AM2, AM2+, and AM3

**bomberboysk** · 08-02-2009, 10:01 PM

There seems to be quite alot of people recently asking questions about the differences between am2, am2+, and am3, what works with what, etc.
CPU Sockets:

Socket AM2:
Hypertransport 2.0 (1Ghz)
Socket is 940 pins and will fit in AM2, and AM2+ Sockets
Supports Dual Channel DDR2 Memory

Socket AM2+:
Hypertransport 3.0 (2.6Ghz Max)
Socket is 940 pins, Will work with both AM2+ and AM2 Sockets.
Socket AM2+ cpu's will work in AM2 motherboards depending upon bios revision and chipset.
Supports Dual Channel DDR2 Memory

Socket AM3:
Hypertransport 3.0 (2.6Ghz Max)
Future AM3 Motherboards will support up to 3.2Ghz with Hypertransport 3.1
Socket is 941 pins, Will only fit AM3 Cpu's in an AM3 motherboard.
AM3 Cpu's are backward compatible with AM2 and AM2+ motherboards, depending on chipset and bios revisions.
Supports Dual Channel DDR2 when run on AM2/AM2+ Motherboards.
Supports Dual Channel DDR3 when run on AM3 Motherboards.
_______________

AMD CHIPSETS:

AMD 790 Chipset Variants:
790FX:
x16,x16 Crossfire | x16, x16, x8 Triple Crossfire | x8, x8, x8, x8 Quad Crossfire
65nm Process

790X:
x8,x8 Crossfire
65nm Process

790GX:
x8,x8 Crossfire| Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay)
55nm Process
HD3200 Onboard Graphics

AMD 785G:
x16, x4 Crossfire |or x8, x8 Crossfire Depending on motherboard| Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay)
55nm Process
HD4200 Onboard Graphics

AMD 780 Chipset Variants:

780G:
x16,x8 crossfire on select motherboards | Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay)
55nm Process
HD3200 Onboard Graphics (128mb Sideport Memory select motherboards)

780V:
No Crossfire
55nm Process
Radeon 3100 Onboard Graphics

AMD 770:
No Official Crossfire Compatibility | x16, x4 Crossfire on Select Motherboards|
65nm Process

AMD 760G:
Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay)
55nm Process
Radeon HD 3000 Onboard Graphics

AMD 740G:
No Crossfire
55nm Process
Radeon 2100 Onboard Graphics
_______________
Nvidia Chipsets:

Nvidia nForce 980a
Rebadged 780a with AM3/DDR3 Motherboard support
x16,x16 SLI| x8,x8,x8 Triple SLI| Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power)
Current Motherboards DDR2|Chipset Supports DDR3/AM3
65nm Process
Geforce 8200 Onboard Graphics

Nvidia nForce 780a:
x16, x16 SLI| x16, x8, x8 Triple SLI| Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power)
65nm Process
Geforce 8200 Onboard Graphics

Nvidia nForce 750a:
x8, x8 SLI | Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power)
65nm Process
GeForce 8200 Onboard Graphics

Nvidia Nforce 730a:
Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power)
65nm Process
GeForce 8300 Onboard Graphics

Nvidia nForce 720a:
Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power)
65nm Process
GeForce 8200 Onboard Graphics
_______________
CPU's by Socket:

AM2+:
All Original(65nm) Phenoms(Agena, Kuma, Toliman)
Phenom II X4 920
Phenom II X4 940

AM3:
Athlon II X2 240 2.8Ghz
Athlon II X2 245 2.9Ghz
Athlon II X2 250 3.0Ghz
Phenom II X2 545 3.0Ghz
Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition 3.1Ghz
Phenom II X3 705e 2.5Ghz
Phenom II X3 710 2.6Ghz
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition 2.8Ghz
Phenom II X4 810 2.6Ghz
Phenom II X4 905e 2.5Ghz
Phenom II X4 945 3.0Ghz
Phenom II X4 955 3.2Ghz
Phenom II X4 965 3.4Ghz
______________
Notes:

- AMD Chipsets tend to have higher backward compatibility with newer processors

- Nvidia Chipsets Support SLI, While AMD Chipsets Support Crossfire

- Generally speaking, Socket AM3 will provide longer future compatibility over socket AM2+

2048Megabytes · 08-03-2009, 04:59 AM

Thanks for putting the list together. I'm going to copy it for future reference.

**bomberboysk** · 08-03-2009, 08:34 AM

Updated with 790 Chipset differences. Other chipsets will be added soon

BigSteve702 · 08-03-2009, 10:40 AM

so you're telling me i can put a phenom 2 in my am2+ m3n78-vm motherboard? and i can keep my ddr2 ram?

StrangleHold · 08-03-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSteve702

so you're telling me i can put a phenom 2 in my am2+ m3n78-vm motherboard? and i can keep my ddr2 ram?

