Want to build my first AMD based computer

Oh, I hope this is the right place.

I want to build an inexpensive but not junk computer. AMD was suggested to me and it sounds good but I have no source of information except from you folks.

Could you help me find an inexpensive motherboard for this CPU? On board audio and video would be ideal and USB 3.0 and maximum of 8Gb of memory is a must. What confuses me is that the CPU calls itself AM3 but when I do a search I only find AM3+. I'm not a computer dummy but I'm not up on AMD.

Here's the CPU:

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX

I should have the money after Christmas so I'm anxious to get started.

Thanks for helping.

King Arthur said:

I'm not up to par with AMD myself, but as far as I know AM3 and AM3+ refer to the CPU sockets like LGA1155 and LGA2011 for Intel CPUs.

Well, thanks, King Arthur. So the two are different. Well, now I'm really confused because I don't seem to be able to find a motherboard for this CPU?

Strange.

King Arthur said:

Socket AM3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wikipedia article suggests that AM3+ motherboards will support AM3 CPUs, though I'd wait to hear from someone who actually has experience with AMD CPUs; I'm only going on documentation here so I could be wrong for all we know!

Meanwhile I also found some AM3 motherboards over on Newegg (Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Motherboards, AMD Motherboards, AM3), but I am left clueless as to how reliable they are.

Thanks for the reply.

So, I am nowhere. I too, am clueless.

I have built many AMD based systems and in fact all of them until my most recent system are AMD. Bang for buck at the moment I like ASRock but have to admit that all the rest have been MSI mobo's. Right now AMD is blowing out the 1st generation 8150 8 core and that's what I would suggest, the rig you build will be a freak'n monster as is my 8120 rig that OC's to 4.7 and runs like a scalded ape!

am3 chips usually work in an am3+ board.

The main way of going about checking this is to find an AMD motherboard that you like and check online.

Example:my last AMD build I used an FX processor that takes AM3+ but it has support for a long list of cpu's

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

first from newegg, I copied the brand name and model and search google.

Then went to Gigabytes page. GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-990FXA-UD3 (rev. 1.0)

Here you can find more info than on newegg. On this page, there is usually a CPU support list and a supported Ram List

this will list all of the supported hardware and what bios version is needed.

GA-990FXA-UD3 (rev. 1.0) CPU List


Some boards that were AM3 have bios updates to support AM3+ chips. The actual pin layout is the same though so AM3 and AM3+ chips fit.

I went with the FX-6200 6-core processor and it is awesome.

Things to take into consideration when picking out motherboard:

Are you going to be using a dedicated graphics card or do you want integrated graphics. boards without integrated graphics will require a graphics card.

Are you planning on using multiple graphics cards. some boards don't support SLI or Crossfire...

Are you planning on overclocking. some boards are better than others for overclocking offering easy bios overclocking settings and multiple bios to revert changes easily.

Something like this:

MSI 970A-G46 AMD 9 Series Motherboard - ATX, Socket AM3+, AMD 970 Chipset, 2133MHz DDR3 (O.C.), SATA III (6Gbs), RAID, 8-CH Audio, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.0, SLICrossFireX Ready at TigerDirect

An AM3 processor will run in an AM3+ socket, the reverse will not work. Quite a few mobos with AM3 sockets fit AM2 and AM2+ processors as well. As long as your CPU is in the mobo's CPU supported list anyway. If you find your processor, it will run in it.

AMD is a bit crappy nowadays though. Why you want to build an AMD computer?

Asrock is a good brand even if it makes cheap stuff. Better than Biostar, and wildly better than Foxconn.

THis board for example. It has funky LEGO-like colors and supports even AM2 and AM2+ cpus. It is also one of the few with a decent integrated graphics, the HD 4200 ("decent" being a very relative term, it is a entry level DX 10 SM 4 card, will display Aero and play HD movies but not much more).
There are even drivers for Win 7 for it.

Here is another, with HDMI and sata 6 gbps (sata III) and an integrated graphics with higher clock.

EDIT: woops, just noticed that you wanted USB 3.0 as well. Have a look at the first one though, it's fun to look at.