Squilliam said: Slimebeast said: Squilliam said: Slimebeast said: Which CPU could I put in my MOBO: Gigabyte GA-MA770-DS3,AMD 770, DDR2, ATX ,Socket-AM2+, Check which revision board you have: http://www.gigabyte.co.nz/Support/Motherboard/FAQ_List.aspx?FAQID=2234 Then if its Rev 1: http://www.gigabyte.co.nz/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_List.aspx?ProductID=2722 Or Rev 2: http://www.gigabyte.co.nz/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_List.aspx?ProductID=2874 Essentially if it has Fx or FXX by the processor its supported after a certain revision. If it says N/A then its no supported. This is the far right hand side where you're looking. This is complicated. I found out i have Rev 2. It says:  CPU Support List Fx = Since BIOS Version   OK = Test OK!   N/A = Not support   "-" = Under Testing Socket AM2+ Motherboard Model GA-MA770-DS3(rev. 2.0) PCB 2.0 Vender Model Frequency L2 Cache L3 Cache Core Name Process Stepping Wattage System Bus(MT/s) 5200 AMD Phenom II X4 940 3000MHz 512KBx4 6MB Deneb 45nm C2 125W 3600 FB AMD Phenom II X4 920 2800MHz 512KBx4 6MB Deneb 45nm C2 125W 3600 FB AMD Phenom X4 9950 2600MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 140W 4000 - AMD Phenom X4 9950 2600MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 125W 4000 - AMD Phenom X4 9850 2500MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 125W 4000 FA AMD Phenom X4 9850 2500MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 4000 FB AMD Phenom X4 9750 2400MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 125W 3600 FA AMD Phenom X4 9750 2400MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 3600 FA AMD Phenom X4 9650 2300MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 3600 FA AMD Phenom X4 9600 2300MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B2 95W 3600 FA AMD Phenom X4 9550 2200MHz 512KBx4 2MB Agena 65nm B3 95W 3600 FA But nowhere do I find "Fx" or "FXX" whatever that means. Is it the FA's and FB's? Those Bios versions? Can I put a Phenom II in there? Not that I can get hold of a Phenom II X4 940 or 920 since they are out of print... Fx where x = any number or character. Sorry I didn't clarify that. That means that if you update to the latest bios you can upgrade to any of the listed CPUs. My internet is playing up so I can't reload that page but from what I recall there are a bunch of models and pretty much every single Phenom II is supported and I even saw support for the Phenom II X6 as well. Just scroll down the page and you'll see them all.

Well yeah maybe there was more Phenom II's but they weren't listed in the "AM2+" column, they were listed in the AM3 column.

I can't get up the page either at the moment cos it's in NZ or something.

But let's say they would fit into my AM2+ mobo, what drawbacks would that have for say a Phenom II X4 955. Would the CPU be constrained by something, run at a lower bus speed or something? And does the memory speed matter with Phenom II's since I only have DDR2 6400 RAMs?

I think Squill went to bed. It must be late in NZ.

Soleron, your input?

That's how the list looks under the AM3 column. So these would work with my AM2+ mobo? (GA-MA770-DS3(rev. 2.0)). Except the ones in green.

But, how much would the performance be constrained? Cos of bus speed and stuff. With DDR2 RAM in the system.

Assuming you have the exact motherboard the page you linked to suggested, then all AM2+ and AM3 CPUs should work. All Phenom IIs.

The bus speed would be slightly lower, yes, but that would have no noticeable effect. The memory speed would have at most a 5% effect, but probably not noticeable either.

Do you actually need a new CPU, though? Are you finding programs slow, and do you know it's the CPU at fault?

EDIT: what ones in green? Page won't load for me.

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@haxxiy/dobby985

Because Intel used illegal deals with OEMs to exclude AMD for years, constraining their ability to compete. AMD had better processors (cooler, faster and cheaper) for most of 2000 - 2006, yet their market share did not increase, while Intel's demonstrably inferior Pentium 4s gained huge sales. Because of the deals.

If AMD had gained the revenue they legally deserved, they could have developed better CPUs (they have 1/10 of the R&D staff of Intel, how can you expect them to be better with that?), they could have had more fab capacity when they were constrained, they could have reached 65nm or 45nm or 32nm sooner (they are a year behind Intel on process tech because they can't afford it). They would probably be competing effectively.

If it was a level playing field, there would be no point 'supporting' one company over the other.

The green ones. Awkward. They're hidden. Two CPUs are hidden, but show up when you copy paste on that page. They were:

Phenom II X4 965  3400MHz 125W     -
Phenom II X4 965  3400MHz 140W     -

And the little "-" marks that they aren't supported I assume.


Most programs aren't slow but in some games like Bad Company 2 and others who like CPU power I feel it. I get only 25fps in Bad Company 2 (1920x1200 and 2xAA). 

I'd like to have a Phenom II X4 to be able to support a Radeon HD 5870 or something. My current CPU is an Athlon X2 6000+ with a Radeon 4850 GPU.

AMD is the best for the price by far. Intel is better in performance.
Desktops - AMD
Laptops - Intel

AMD ftw.

No sense paying the Intel tax to be locked into a dead platform.

I have always stuck with Intel, but One thing I have always thought to be strange is why MS that owns Intel has a IBM processor in there xbox 360, I think that is strange, you would think they would put there own processor in there console.

I have a Intel Pentium Duel core Processor in my Labtop with 4 gigs of ram, and I love it, The Labtop runs smoking fast, I can have tons of different apps going at the same time , and it will not slow down, So I can't complain, I am not saying its the very best out there because I am sure there are better Labtops, but this machine works very well, I was at Best Buy talking with the Geek Squad people and asked what Labtop they carried that was the best for everything, gaming, work, just everything, they had a Sony Vio, with the cell processor, same as PS3, with 6 gigs of ram, The top of the line Nvidea graphics card, and it was only 1300 bucks, I may buy it. Wow the cell processor in it, now thats cool.

You might be right, but this is a special case. Intel has been known to use some pretty shady tactics against AMD in the past, which has left a sour taste in my mouth. That said Intel doesn't kill baby seals, or preform backalley abortions, so I think people should look at it mostly from a value perspective.

Yeah, I would suggest either a Phenom X4 955 or 945. Probably the latter as its got a 95W TDP so ought to be more power efficient and should give longer life to you motherboard components as they won't get as hot.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2874&dl=1#bios

Choose the FDD bios.

Also download this:

http://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/121/tech_a_bios.htm

That will allow you to flash your motherboard in windows.

Microsoft does not own Intel.

They used an ancient Intel Celeron derivative for the first Xbox, and chose IBM for the 360. Due to cost or power consumption or supply consistency or something Intel did wrong last time. Just a business decision though, not political.

I think you are seriously misinformed on laptops. Geek Squad don't know anything and will sell you rubbish for high prices. Pentium dual-core CPUs are not even midrange. Laptops do NOT have a Cell processor like the PS3 (unless it's a Toshiba SpursEngine, which is a special coprocessor and not common) and the amount of RAM does not determine performance. On a laptop, 2GB will be enough and 6GB is a waste. When you say "top of the line" graphics, I'll bet it's a 9200M and really slow. Do you know the model number of the GPU?

Actually, just post the full spec of the laptop and I'll tell you if it's worth $1300. I bet it won't be.