AM3 when and worth the wait?

Sweetloaf · 20 Jan 2009 at 09:27

I'm looking into getting a Phenom II 940 in a week or so, however is it going to be worth the wait to get an AM3 board? Are these chips compatible with AM3 boards and what kind of performance boost will I be looking at?

I'm guessing that boards will be £150 and upwards, anyone got any contradictory evidence? I don't like spending over £100 on a motherboard really.

If I stick with AM2+ the MSI K9A2 Platinum, AMD 790FX is my current favourite based on specs/price.

Anyone got any experience with this board? I've read that some CPU coolers won't fit due to chips in close proximity to the mounting holes, if you do use this board, what cooler are you using?

I think that's all for now

Cheers

Quixote · 20 Jan 2009 at 22:03

The 920 and 940 are the only AM2+ CPU's. They will not be compatable with upcoming AM3 boards because they lack the DDR3 memory controller.
All subsequent Phenom II's (starting with the 945) are AM3. They will be compatible with AM3 boards of course but also backwards compatible with AM2+ boards. This is due to having DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers.
They will also have lower power consumptio than the AM2+ CPU's.
So don't worry about waiting for the AM3 boards but you might consider waiting for the CPU's or both. It's up to you really.

Sweetloaf · 21 Jan 2009 at 07:37

Is there an ETA on the AM3 chips/boards?

Quixote · 21 Jan 2009 at 08:29

Around feb / march for the chips is what I've seen, how reliable that is I'm not sure, or when they'll be in UK retail. I would assume the boards will launch at the same time ?

braveheart · 21 Jan 2009 at 10:19

I would wait for AM3 -- AMD release AM3 this year but I rather to wait until begin of 2010 - plenty of time.. cos there will be new one coming in late 2009...