Can my board use this baby?

[robzilla06]

Hello all, this is big Robzilla06 back in the forums with some questions for all you super-knowledgable techies. I have the M3n78-EM Mobo. I was going to get the Phenom 2 940 Black Edition CPU. However, I was looking on Newegg, and found that I can get the Phenom 2 955 Black Edition for only about 10 bucks more.

This is the question I have. The Mobo is an AM2+ Socket board, and the Phenom 2 940 CPU is an AM2+ Processor, easy. I would like to get the Phenom 2 955, but it is a Socket AM3 Processor. I checked the Mobo on Asus' website, and checked the CPU Support list, and it said it stated the board wold support the 955 with a bios of 0601 or greater. My bios is 0604. I just want to know how reliable this info is, and would I be in the clear to get the 955, or should I play it safe and get the 940 instead? I've read that sometimes, the bios updates don't do what is stated they do, and may not support the cpus they list completely. Just looking for some clarity/insight.

 

[Yoosty]

Hello all, this is big Robzilla06 back in the forums with some questions for all you super-knowledgable techies. I have the M3n78-EM Mobo. I was going to get the Phenom 2 940 Black Edition CPU. However, I was looking on Newegg, and found that I can get the Phenom 2 955 Black Edition for only about 10 bucks more.

This is the question I have. The Mobo is an AM2+ Socket board, and the Phenom 2 940 CPU is an AM2+ Processor, easy. I would like to get the Phenom 2 955, but it is a Socket AM3 Processor. I checked the Mobo on Asus' website, and checked the CPU Support list, and it said it stated the board wold support the 955 with a bios of 0601 or greater. My bios is 0604. I just want to know how reliable this info is, and would I be in the clear to get the 955, or should I play it safe and get the 940 instead? I've read that sometimes, the bios updates don't do what is stated they do, and may not support the cpus they list completely. Just looking for some clarity/insight.

Yes you can and if it was on Asus site then you can take it to the bank.

 

[robzilla06]

Yes you can and if it was on Asus site then you can take it to the bank.

I'm down with that!!! Thank for the quick reply. I also have another quick question. I have 4 gigs of ddr2 1066 ram. Do I need ddr3 ram to really use this cpu, or is the ram I have okay?

 

[jitpublisher]

DDR3 won't work on an AM2+ board.......you MUST stick with your DDR2, which is no problem at all. Only the AM3 boards support or even have the sockets that will accept DDR3 memory.
The AM3 processor's memory controllers will work with DDR2 or DDR3 either one, that is the 1 single reason it is backwards compatable with the AM2+ boards.
The AM2+ processors, on the other hand, do not have a DDR3 memory controller, and so they will not work on an AM3 motherboard.

 

[robzilla06]

DDR3 won't work on an AM2+ board.......you MUST stick with your DDR2, which is no problem at all. Only the AM3 boards support or even have the sockets that will accept DDR3 memory.
The AM3 processor's memory controllers will work with DDR2 or DDR3 either one, that is the 1 single reason it is backwards compatable with the AM2+ boards.
The AM2+ processors, on the other hand, do not have a DDR3 memory controller, and so they will not work on an AM3 motherboard.

Okay, I understand that, makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.