AMD FX-8350 ASRock 970 Extreme3 Compatibility

[PlasmaShadow]

Hi guys,I'm wondering if my ASRock 970 Extreme3 Motherboard will support an AMD FX-8350? I'm pretty sure they have the same socket (AM3+) however the CPU isn't listed on the compatibility list.
Thanks in advance.

 

[GhislainG]

The socket is fine, but you'll fry the poor VRM with an FX-8350. Any supported FX requires a fan to cool the VRM; otherwise the CPU will throttle. If you already have the FX-8350, then you need a new motherboard; if not, then it's an opportunity to upgrade to Intel.

 

[Shaun o]

Oh yes the FX8350 is in the support list for the AsRock Extreme3.

Where were you looking PlasmaShadow.

970 Extreme3 R2.0

CPU Support List
* For cooling the CPU and its surrounding components, please install a CPU cooler with a top-down blowing design.

Socket Family Model Power Core Frequency FSB L2 Cache L3 Cache CPU Rev. Since BIOS
AM3+ Opteron 3300 OS3350HOW4KHK 45W Delhi 2800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+ Opteron 3300 OS3320SJW4KHK 25W Delhi 1900MHz 1400MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 All
AM3+ Opteron 3300 OS3380OLW8KHK 65W Delhi 2600MHz 2000MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 All
AM3+ Opteron 3200 OS3280OLW8KGU 65W Zurich 2400MHz 2600MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8370FRW8KHK 125W Vishera 4000MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD837EWMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD832EWMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD8350FRW8KHK 125W Vishera 4000MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 All < what`s this then ?
AM3+* FX FD8320FRW8KHK 125W Vishera 3500MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD8310WMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3400MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD8300WMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD8150FRW8KGU(BE) 125W Zambezi 3600MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8140WMW8KGU 95W Zambezi 3200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8120FRW8KGU(BE) 125W Zambezi 3100MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8120WMW8KGU(BE) 95W Zambezi 3100MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8100WMW8KGU(BE) 95W Zambezi 2800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6350FRW6KHK 125W Vishera 3900MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD6300WMW6KHK 95W Vishera 3500MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD6200FRW6KGU 125W Zambezi 3800MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6130FRW6KGU 125W Zambezi 3600MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6120WMW6KGU 95W Zambezi 3500MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6100WMW6KGU(BE) 95W Zambezi 3300MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD4350FRW4KHK 125W Vishera 4200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD4320WMW4MHK 95W Vishera 4000MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD4300WMW4MHK 95W Vishera 3800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD4200FRW4KGU 125W Zambezi 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD4170FRW4KGU(BE) 125W Zambezi 4200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD4150WMW4KGU 95W Zambezi 3900MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 All

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme3%20R2.0/index.asp?cat=CPU

The Am3+ socket on the board can take a 125W cpu meaning it will work fine with the FX 8350 you have.
And the Vrms are up to the job or a 125W cpu part would not be quoted, listed or tested as working fine.

And the VRM`s have decent heat sink plates on them.

 

[PlasmaShadow]

Oh yes the FX8350 is in the support list for the AsRock Extreme3.

Where were you looking PlasmaShadow.

970 Extreme3 R2.0

CPU Support List
* For cooling the CPU and its surrounding components, please install a CPU cooler with a top-down blowing design.

Socket Family Model Power Core Frequency FSB L2 Cache L3 Cache CPU Rev. Since BIOS
AM3+ Opteron 3300 OS3350HOW4KHK 45W Delhi 2800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+ Opteron 3300 OS3320SJW4KHK 25W Delhi 1900MHz 1400MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 All
AM3+ Opteron 3300 OS3380OLW8KHK 65W Delhi 2600MHz 2000MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 All
AM3+ Opteron 3200 OS3280OLW8KGU 65W Zurich 2400MHz 2600MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8370FRW8KHK 125W Vishera 4000MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD837EWMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD832EWMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD8350FRW8KHK 125W Vishera 4000MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 All < what`s this then ?
AM3+* FX FD8320FRW8KHK 125W Vishera 3500MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD8310WMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3400MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD8300WMW8KHK 95W Vishera 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB C0 P1.60
AM3+* FX FD8150FRW8KGU(BE) 125W Zambezi 3600MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8140WMW8KGU 95W Zambezi 3200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8120FRW8KGU(BE) 125W Zambezi 3100MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8120WMW8KGU(BE) 95W Zambezi 3100MHz 2200MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD8100WMW8KGU(BE) 95W Zambezi 2800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx4 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6350FRW6KHK 125W Vishera 3900MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD6300WMW6KHK 95W Vishera 3500MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD6200FRW6KGU 125W Zambezi 3800MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6130FRW6KGU 125W Zambezi 3600MHz 2200MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6120WMW6KGU 95W Zambezi 3500MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD6100WMW6KGU(BE) 95W Zambezi 3300MHz 2000MHz 2MBx3 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD4350FRW4KHK 125W Vishera 4200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD4320WMW4MHK 95W Vishera 4000MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD4300WMW4MHK 95W Vishera 3800MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 4MB C0 All
AM3+* FX FD4200FRW4KGU 125W Zambezi 3300MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD4170FRW4KGU(BE) 125W Zambezi 4200MHz 2200MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 All
AM3+* FX FD4150WMW4KGU 95W Zambezi 3900MHz 2000MHz 2MBx2 8MB B2 All

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme3%20R2.0/index.asp?cat=CPU

The Am3+ socket on the board can take a 125W cpu meaning it will work fine with the FX 8350 you have.
And the Vrms are up to the job or a 125W cpu part would not be quoted, listed or tested as working fine.

