Phenom II on am2+ Mobo

stevepoolstock · 30 Jul 2010

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a processor to replace my current Athlon X2 6000+. The latest BIOS update(5001) for my motherboard, an ASUS M2A-VM (non-HDMI), offers support for am3 CPUs.

Now I know that the am3 Phenom II X4 945 is supported as well as am2+ Phenom II processors, like the 920/940.

My question is: will the 955 work on my mobo? I've seen some tests in which the 955 works, but runs at 800mHz. However these were all done before the release of the 5001 BIOS, which is the first BIOS update that offers official support for am3 processors.

Thanks!

stormy13 · 30 Jul 2010

Probably not as there isn't a single CPU in the supported list,

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - M2A-VM

that is over 95W, and the 955 is a 125W CPU,

http://products.amd.com/en-us/Deskto...?id=619&id=682

stevepoolstock · 30 Jul 2010

Here are the supported CPUs, including Phenom II: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

Currently I'm using the Athlon X2 6000+, which is 125w, so that's shouldn't be the problem.

Thanks for the quick reply.

stormy13 · 30 Jul 2010

Then the best anyone can say is maybe, unless someone has the same board and tried the same CPU on it. At best it will be detected and work fine, at worst it won't be detected as a 955 but should still work fine.

stevepoolstock · 30 Jul 2010

Ok, I guess I'll just have to buy a 955 and if it doesn't work I'll return it to the store and swap it for the 945.

I will post my findings.

Feel free to keep sharing ideas and experiences here.

PooMan UK · 30 Jul 2010

Personally I'd wait a bit and save up for a new MB and CPU .... A Descent MB isn't so expensive nowadays whilst CPU's are still a bit on the pricey side

Mellon Head · 30 Jul 2010

Be careful which stepping version of 955 you get. I picked up an ASUS M4A78 PRO to go with my new 955. It was C3 stepping, and the board didn't support it, and it ran at 800 MHz even though it said it supported the 955.

I gave up and took it back and picked up a new AM3 board (M4A79XTD EVO) and there was no screwing around. With the DDR3 the performance is quite a lot better and everything just works.

As mentioned, it really isn't worth sticking a 955 into that old board. Better to save and get a new AM3 board IMO.

bassfisher6522 · 30 Jul 2010

Hey RS, I'll take your old CPU off your hands....I have the exact same CPU but different Asus mobo. It will work just fine on my old mobo. Let me know we'll work something out.

stevepoolstock · 31 Jul 2010

Ok, I'm considering buying a new mobo, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on just a mobo. Does anyone know any good, inexpensive boards. The one Mellon Head named isn't expensive, but it's more than I'd like to spend.

Memory isn't a problem, enough to choose from.

Mellon Head · 31 Jul 2010

RobinSchouten said:

Ok, I'm considering buying a new mobo, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on just a mobo. Does anyone know any good, inexpensive boards. The one Mellon Head named isn't expensive, but it's more than I'd like to spend.

Memory isn't a problem, enough to choose from.

A friend has this one and he likes it:

Newegg.ca - ASUS M4A77T/USB3 AM3 AMD 770 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

This is also a fairly good buy:

Newegg.ca - ASUS M4A88T-M AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

My wife has one of these and it's just unreal how good it is for almost no money:

Newegg.ca - ASRock N68-S UCC AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

And this is the DDR3 version of her board:

Newegg.ca - ASRock N68C-S UCC AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

I was really impressed with my wife's board. For a budget board, it's really solid. The trick is, you would need to buy a 95 Watt 955 to use in that one. I've heard that there is one that's just come out.