crosshair iv extreme bios update for am3+ HELP!

Fragg · 7 Aug 2011 at 22:14

I'm in a predicament. I have been working off laptops for years but now my work path has changed and i need a great rig for 3d modelling and a bit of gaming for cool off =D

So, I have a 1000w powersupply and a radeon 6950.

I was going to buy the crosshair iv extreme and the 1090t but I was thinking that the 'bulldozer' is soon to be released and maybe i should wait for it.

I have read that there is a bios update for the crosshair iv extreme and a few other motherboards to support am3+

Wouldnt that mean i would have to buy an expensive processor to run my rig and then update the bios and sell the processor and buy the bulldozer?
or can i update it an other way?

also, has there been any new boards for amd that are already am3+ and better than the crosshair iv extreme

edit -

zoomee said:
you would be silly not to by an AM3+ board now if you want to take the AMD route.

AM3 boards are slightly cheaper but for guaranteed compatibility just get the Asus Crosshair V. You can put a normal AM3 chip into it (something like a 1090T) and then simply swap it for a BD chip when they are released. No need to mess around

I will buy that am3+ board instead of the am3 board, to save the trouble and will be made to support the bulldozer for optimised proformance

appreciate the help

paulc25 · 7 Aug 2011 at 22:25

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=1903&subid=2046

plenty of am3+ boards as well as a crosshair v

stulid · 7 Aug 2011 at 22:27

Got to agree with the above a ASUS evo will be great - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-462-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2046

Surveyor · 8 Aug 2011 at 00:33

Fragg said:
Wouldnt that mean i would have to buy an expensive processor to run my rig and then update the bios and sell the processor and buy the bulldozer?
or can i update it an other way?

Whatever motherboard you buy you'll need a processor now (expensive or cheap) to use it and then you'll have to buy a Bulldozer processor when they're released.

If you only want to pay for one processor then wait until Bulldozer is launched and buy the processor and motherboard together.

Or just buy Sandy Bridge now.

Fragg · 8 Aug 2011 at 20:10

ok thanks for the tips. I might just buy an am3+ board now and then in the future by a better am3+ board when it is released

gareth170 · 8 Aug 2011 at 20:37

Fragg said:
ok thanks for the tips. I might just buy an am3+ board now and then in the future by a better am3+ board when it is released

i guess u mean cpu

the crosshair v is the best board.

zoomee · 9 Aug 2011 at 12:53

Think your confused fragg - you would be silly not to by an AM3+ board now if you want to take the AMD route.

AM3 boards are slightly cheaper but for guaranteed compatibility just get the Asus Crosshair V. You can put a normal AM3 chip into it (something like a 1090T) and then simply swap it for a BD chip when they are released. No need to mess around

Fragg · 11 Aug 2011 at 10:10

zoomee said:
Think your confused fragg - you would be silly not to by an AM3+ board now if you want to take the AMD route.

AM3 boards are slightly cheaper but for guaranteed compatibility just get the Asus Crosshair V. You can put a normal AM3 chip into it (something like a 1090T) and then simply swap it for a BD chip when they are released. No need to mess around

Ah, that route sounds like the one i searching for. thanks

I wasnt confused, i just cant explain things very well. haha.
I was going to buy the crosshair iv extreme (am3) and buy a 1090t. With a bios update, it can support am3+ and buy the bulldozer when it is released. However that route is expensive. the main question was if there was anyway to get the bios update if i didnt have any cpu before hand and just go straight for the bulldozer as i currently only have a few laptop - i now know you cant.

alex24 · 11 Aug 2011 at 10:20

Why do you need the Crosshair IV Extreme and not a new AM3+ board instead?

gareth170 · 11 Aug 2011 at 10:30

tbh it's waste of money buying a crosshair iv when a Asus Crosshair V board is only about £40 more and it's a better board

Martini1991 · 11 Aug 2011 at 10:33

gareth170 said:
tbh it's waste of money buying a crosshair iv when a Asus Crosshair V board is only about £40 more and it's a better board

He's on about the extreme, which I'd wager has better phase design than the CH V Formula.
The CH IV and CH V are about the same, with the exception of the 990FX chipset bonuses, such as SLI. I reckon the CH IV has the better SB heatsink too lol.

