AMD CPU vs. SOCKET

[Peter van der Goes]

This AM2/2+ AM3 business has me scratching my head a bit, and I want to be
sure before shelling out $$.

You can put an AM3 CPU in an AM2/2+ motherboard and (if everything else will
support the new CPU), the cpu will work?

But, you *cannot* put an AM2/2+ CPU in an AM3 motherboard, correct?

I'm asking because I see posts in the Asus motherboard forums that *seem* to
claim that people are having success with this CPU:

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model
HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail

in older AM2 motherboards, such as the M2N-E.

Seems like a bargain performance upgrade if it really can be done

 

[Miles Bader]

You can put an AM3 CPU in an AM2/2+ motherboard and (if everything else
will support the new CPU), the cpu will work?

Yeah. I don't know if it's _general_ compatibility, or whether it's
specific to certain chips, but I think all the current Phenom II chips
will work in an AM2+ socket.

But, you *cannot* put an AM2/2+ CPU in an AM3 motherboard, correct?

Dunno about this, but it sounds right.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail

in older AM2 motherboards, such as the M2N-E.

My understanding is that this should work if the BIOS is prepared to
deal with the new chip (and usually one can upgrade the BIOS easily
enough).

[Well to be honest, I don't _know_ that an old non-phenom-II-aware BIOS
would fail -- maybe it would actually work in some fashion. But I've
checked the website for my own AM 2+ MB, and see that they have Phenom
II aware BIOS upgrades out.]

Seems like a bargain performance upgrade if it really can be done

Yup...

A good move on AMD's part...

-Miles

 

[Peter van der Goes]

You can put an AM3 CPU in an AM2/2+ motherboard and (if everything else
will support the new CPU), the cpu will work?

Yeah. I don't know if it's _general_ compatibility, or whether it's
specific to certain chips, but I think all the current Phenom II chips
will work in an AM2+ socket.

But, you *cannot* put an AM2/2+ CPU in an AM3 motherboard, correct?

Dunno about this, but it sounds right.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail

in older AM2 motherboards, such as the M2N-E.

My understanding is that this should work if the BIOS is prepared to
deal with the new chip (and usually one can upgrade the BIOS easily
enough).

[Well to be honest, I don't _know_ that an old non-phenom-II-aware BIOS
would fail -- maybe it would actually work in some fashion. But I've
checked the website for my own AM 2+ MB, and see that they have Phenom
II aware BIOS upgrades out.]

Seems like a bargain performance upgrade if it really can be done

Yup...

A good move on AMD's part...

-Miles

Thanks, Miles. I think I'll give it a shot. Worst comes to worst, I can
always get an AM3 motherboard, DDR3 RAM, etc. to work with the new CPU ;-)