Which socket offers the best upgrade path?

[pengwinzz]

Hi everyone, I’m planning on building my new pc soon (I would do it now but various parts aren’t available) and I was hoping I could canvas ppls opinion on which socket will offer the best upgrade path

Right now I’m looking at gong with one on the non-XE yorkfileds (LGA 775) or perhaps one of the agena FX cpu’s (Socket F+) though this will depend on price/performance and availability

The yorkfiled (LGA 775) option looks like it will be the best performance option now, however post-penryn intel is moving away from LGA 775 iirc

On the AMD front socket wise it’s all a bit messy as we have:

Socket AM2
Socket AM2+
Socket AM3
Socket F+ (might be called socket G now i think)

It’s hard to know if any of the above will offer a decent upgrade path as AMD keeps introducing new sockets

So what does everybody else think?

 

[gazfocus]

Hi. I have read on other forums that the current AMD AM2 sockets are the sockets that AMD will be sticking with for some time whereas the Intel LGA775 are ceasing at the end of this family of CPU.

 

[paradigm]

If you want to go with AMD, I'd opt for socket AM2+.

AM2 CPU's work in AM2+
AM3 CPU's work in AM2+

 

[Tetras]

Realistically does it make much difference? Even if either company sticks with the same socket (afaik LGA775 stops with Penryn) compatibility is far from guaranteed and (judging from Phenom / Conroe / Penryn) unlikely for many older gen motherboards.

 

[milkinc13]

If you want to go with AMD, I'd opt for socket AM2+.

AM2 CPU's work in AM2+
AM3 CPU's work in AM2+

agree'd.

 

[pengwinzz]

thanks for the replies

if AMD is going to contine support for AM2+ what is the point of AM3?

 

[BillytheImpaler]

thanks for the replies

if AMD is going to contine support for AM2+ what is the point of AM3?

there'll be AM3-only features, but the AM3 CPU will still work in the AM2+ socket, just at a lower HT speed. (If I'm understanding it correctly)

 

[milkinc13]

and Am3 will have DDR3 mem controlers, aswel as DDR2

 

[paradigm]

there'll be AM3-only features, but the AM3 CPU will still work in the AM2+ socket, just at a lower HT speed. (If I'm understanding it correctly)

Pretty much spot on