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AM2+ & AM3

demonstag

demonstag

demonstag

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Hi Guys,

Could someone clarify this for me.

You can put an AM3 into a AM2+ motherboard, can you therefore put a AM2+ CPU into an AM3 Motherboard?

Sorry for the Lame question its just I am new to the new AMD ranges.

Thanks Guys

Demonstag:confused:
 
And if i am correct the AM2+ has 940 pins where as the AM3 has 938 so it is not physically possible to put the AM2+ in the AM3, unless your a dab hand with some wire cutters ;)
 
There are only AM2 and AM3 cpus.

There are AM2, AM2+ and AM3 motherboards.

A AM2 CPU does not have a DDR3 memory controller, so will not work in a AM3 board.

A AM3 CPU has both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers so will work in any board(bios and CPU support allowing).

You will not find a AM2+ CPU anywhere for sale, no such thing.
 
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Ok i know i am probably wrong but i can't get my head around this concept.
So what is the point of the AM2+ motherboard if the original Phenoms could go into and Am2?
And why was it that the AM3 could go into an AM2+ and not an AM2?
Im guessing they made Am2+ so that when they released the AM3 Cpus it would be backwards compatible.

Sorry if i dont make sense.
 
that's about it, compatibility.

but some AM2 boards can take AM3cpus, easier just to check the CPU support list for the board, it may just need a bios update to work.
 
Arcimbaldo said:
Ok i know i am probably wrong but i can't get my head around this concept.
So what is the point of the AM2+ motherboard if the original Phenoms could go into and Am2?
Click to expand...

To allow for use of DDR2 RAM with AM3 processors. DDR3 RAM was more expensive at the time.

Arcimbaldo said:
And why was it that the AM3 could go into an AM2+ and not an AM2?
Click to expand...

Revisions were made in the AM2+ spec relating to voltage etc that allowed for supporting the newer processors.

Arcimbaldo said:
Im guessing they made Am2+ so that when they released the AM3 Cpus it would be backwards compatible.
Click to expand...

Yes, as a lower cost platform with DDR2 support.
 
Redmint said:
I think the trouble is AMD and the motheboard manufacturers use different definitons of AM2 and AM2+. I know Gigabyte usually split 'AM2' and 'AM2+' on their CPU support lists.
Click to expand...

Gigabyte seem to go through a lot of board revisions. Also, I don't think AMD expect motherboard manufacturers to cheap out on things like voltage regulators.
 
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