Yes, with the right bios update.
http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=ovqEgLFRjnSClhSV

Vizy · 08-03-2009, 10:43 AM

wow, thanks bro

!

Great job

Ethan3.14159 · 08-04-2009, 01:46 AM

An update for the Nvidia chipsets would be nice. Some of us have them you know.

**bomberboysk** · 08-04-2009, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan3.14159

An update for the Nvidia chipsets would be nice. Some of us have them you know.

Im slowly adding the chipsets

(AMD first of course)

StrangleHold · 08-04-2009, 02:48 AM

Intel and AMD are killing Nvidia in Chipsets. Both now making there own Processor and chipset, before long they are going to choke out Nvidia in the chipset dept. I would say in time Nvidia will let SLI run on a AMD chipset, especially since Intel is coming out with there own stand alone GPU or Nvidia will risk there GPU sales start to decline. Nvidia was more worried about AMD taking over ATI then they ever admitted. Now with a stand alone Intel GPU (if it truns out any good) has a double threat.

Stildawn · 08-04-2009, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Intel GPU (if it truns out any good)

Whats this??? Are Intel going to enter the GPU market?

08-02-2009, 10:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
bomberboysk Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northeast Ohio, But mainly infront of computer Age: 16 Posts: 8,126	AM2, AM2+, and AM3 There seems to be quite alot of people recently asking questions about the differences between am2, am2+, and am3, what works with what, etc. CPU Sockets: Socket AM2: Hypertransport 2.0 (1Ghz) Socket is 940 pins and will fit in AM2, and AM2+ Sockets Supports Dual Channel DDR2 Memory Socket AM2+: Hypertransport 3.0 (2.6Ghz Max) Socket is 940 pins, Will work with both AM2+ and AM2 Sockets. Socket AM2+ cpu's will work in AM2 motherboards depending upon bios revision and chipset. Supports Dual Channel DDR2 Memory Socket AM3: Hypertransport 3.0 (2.6Ghz Max) Future AM3 Motherboards will support up to 3.2Ghz with Hypertransport 3.1 Socket is 941 pins, Will only fit AM3 Cpu's in an AM3 motherboard. AM3 Cpu's are backward compatible with AM2 and AM2+ motherboards, depending on chipset and bios revisions. Supports Dual Channel DDR2 when run on AM2/AM2+ Motherboards. Supports Dual Channel DDR3 when run on AM3 Motherboards. _______________ AMD CHIPSETS: AMD 790 Chipset Variants: 790FX: x16,x16 Crossfire \| x16, x16, x8 Triple Crossfire \| x8, x8, x8, x8 Quad Crossfire 65nm Process 790X: x8,x8 Crossfire 65nm Process 790GX: x8,x8 Crossfire\| Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay) 55nm Process HD3200 Onboard Graphics AMD 785G: x16, x4 Crossfire \|or x8, x8 Crossfire Depending on motherboard\| Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay) 55nm Process HD4200 Onboard Graphics AMD 780 Chipset Variants: 780G: x16,x8 crossfire on select motherboards \| Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay) 55nm Process HD3200 Onboard Graphics (128mb Sideport Memory select motherboards) 780V: No Crossfire 55nm Process Radeon 3100 Onboard Graphics AMD 770: No Official Crossfire Compatibility \| x16, x4 Crossfire on Select Motherboards\| 65nm Process AMD 760G: Hybrid Crossfire X(ATI Hybrid Graphics, ATI Powerplay) 55nm Process Radeon HD 3000 Onboard Graphics AMD 740G: No Crossfire 55nm Process Radeon 2100 Onboard Graphics _______________ Nvidia Chipsets: Nvidia nForce 980a Rebadged 780a with AM3/DDR3 Motherboard support x16,x16 SLI\| x8,x8,x8 Triple SLI\| Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power) Current Motherboards DDR2\|Chipset Supports DDR3/AM3 65nm Process Geforce 8200 Onboard Graphics Nvidia nForce 780a: x16, x16 SLI\| x16, x8, x8 Triple SLI\| Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power) 65nm Process Geforce 8200 Onboard Graphics Nvidia nForce 750a: x8, x8 SLI \| Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power) 65nm Process GeForce 8200 Onboard Graphics Nvidia Nforce 730a: Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power) 65nm Process GeForce 8300 Onboard Graphics Nvidia nForce 720a: Hybrid SLI(GeForce Boost,Hybrid Power) 65nm Process GeForce 8200 Onboard Graphics _______________ CPU's by Socket: AM2+: All Original(65nm) Phenoms(Agena, Kuma, Toliman) Phenom II X4 920 Phenom II X4 940 *AM3:* Athlon II X2 240 2.8Ghz Athlon II X2 245 2.9Ghz Athlon II X2 250 3.0Ghz Phenom II X2 545 3.0Ghz Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition 3.1Ghz Phenom II X3 705e 2.5Ghz Phenom II X3 710 2.6Ghz Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition 2.8Ghz Phenom II X4 810 2.6Ghz Phenom II X4 905e 2.5Ghz Phenom II X4 945 3.0Ghz Phenom II X4 955 3.2Ghz Phenom II X4 965 3.4Ghz ______________ *Notes:* - AMD Chipsets tend to have higher backward compatibility with newer processors - Nvidia Chipsets Support SLI, While AMD Chipsets Support Crossfire - Generally speaking, Socket AM3 will provide longer future compatibility over socket AM2+ __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 @ 3.90Ghz Custom Water Loop \| Mobo: EVGA 790i Ultra SLI \| GPU: 9800gtx and GTS250 in SLI\| Ram: 4GB(2 x 2gb) 1333Mhz ddr3 \| Case: Xclio WTBKAdvanced \| Sound: X-fi Fatal1ty Championship, Z-5500 5.1 Surround\| HDD: 2x Raid 0 7200.11 500gb \| PSU: Zalman ZM-1000HP \|OS: Windows 7 Enterprise x64\| Dont skimp on a power supply,if it fails, it usually takes out other components alongside it. New? Dont forget to read the rules. Heatware P.M. If interested in Shin Etsu X23-7783D Last edited by bomberboysk; 08-25-2009 at 09:13 AM.

