Phenom II X4 965 BE and 800 Mhz DDR2 Ram

[neagu]

Hello,

I am looking for a better cpu, and the Phenom II X4 965 BE caught my eye. Of course with it, I'll also get a new mobo. But i will not be changing my old dimms: 2x2 gigs DDR2 800Mhz Apacer.

Here's the question: Can i use those old dimms with the new cpu ?

Thank you,
Neagu.

 

[andy5174]

Hello,

I am looking for a better cpu, and the Phenom II X4 965 BE caught my eye. Of course with it, I'll also get a new mobo. But i will not be changing my old dimms: 2x2 gigs DDR2 800Mhz Apacer.

Here's the question: Can i use those old dimms with the new cpu ?

Thank you,
Neagu.

In order to run DDR2 RAM with PII-955, you need an AM2/AM2+ MB that will support the AM3 PII-955.

 

[neagu]

I'll get this mobo GA-MA790X-UD3P - Socket AM3 - Chipset 790X - ATX.

You've missread the post, I'll actually get a 965 BE at 3.4 Ghz. The question was i i can use the old dimms with the new CPU. I wan to be sure, my current dimms are compatible with the new CPU.

 

[rsmith13]

If you are going to the trouble of getting a AM3 cpu and a new motherboard, you might as well get an AM3 motherboard and new DDR3 memory. You are saving a little by keeping the DDR2 and getting a AM2+ motherboard but a year from now you will be kicking yourself for not getting the AM3/DDR3.

 

[rockyjohn]

If you want to be sure they are compatible, have you looked the RAM up on the mobo compatibility list or looked for the mobo on a compatibility list or memory configurator at your memory manufacturer;s website?

How do you expect anyone here to answer the question when you have not even provided the brand and model of memory you have?

 

[andy5174]

I'll get this mobo GA-MA790X-UD3P - Socket AM3 - Chipset 790X - ATX.

You've missread the post, I'll actually get a 965 BE at 3.4 Ghz. The question was i i can use the old dimms with the new CPU. I wan to be sure, my current dimms are compatible with the new CPU.

965 is a waste of the money! You can easily OC 955 to 3.4GHz WITHOUT having to touch any voltage.

As for your original question, AM3 does NOT support DDR2. However, the MB you chose is an AM2+ instead of AM3.

Check here for spec: http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=3107&ProductName=GA-MA790X-UD3P

 

[andy5174]

Whether you can run DDR2 memory or not depends on MB instead of CPU

 

[Earnie]

965 is a waste of the money! You can easily OC 955 to 3.4GHz WITHOUT having to touch any voltage.

and u can OC the 965 easily over 3.8 without touching voltages.

 

[andy5174]

and u can OC the 965 easily over 3.8 without touching voltages.

Not true.

I have heard from 3 PII-955 owners that you need to increase Vcore and some other voltages for 3.8GHz.

 

[Earnie]

Not true.

I have heard from 3 PII-955 owners that you need to increase Vcore and some other voltages for 3.8GHz.

not on the 965,mine has the zalman 9900 led is running 3.81 only using the multiplier(and worth the 189$ cdn i paid for it)..my back up has the 940 and is running at 3.4 as well..

 

[andy5174]

not on the 965,mine has the zalman 9900 led is running 3.81 only using the multiplier(and worth the 189$ cdn i paid for it)..my back up has the 940 and is running at 3.4 as well..

965 is just potentially a factory OCed 955.

You might just be lucky to have one of the best chips.

 

[Earnie]

965 is just potentially a factory OCed 955.

You might just be lucky to have one of the best chips.

works for me,mine is the 140 watt chips,not the 125 watt one.

 

[XD_dued]

Not true.

I have heard from 3 PII-955 owners that you need to increase Vcore and some other voltages for 3.8GHz.

I got to 3.9 on stock volts...(955). Guess we both got really luck then XD

 

[neagu]

So it is, however that means the site I found it on has false information, because it clearly stated that mobo uses an AM3 Socket. Thanks for clearing that up, I checked Gigabyte's comparison list, and although my particular ram isn't on their compatibility list, I know the mobo is 800 mhz compatible now.

Off topic:
The 965 i found is only 13 euros more expensive than the 955. I have no experience ocing what so ever, so I'll rather get a factory overclocked CPU rather than do it myself.

 

[andy5174]

So it is, however that means the site I found it on has false information, because it clearly stated that mobo uses an AM3 Socket. Thanks for clearing that up, I checked Gigabyte's comparison list, and although my particular ram isn't on their compatibility list, I know the mobo is 800 mhz compatible now.

Off topic:
The 965 i found is only 13 euros more expensive than the 955. I have no experience ocing what so ever, so I'll rather get a factory overclocked CPU rather than do it myself.

All you need is increasing the multiplier by 1.

I guaranty that NO voltage tweaking will be required at all!

It would save you 13 euros by spending merely 1 minute doing so.

 

[neagu]

And the 955 stock fan can keep up ?

 

[andy5174]

And the 955 stock fan can keep up ?

Yes! The 965 is actually an 955 with an additional 1x bin already added for you in the factory and it comes with the SAME fan as 955.

 

[neagu]

Then I shall take your advice and buy the 955. What about a mobo for the cpu, do you have a better offer for roughly the same value ?

 

[andy5174]

Then I shall take your advice and buy the 955. What about a mobo for the cpu, do you have a better offer for roughly the same value ?

Sorry, I have absolutely no idea on the price in Europe and therefore you are on your own.

 

[neagu]

Fair enough, but I'll take global prices as a comparison too.

 

[andy5174]

Fair enough, but I'll take global prices as a comparison too.

I would spend more for the GA-MA790X-UD4P if I were you.

http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=3038

 

[neagu]

somebody posted this:

"If you are going to the trouble of getting a AM3 cpu and a new motherboard, you might as well get an AM3 motherboard and new DDR3 memory. You are saving a little by keeping the DDR2 and getting a AM2+ motherboard but a year from now you will be kicking yourself for not getting the AM3/DDR3."

What if I buy this cheap ASROCK N68-S AM2+ mobo, just to use the cpu, and later when I'll have enough have money, get an AM3 mobo with DDR3 memory ? I'm a little undecided now.

 

[andy5174]

I doubt you will see any significant performance gain with DDR3.

In addition, I would go for AM2+ as well if I were you assuming that you will keep the system for at least 3 years.

 

[warmon6]

I doubt you will see any significant performance gain with DDR3.

In addition, I would go for AM2+ as well if I were you assuming that you will keep the system for at least 3 years.

Agree for DDR2. Until the average cas latency of drr3 lowers, DDR2 800 cas 4 and ddr3 1600 cas 8 currently feels the same.

 

[neagu]

I have a budget or 320€

Right now i'm still undecided, I can buy:

Phenom II 955 BE + ASRock N68-S AM2+ mobo + a vid card cheaper than 130 €

130€ + 33€= 163 + 130=293 and the rest lest for shipping fees.
-OR-

Phenom II 955 BE + GA-MA790X-UD3P - Socket AM2+ - Chipset 790X - ATX
130€ + 90 €= 220 and not enough for a powerfull card.

A friend actually recommend I buy a ZOTAC GF 250 GTS 512mb 256-bit for 90€ instead of a GF 250 GTS 1gb 256-bit for 115 under the pretext that 256-bit cards do no use the full 1gb video memory.

Is it true ?

What video card would you actually recommend I get ?