Hello! I've been struggling the past few days with an issue regarding my desire to upgrade my PC. I was gifted a Crosshair IV Formula motherboard, which has an AM3 socket, and was suggested by the same person to buy an AMD FX-8350 processor to go with it, but it's AM3+.
Considering I lack any in-depth knowledge on how hardware works, my common sense told me "No, it wouldn't be possible, as AM3+ CPUs have 942 pins and AM3 sockets only have 941 pin slots. Unless I literally remove one, it won't work."
But searching for answers everywhere on the internet, I've found extremely mixed answers. Lots of people say it's "physically compatible" but that I'd need an unofficial BIOS update to make it work, and others say it's not possible due to AM3+ CPUs not being retro-compatible with AM3 sockets. I've also seen some answers that say that even though the socket says AM3, it's actually AM3+ but due to being old it just doesn't have the "software" compatibility.
I believe this not to be the case, as (even if it sounds really stupid) I actually counted the dots in my motherboard's socket several times, and every time it's just 941.
Would someone be able to give me an educated answer about whether it's possible or not to fit an AM3+ CPU in an AM3 motherboard? And if it indeed were possible, an in-depth explanation on the process would be very much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Considering I lack any in-depth knowledge on how hardware works, my common sense told me "No, it wouldn't be possible, as AM3+ CPUs have 942 pins and AM3 sockets only have 941 pin slots. Unless I literally remove one, it won't work."
But searching for answers everywhere on the internet, I've found extremely mixed answers. Lots of people say it's "physically compatible" but that I'd need an unofficial BIOS update to make it work, and others say it's not possible due to AM3+ CPUs not being retro-compatible with AM3 sockets. I've also seen some answers that say that even though the socket says AM3, it's actually AM3+ but due to being old it just doesn't have the "software" compatibility.
I believe this not to be the case, as (even if it sounds really stupid) I actually counted the dots in my motherboard's socket several times, and every time it's just 941.
Would someone be able to give me an educated answer about whether it's possible or not to fit an AM3+ CPU in an AM3 motherboard? And if it indeed were possible, an in-depth explanation on the process would be very much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
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