I'm pretty sure I'm using the normal version of the mbd not the 2.0 one. I was looking here http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme3/?cat=CPU

 

[GhislainG]

Shaun o selected the wrong version. The older motherboard does not support the FX-8350: http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme3/?cat=CPU Even with the R2.0 I'd be very cautions and I'd make sure the VRM gets good cooling.

 

[Shaun o]

If it`s a Am3+ socket on the board it will support a FX8350 cpu.
Why it`s not in the list is because it was not made at the time of testing.

If your unsure check on google, but as I said if the cpu socket is an AM3+ the 8350 will work.

 

[GhislainG]

If it`s a Am3+ socket on the board it will support a FX8350 cpu.
Why it`s not in the list is because it was not made at the time of testing.

If your unsure check on google, but as I said if the cpu socket is an AM3+ the 8350 will work.

It's not on the list because the VRM can't properly support it. It definitely could be installed, but the CPU will be throttled to 1.4 GHz at full load. The BIOS may also prevent it from running any faster than 1.4 GHz. If you owned that older motherboard, would you risk buying the FX-8350?

 

[PlasmaShadow]

If it`s a Am3+ socket on the board it will support a FX8350 cpu.
Why it`s not in the list is because it was not made at the time of testing.

If your unsure check on google, but as I said if the cpu socket is an AM3+ the 8350 will work.

It's not on the list because the VRM can't properly support it. It definitely could be installed, but the CPU will be throttled to 1.4 GHz at full load. The BIOS may also prevent it from running any faster than 1.4 GHz. If you owned that older motherboard, would you risk buying the FX-8350?

If you don't think the fx 8350 will work, are there any other CPUs that you recommend that work with this motherboard?

 

[GhislainG]

Any CPU on the supported list. What's the primary purpose of your PC, what CPU do you have and if it's mainly for gaming, what GPU?

 

[PlasmaShadow]

Any CPU on the supported list. What's the primary purpose of your PC, what CPU do you have and if it's mainly for gaming, what GPU?

Yes, it's for gaming: I have an AMD-Fx4100 and a GTX 970. I noticed it was bottlenecking so I thought about getting a new cpu.

 

[Andrei-Florin Gogan]

Going from FX 4100 to FX 8350 is a decent improvement but not when it comes to games. Especially when you can't decently overclock the 8350 because of the weak motherboard.

 

[madmatt30]

I wouldn't run an 8 core on ANY asrock 970 board full stop personally.

 

[PlasmaShadow]

So do you guys recommend I get a new motherboard?

 

[Andrei-Florin Gogan]

If you already have the FX 8350 and can't get a refund, you can get a better motherboard and it will help you OC the CPU for better performance.If you can get a refund for the 8350, I would strongly suggest you move to Intel if your upgrading for gaming.

 

[PlasmaShadow]

If you already have the FX 8350 and can't get a refund, you can get a better motherboard and it will help you OC the CPU for better performance.If you can get a refund for the 8350, I would strongly suggest you move to Intel if your upgrading for gaming.

I don't have an fx 8350 already, but I don't think that intel CPUs are compatible with my motherboard, so I'd have to get a new one anyway, right?

 

[Andrei-Florin Gogan]

Well if you choose the FX 8350 you will need a decent motherboard for it so either way, a different motherboard is needed.

 

[madmatt30]

You could drop a 6300+ a good down blowing cooler on the board & maybe push 4.2/4.3ghz.

That's a risk though & would ultimately be your decision to make - at that speed it will drag decent performance from a 970 though.

You're on the unenviable position of owning a mediocre CPU & a pretty substandard quality board - upgrading cheaply is hard work.

 

[PlasmaShadow]

Ok guys, if I'm gonna get a fx 8350, what motherboard do you guys recommend that can handle it? Also what cooling?

 

[PlasmaShadow]

I found the ASRock 970 Pro3 2.0 - it seems quite inexpensive but is compatible and has good reviews.

 

[Andrei-Florin Gogan]

Take a look at the Gigabyte 970A-UD3P. This is one of if not the best motherboard with the 970 chipset for overclocking

 

[PlasmaShadow]

Take a look at the Gigabyte 970A-UD3P. This is one of if not the best motherboard with the 970 chipset for overclocking

Thanks! This looks good.

 

[Andrei-Florin Gogan]

Take a look at the Gigabyte 970A-UD3P. This is one of if not the best motherboard with the 970 chipset for overclocking

Thanks! This looks good.

make sure you get the 2.0 revision

 

[GhislainG]

Also look at the MSI 970 Gaming.

 

[PlasmaShadow]

Take a look at the Gigabyte 970A-UD3P. This is one of if not the best motherboard with the 970 chipset for overclocking

Thanks! This looks good.

make sure you get the 2.0 revision

This? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-970A-UD3P-Motherboard-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00F5R9O46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454246575&sr=8-1&keywords=Gigabyte+970A-UD3P#productDetails

 

[Andrei-Florin Gogan]

Take a look at the Gigabyte 970A-UD3P. This is one of if not the best motherboard with the 970 chipset for overclocking

Thanks! This looks good.

make sure you get the 2.0 revision

This? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-970A-UD3P-Motherboard-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00F5R9O46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454246575&sr=8-1&keywords=Gigabyte+970A-UD3P#productDetails

Yes that one is good, you can also look at the MSI 970 Gaming. It has the same power phase and it is a lot more beautifull but a bit more expensive so these are your best choices on this chipset.