08-03-2009, 04:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
2048Megabytes Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mainland United States Posts: 2,297	Thanks for putting the list together. I'm going to copy it for future reference. __________________ "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." -- Benjamin Franklin Operating Systems: Linux Ubuntu 9.04 and Windows Vista Power Supply: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS Video Card: MSI R3650-T2D512 OC Radeon HD 3650 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H Memory: Super Talent PC2-6400 2 gigabytes Processor: Phenom 9550 Quad-Core (2.2 gigahertz)

08-03-2009, 08:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
bomberboysk Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northeast Ohio, But mainly infront of computer Age: 16 Posts: 8,126	Updated with 790 Chipset differences. Other chipsets will be added soon __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 @ 3.90Ghz Custom Water Loop \| Mobo: EVGA 790i Ultra SLI \| GPU: 9800gtx and GTS250 in SLI\| Ram: 4GB(2 x 2gb) 1333Mhz ddr3 \| Case: Xclio WTBKAdvanced \| Sound: X-fi Fatal1ty Championship, Z-5500 5.1 Surround\| HDD: 2x Raid 0 7200.11 500gb \| PSU: Zalman ZM-1000HP \|OS: Windows 7 Enterprise x64\| Dont skimp on a power supply,if it fails, it usually takes out other components alongside it. New? Dont forget to read the rules. Heatware P.M. If interested in Shin Etsu X23-7783D

08-03-2009, 10:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
BigSteve702 Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Age: 19 Posts: 206	so you're telling me i can put a phenom 2 in my am2+ m3n78-vm motherboard? and i can keep my ddr2 ram? __________________ CoolerMaster Storm Scout Asus M3n78-VM AMD Phenom 2 x4 920 @ 3.55(coolermaster v8) PNY GTX 275 (730 mhz) 4gb crucial ddr2 875 mhz 2 Seagate Barracuda 200gb in raid-0 1 Hitachi 1TB media drive Corsair 750w psu Bluray drive! woooo!

08-04-2009, 01:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ethan3.14159 Diamond Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Age: 19 Posts: 1,694	An update for the Nvidia chipsets would be nice. Some of us have them you know. __________________ CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9950 BE MB: Asus M3N-HT 780a RAM: 4GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 800 GPU: XFX GTX 260 55nm PSU: Silverstone DA650 650 watt HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200.12 Case: Cooler Master CM 690 Pure Black Edition (1 of only 300) OS: Windows 7 Ultimate Other: Logitech G15, Microsoft Sidewinder, Logitech X-230 PM me for a Lockerz.com invite Folding for the good of mankind: Team 44358

08-03-2009, 10:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Vizy banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,896	wow, thanks bro ! Great job

08-04-2009, 02:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
StrangleHold VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11,198	Intel and AMD are killing Nvidia in Chipsets. Both now making there own Processor and chipset, before long they are going to choke out Nvidia in the chipset dept. I would say in time Nvidia will let SLI run on a AMD chipset, especially since Intel is coming out with there own stand alone GPU or Nvidia will risk there GPU sales start to decline. Nvidia was more worried about AMD taking over ATI then they ever admitted. Now with a stand alone Intel GPU (if it truns out any good) has a double threat. __________________ NZXT Apollo S75QB 750W ZEROtherm FZ120 Phenom II 720BE (X4) 3.5GHZ. Gigabyte GA MA790X UD4P G Skill DDR2 1066 4GB. MSI GTS 250 Seagate 7200.12 500GB. Welcome to the show Last edited by StrangleHold; 08-04-2009 at 02:58 AM.

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