But I agree, the Extreme is a waste of money.

alex24 · 11 Aug 2011 at 10:37

Martini1991 said:
He's on about the extreme, which I'd wager has better phase design than the CH V Formula.
The CH IV and CH V are about the same, with the exception of the 990FX chipset bonuses, such as SLI. I reckon the CH IV has the better SB heatsink too lol.

But I agree, the Extreme is a waste of money.

How much would you wager?

The Extreme had the same phase design as the Formula, and the CHV also has an 8+2 design. So unless you really need the Lucid tech, you should just get the CHV as it does SLI and Crossfire anyway.

EDIT: Nobody has mentioned the whiny fan yet either!

gareth170 · 11 Aug 2011 at 10:49

Martini1991 said:
He's on about the extreme, which I'd wager has better phase design than the CH V Formula.
The CH IV and CH V are about the same, with the exception of the 990FX chipset bonuses, such as SLI. I reckon the CH IV has the better SB heatsink too lol.

But I agree, the Extreme is a waste of money.

am3+ phase/power system as been designed for BD

hence why the voltages on gigabyte 990 boards have big vdroop with phenom II chips, gigabyte as said this.

yes the extreme maybe have better phase for phenom II chips but not for BD

alex24 · 11 Aug 2011 at 11:02

Interesting info. I've noticed a huge vdroop when using AM3 in AM3+ board compared to the previous gen. I guess that explains it.

Martini1991 · 11 Aug 2011 at 11:48

gareth170 said:
am3+ phase/power system as been designed for BD

hence why the voltages on gigabyte 990 boards have big vdroop with phenom II chips, gigabyte as said this.

yes the extreme maybe have better phase for phenom II chips but not for BD

This is getting beyond a joke ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-466-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1481
Rehashed board with an AM3+ socket.
If you REALLY think that's going to handle BD better than a CH IV Extreme you've got a screw loose.

AM3+ is hyperbole.

alex24 said:
Interesting info. I've noticed a huge vdroop when using AM3 in AM3+ board compared to the previous gen. I guess that explains it.

How does it explain it exactly..

alex24 said:
How much would you wager?

The Extreme had the same phase design as the Formula, and the CHV also has an 8+2 design. So unless you really need the Lucid tech, you should just get the CHV as it does SLI and Crossfire anyway.

EDIT: Nobody has mentioned the whiny fan yet either!

I didn't mean 8+2, I mean the full indepth lark.

gareth170 · 11 Aug 2011 at 17:12

Martini1991 said:
This is getting beyond a joke ;
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-466-AS&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1481
Rehashed board with an AM3+ socket.
If you REALLY think that's going to handle BD better than a CH IV Extreme you've got a screw loose.

AM3+ is hyperbole..

seems like you THINK you know everything about BD and AM3/+, yet u haven't got or shown any information/proof to back up what u THINK is true... like in the other thread, i said somethings and also post information on it to back it up, and u don't accept it or say it's wrong but yet u still haven't posted any proof to shown other wise....

yes that board u linked has a AM3+ socket but u don't know if they've modifyed/tweaked it for the BD... example if that board gives a big vdroop with phenom II chips like other am3+boards but not on the am3 socket version (if there was one) then that would be a sign there has been some tweaking/modifying on the board.

do u work for a motherboard company or a cpu company? if no, then u don't know if they tweak or modify the board..

Martini1991 · 11 Aug 2011 at 17:15

MSI come under scrutiny with their marketing "Military grade" components, AMD/Asrock bang on about AM3+ power design and everyone's fine with it

?

gareth170 · 11 Aug 2011 at 17:30

Martini1991 said:
MSI come under scrutiny with their marketing "Military grade" components, AMD/Asrock bang on about AM3+ power design and everyone's fine with it ?

not only AMD/Asrock .

also gigabyte saying the AM3+ power design ..

my ;point is if u haven't got or can't show/post information to back it the things your saying is wrong, u can't really comment on it ..

so stop keep saying it's wrong unless u can show/post information to back it .

Martini1991 · 12 Aug 2011 at 08:48

I never said it's wrong, I said it's hyperbole.
I'm saying it's a pointless hype.
The AM3+ Standard won't make a board better than an AM3 board on that basis alone.
Wait until they're actually released, someone who overclocks a single 8150, on both a CH IV, and then a CH V, will likely get the same results.

Note, likely.

alex24 · 12 Aug 2011 at 09:20

I guess time will tell! Can't wait to get my hands on a chip, been delayed again it seems. The other news editor at Vortez reckons mass production in October now, he's pretty clued up.