CPU Mobo Compatibility

[dl8860]

I'm considering upgrading my CPU but I'm not entirely sure about the mobo compatibility.

Mobo is an ASUS M4A78LT-M, which is AM3, but it doesn't seem there's many decent AM3 processors still on the market.

In a few places I've read that some AM3 mobos will be compatible with AM3+ processors with a BIOS update but I've not been able to find further details than that. Does anyone know any more?

Most likely current option for new CPU is FX-6300 or 6350.

 

[ALXAndy]

The issue on older boards are the power phases. They were designed to run Deneb, which had a massively lower TDP than the original Phenom CPUs.

As such 90% of AM3 boards were 4+1 phase, unable to cope with a FX 8 core or even a decent overclock on a FX 6.

I'll do some poking for you..

Edit. Your fets have absolutely no cooling on them so I would not recommend a 6 or 8 core FX, even if it supports them... /search..

Right you can forget FX. At least Asus are sensible enough to not bother.

There's a good Gigabyte MATX board. It's only 4+1 but it has decent fet cooling so can clock quite well. I would look into that.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-415-GI&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1481

I'm pretty sure it's that one but others can check. Yes, it's that one. You should get up to 4.4ghz out of a 8320 if you know what you're doing on it. It has good fet cooling though, so does work quite well with FX

 

[Davedree]

+1 Andy for Matx and 4+1 it's a real strong board, although try and buy the rev 5 version as it has a better bios with apm included the rev 4 doesn't have the apm option in the bios, although the rev 4 can be modded with a bios that contains apm option.

Then as we recommend a better 6+2 Digi from Asus from around £65 onwards.

 

[Doomedspeed]

Yeah, i wouldn't look at FX for you're current board (not that you can).

I'd want something atleast a 6+2 phase cooling for a 8320/8350.

If you'll be looking at new motherboard, don't rule out Intel on price.. Give that a look in too.

 

[dl8860]

Ok thanks guys. I'm not looking to make a massive outlay as I don't exactly push things, so ideally don't want to buy new mobo and CPU. My current CPU is Athlon II 640 (pretty old I know), is there anything that would work with am3 that would be a decent step up for no more than £80?

If there's nothing around I'll probably just wait it out and save up and go intel.

Graphics card is 5770

 

[RobotXander]

I bought one of the above Gigabyte mATX boards from OCUK a couple of days ago.

It's the latest version they sent me (5.0)

Great board, with excellent cooling (as stated above)

 

[forteh]

Ok thanks guys. I'm not looking to make a massive outlay as I don't exactly push things, so ideally don't want to buy new mobo and CPU. My current CPU is Athlon II 640 (pretty old I know), is there anything that would work with am3 that would be a decent step up for no more than £80?

If there's nothing around I'll probably just wait it out and save up and go intel.

Graphics card is 5770

For that sort of money you could switch to a 1st gen i3 and clock the **** off it, my i3 530 was quite happy at 4.62ghz using ddr3 1600. Apart from very cpu intensive games (looking at arma3) it was more than capable, I have only switched to an i5 750 because the i3 was bottlenecking in arma.

Another alternative would be a xeon x3430 for 30 quid from ebay and a decent overclocking motherboard and you effectively have an i5

edit: yes it's an incremental upgrade, but it should be a fair bit faster for minimal outlay.

 

[Mrjobby]

What is your X4 athlon struggling with?

Its not a super terrible chip in all fairness and as you have a AMD 5770 I cant see it is limiting that at all.

I would prob save the cash or look at a 2nd hand GPU, 7870 / 7950's go for 80 or less these days 2nd hand and would be many times faster than the 5770.