited at this time.
I've got all of the other components, just lacking the CPU.

How about other suggestions that may make more sense? Thanks!!

 

[NuQ]

Anyone see any problems with this? The socket is 939, but apparently it
will take non-939 chips.

<http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=744&l1=3&l2=15&l3=226&l4=0>


I have the board, but need to get a processor. I was thinking this one...

AMD Athlon X2 4450B 2.3GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core
Processor - Retail

<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103263>

Primary use will be HTPC. I know there are better boards out now with
7.1 sound and HDMI ports, but the budget is very limited at this time.
I've got all of the other components, just lacking the CPU.

How about other suggestions that may make more sense? Thanks!!

Forgot to mention, I'll probably install Ubuntu or XP 32-bit since I
don't have a 64-bit version of Windows.

If I go Ubuntu will getting a 64-bit CPU show any significant gains?

 

[NuQ]

It's a socket 939 board and will only take socket 939 CPUs
unless somebody has made an adapter to allow AM2. If there
is no such adapter (I've never heard of one, but I must
admit I've never looked for one either) then you can't use
the linked socket AM2 processor, would have to use a 939
processor.

The following looks to be the only one Newegg has at the
moment, though I'm sure they're out there somewhere on the
internet.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103571

If you wanted a dual-core CPU, the X2 skt 939 CPUs on
pricewatch make it look too expensive,

Oh right, that's where I'm getting mixed up. I read that the board can
take dual-core, but the only dual core's it will take are the 939's that
are $120.00 - $500.00 range. And I was looking at the AM2 sockets.

that the most cost

effective route would be buy an AM2 board plus CPU and sell
the 939 board you have, or look for a used X2 processor
someplace the the Anandtech for sale/trade forums or another
similar computer enthusiast website with such a forum, or of
course ebay.
http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=45

I've checked a little on eBay, but never check that forum, thanks!

 

[Paul]

Forgot to mention, I'll probably install Ubuntu or XP 32-bit since I
don't have a 64-bit version of Windows.

If I go Ubuntu will getting a 64-bit CPU show any significant gains?

There are likely always S939 boards failing somewhere, so you should
be able to resell the board.

*******

The current generation is AM2/AM2+, and buying a board and processor
new, could make for a cheap computer.

You could pick something from this list, and later, if the budget
allows, you could upgrade to a Phenom if you want. Being on the
140W list, means the Vcore regulator will hold up better when a
Phenom is used.

http://event.asus.com/mb/140w/

This board has built-in HDMI and costs $95. DDR2 memory is dirt
cheap, so shouldn't cost a lot to get a decent configuration.

M3A78 Pro AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813131325

I take it, that the 4450B and 4450E are the same thing. The
"B" version is business class, meaning that model will be
available for a longer period of time.

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=407
http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=427

The 4450E is in the Asus list. I'm not sure whether they'll bother
making an entry for the 4450B or not.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M3A78 Pro

Both Intel and AMD 64 bit processors, are actually 64/32 bit
processors. You can install a 32 bit OS on either one, without
a problem. A 64 bit OS is not absolutely necessary.

Paul

 

[NuQ]

There are likely always S939 boards failing somewhere, so you should
be able to resell the board.

*******

The current generation is AM2/AM2+, and buying a board and processor
new, could make for a cheap computer.

You could pick something from this list, and later, if the budget
allows, you could upgrade to a Phenom if you want. Being on the
140W list, means the Vcore regulator will hold up better when a
Phenom is used.

http://event.asus.com/mb/140w/

This board has built-in HDMI and costs $95. DDR2 memory is dirt
cheap, so shouldn't cost a lot to get a decent configuration.

M3A78 Pro AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813131325

I take it, that the 4450B and 4450E are the same thing. The
"B" version is business class, meaning that model will be
available for a longer period of time.

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=407
http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=427

The 4450E is in the Asus list. I'm not sure whether they'll bother
making an entry for the 4450B or not.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M3A78 Pro


Both Intel and AMD 64 bit processors, are actually 64/32 bit
processors. You can install a 32 bit OS on either one, without
a problem. A 64 bit OS is not absolutely necessary.

Thanks for the info!