Will The New "Zen" Architectured CPU's Be AM3+ Compatible?

[Shlutka]

Currently, I'm sitting here with a very nice stable build. The only thing I lack in is CPU power, and barely.

I've read about the new "Zen" architectured AMD cpu's, and it's definitely something I look forward to.

This is my current setup,

SPECS:
Motherboard: Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 Revision 4
CPU: FX-8320 @ 4.4 GHZ (1.42500v) Hyper 212 EVO
GPU: Sapphire TRI-X R9 290 @ stock
RAM: 2 x 4gb G.Skill Ripjaw 1600mhz.
HDD: 1 x 1tb Western Digital Blue 7200rpm
PSU: Rosewill Photon 750w 80+ Gold Rating

Will the Zen CPU's be compatible with my AM3+ Motherboard, along with my 750w 80+ gold PSU?

 

[Eximo]

No it will not. Zen will be a server product first, the consumer line to follow. This will be a new socket with support for DDR4.

You won't see these chips until 2016 at the earliest. Given the slippage in the roadmaps so far, more likely end of 2016 or early 2017.

 

[spdragoo]

I don't think they're planning on releasing it for AM3+ boards. They're supposed to be using a brand-new socket (AM4).

Now, I don't know if they plan on making them pin-compatible or not with AM3+ sockets. It would be nice if they did...but because they're going to support DDR4 RAM (something which AM3+ chips can't do), I don't know if it's physically possible to do so, & even they'd probably need the motherboard suppliers to make a BIOS update.

 

[hardtester]

I don't think they're planning on releasing it for AM3+ boards. They're supposed to be using a brand-new socket (AM4).

Now, I don't know if they plan on making them pin-compatible or not with AM3+ sockets. It would be nice if they did...but because they're going to support DDR4 RAM (something which AM3+ chips can't do), I don't know if it's physically possible to do so, & even they'd probably need the motherboard suppliers to make a BIOS update.

Back in the days of the am3 Phenom IIs, AMD made a brilliant decision as far as compatibility is concerned, as Phenom II supported both ddr2 and ddr3 ram, thus making the new chips compatible even with many very old am2 boards. In this way they provided their loyal user base with a very cheap upgrade path.

Personally I believe that it would be a smart choice to provide at least one last Zen FX CPU line with dual AM3/AM4 compatibility, as an acknowledgement for all those customers that supported the company during the last 3-year fiasco with the bulldozer architecture.

Or at least that is my 2 cents...

 

[steelninja]

I don't think they're planning on releasing it for AM3+ boards. They're supposed to be using a brand-new socket (AM4).

Now, I don't know if they plan on making them pin-compatible or not with AM3+ sockets. It would be nice if they did...but because they're going to support DDR4 RAM (something which AM3+ chips can't do), I don't know if it's physically possible to do so, & even they'd probably need the motherboard suppliers to make a BIOS update.

Back in the days of the am3 Phenom IIs, AMD made a brilliant decision as far as compatibility is concerned, as Phenom II supported both ddr2 and ddr3 ram, thus making the new chips compatible even with many very old am2 boards. In this way they provided their loyal user base with a very cheap upgrade path.

Personally I believe that it would be a smart choice to provide at least one last Zen FX CPU line with dual AM3/AM4 compatibility, as an acknowledgement for all those customers that supported the company during the last 3-year fiasco with the bulldozer architecture.

Or at least that is my 2 cents...

Word

 

[snow0770]

Unfortunately, we just have to sit and wait at this point.

 

[Mrbear90]

I don't think they're planning on releasing it for AM3+ boards. They're supposed to be using a brand-new socket (AM4).

Now, I don't know if they plan on making them pin-compatible or not with AM3+ sockets. It would be nice if they did...but because they're going to support DDR4 RAM (something which AM3+ chips can't do), I don't know if it's physically possible to do so, & even they'd probably need the motherboard suppliers to make a BIOS update.

Back in the days of the am3 Phenom IIs, AMD made a brilliant decision as far as compatibility is concerned, as Phenom II supported both ddr2 and ddr3 ram, thus making the new chips compatible even with many very old am2 boards. In this way they provided their loyal user base with a very cheap upgrade path.

Personally I believe that it would be a smart choice to provide at least one last Zen FX CPU line with dual AM3/AM4 compatibility, as an acknowledgement for all those customers that supported the company during the last 3-year fiasco with the bulldozer architecture.

Or at least that is my 2 cents...

I agree, I personally supported and during they're terrible bulldozer CPUs and I'm still running a 6100 with a am3+ motherboard, personally I think it is a just way to thank all the bulldozer//piledriver purchasers who where severely disappointed but stuck with them anyway, I also run a amd gfx card on the off chance it works more efficient with my terrible terrible 6100

 

[_tomar_]

zen is pushing towards single chipset architecture. i dont think am3+ will be supported as they are dual chipset config.(North and south bridges)

 

[Eximo]

Well, zombie thread aside (over a year old), we can at least add some real information here. Looks like AMD is planning on a Zen FX lineup release at the very end of this year. Not likely to be very cheap though, these will likely be the high core count alternatives to Intel's HEDT line-up for people that want to do more than game. Should be suitable for that purpose though.

AM3+ was never on the roadmap to receive the new chips. AM4 will support DDR4, but it will also incorporate the FX , A series, and Opteron chip line-ups in one easy to use form factor.

 

[spdragoo]

Oooh, do we have a source on that? Wouldn't mind some extra reading material...

 

[Eximo]

A bit dated now: http://wccftech.com/amd-zen-launch-q4-2016/

More current: https://www.engadget.com/2016/05/31/amd-zen-summit-ridge-release/

Also the Xbox upgrades to throw into the mix there. Be interesting to know if they are just using an updated Kaveri or something, or actually snagged a run off of Zen.

 

[ATInsider]

No it will not. Zen will be a server product first, the consumer line to follow. This will be a new socket with support for DDR4.

You won't see these chips until 2016 at the earliest. Given the slippage in the roadmaps so far, more likely end of 2016 or early 2017.

Socket AM4 is not Pin compatible with Socket AM3+. ZEN is completely NEW, build from the ground up and will be DDR4 based. But I did hear confirmation that AM3+ coolers will be compatible with AM4.
ZEN High Performance Desktop CPU's will come out first, then Server Chips to follow. All utilizing the same Socket AM4. This should prevent consumer confusion.