AM2 CPU in a AM3 motherboard

Wavey

Evening all,

I need to replace a motherboard that is running an AM2 CPU.
I have read that AM3 socket boards are backwards compatible.
On Komplett some motherboards are described as AM3 while others are described as AM3/AM2+ compatible.
This makes it seem like not all AM3 boards will accept an AM2 CPU.
Is this the case?

I thought I may aswell replace the the motherboard with an AM3 socket board as the prce difference is little or nothing.

Thanks,

Wavey.

marco_polo

You can use an AM2 or an AM2+ motherboard with your AM2 processor but not an AM3 motherboard.

AM3 motherboards require a processor with an integrated DDR3 controller which only AM3 processors have, so even AM2+ chips cannot work on these boards.

Short wiki description of AM2+ here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM2%2B

Wavey

Thanks Marco,

I'm glad I asked the question now.

Would this board work with my AM2 (not plus) CPU?

Thanks,

Wavey

marco_polo

Wavey wrote: »

Thanks Marco,

I'm glad I asked the question now.

Would this board work with my AM2 (not plus) CPU?

Thanks,

Wavey

It should, I have no idea why AM3 is mentioned in the description as it is purely an AM2+ board. (Obviously an AM3 chip will work with it, but that does not make it an AM3 board )

Just make sure that your CPU is on this list, I expect it will be. (Lots of scrolling required for the AM2 CPU list)