First AMD AM3+ Bulldozer Motherboards Get Listed in Europe ( ... )

[Wallonn7]

After the first AM3+ motherboards got listed in Japan, it's now time for Europe to get these boards as well, as two such models have become available in Germany from various online retailers with prices starting just below the 76€ mark.

Read more at First AMD AM3 Bulldozer Motherboards Get Listed in Europe Starting at 76€ - Softpedia

 

[essenbe]

Another article I was not aware of. Asus says the AMD Zambezi CPUs can run on some of their current AM3 Motherboards with a simple bios update. ASUS First to Provide AM3+ CPU Ready Solution for
Current AM3 and Future AM3+ Motherboards

 

[1foxracing]

Newegg has them for sale in the U.S. already
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-870A-USB3 AM3+ AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

 

[essenbe]

How about that. I checked early this morning and they had none listed. I guess it brings up another question. Why would they be selling AM3+ Motherboards when there will be no CPUs until June-if they are on schedule this time.

Another question. If you look at the details of the Newegg link you posted it states that it supports 1066/1333/and 2000(OC) for ram. It was my understanding that the new AMD chips were going to have built in support for 1866. Will there be 2 types of boards like SandyBridge?

 

[stormy13]

Why would they be selling AM3+ Motherboards when there will be no CPUs until June-if they are on schedule this time.

Makes for an easy incremental upgrade for anyone with an AM3 CPU now and looking at a 8xx series board. Then when the time comes it is just a swap and drop when Bulldozer does come out.

Also for anyone that does go looking for one, make sure it has the black AM3+ socket on the board and not the white AM3 socket.

 

[1foxracing]

Also for anyone that does go looking for one, make sure it has the black AM3+ socket on the board and not the white AM3 socket.

Why is that? I'm thinking of purchasing 1 of these.

 

[essenbe]

I was thinking the same thing. I just wanted to see some real reviews first. Stormy13 obviously knows more about these chips and boards than me. It may be a case similar to SandyBridge with the H67 and P67 boards.

EDIT: after rereading Stormy13's post he made the distinction of black AM3+ and white AM3.

 

[stormy13]

To differentiate between the two, that and there is different pin counts between AM3 and AM3+ (one more pin on AM3+),



An AM3+ CPU won't work in an AM3 socket, but an AM3 CPU will work in an AM3+ socket.

 

[essenbe]

The link to Newegg that was given has the white socket, but is supposedly AM3+

 

[stormy13]

Looks like Newegg has a picture up for the revision 3.0 board which has the AM3 socket,

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3 - GA-870A-USB3 (rev. 3.0)

yet if you click on the "manufacturer's link" on Newegg it takes you to the revision 3.1 board,

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-870A-USB3 (rev. 3.1)

which does have the AM3+ socket on it.

Looks like this could be a case of having to confirm with the retailer which revision of the board they have.

P.S. For what it's worth I'm pretty sure that when I saw that link yesterday it was the board with the black socket on Newegg.

 

[DarkXeno]

Now this gives me something new to think about. I have been planning on building a new machine was going to go with a MSI 870A-G54 and a Phenom X6, but with these starting to pop up, I might just hold of another month or two and get a AM3+ board with the same chip so down the road I can swap out and get the added features of the Bulldozer cores.

 

[essenbe]

Stormy, Yesterday the Newegg link only said picture coming soon.
What do you know about the new chips. I've not been able to find any real info. I did find one link that talked about an AMD taped demo of tests vs. the i7, but the reviewer said it was only 3 (I think) tests which were the type tests that were weighted to favor the AMD chips because the tests were ones that favored the most cores. Other than that I haven't been able to find very much info except graphics that show the arcitecture of the chips. Do you have any info of the performance? I was going to build a SandyBridge system but wanted to see what the new Bulldozer chips were like.

 

[1foxracing]

EDIT: after rereading Stormy13's post he made the distinction of black AM3+ and white AM3.

Duh Anyway I ordered 1 and hopefully it shows up with the black socket. Looks like I'll have to order a new copy of 7 Pro as well, my original install is the OEM version.

 

[essenbe]

Good luck with it. Keep us posted. Windows 7 Pro builders Pack is on sale this weekend, 129.99 with promo code EMCYTZT371. Not a big discount but every little bit counts. Keep us posted about your results.

eblast deals

 

[Phone Man]

Another article I was not aware of. Asus says the AMD Zambezi CPUs can run on some of their current AM3 Motherboards with a simple bios update. ASUS First to Provide AM3+ CPU Ready Solution for
Current AM3 and Future AM3+ Motherboards

I wonder how they do that as the AM3+ has an extra pin that is blocked on the AM3 socket. I know they are using the same chip sets but how do you phisically install the extra pin in a blocked hole. I also wonder what the extra pin is used for.

Jim

 

[essenbe]

Phone Man, that was my question also. I don't remember where, but I read that some AM3 boards can run the Bulldozer chip, but with limited functionality. It didn't say what that 'limited functionality' was though.

 

[Phone Man]

Phone Man, that was my question also. I don't remember where, but I read that some AM3 boards can run the Bulldozer chip, but with limited functionality. It didn't say what that 'limited functionality' was though.

I did find that link you posted in post#2 at the ASUS site but it was't clear how they do it. I am waiting for a new chip set that has stuff like full 6bps SATA, USB3.0 on chip support and especially PCIe-3.0. If I was upgrading now I would go with the AMD3+ socket and use my Phenom II x4 untill the Buldozer is released, but for now I will wait to see how things work out.

Jim

 

[essenbe]

I've been waiting to see some 'real world' performance tests on Bulldozer. I have been wanting to build a new rig but would like to see how it compares to SandyBridge. I haven't been able to find any info yet other than what AMD has put out. But, sorry to say, I'm not a very trusting soul. I've been had before.

 

[Phone Man]

I found the answer. According to the following article the new Bulldozer CPU's do not have the extra pin so it will fit in the AM3 socket. I think the AM3+ require higher electrical specs so that is why only certain chipsets will be able to run with the Bulldozer.

Google Översätt

Jim

 

[Rhammstein]

I'm hoping to build right away, when the 8000 series Zambezi ships, if so I'll post all about it. This will be my first true enthusiast build, since in the past I've usually waited an extra cycle to save money. My HP rig will probably go for sale soon after for pretty cheap, I may post here if no friends/family take it.