Why Does My Motherboard BIOS only Support Certain CPUs?

2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
Why Does my Gigabyte GA-M78SM-S2H motherboard only support certain Phenom II processors?

Here is the processor support list for my motherboard:

http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2817#anchor_os

I find it hard to believe that this motherboard will support a 125 Watt Phenom II 955 Quad-Core but not support the 95 Watt Phenom 810 Quad-Core or the Phenom II 720 Tri-Core. Is the Gigabyte list not complete? Can my motherboard support any of the 95 Watt Phenom II processors?
 
They only have one Phenom II AM3 listed as supported, the 945. The 955 has N/A. Kinda odd it would not support processors under that. Now I know with Gigabyte they take alot longer to update some boards bios then others. You could Email them and see if there is going to be one or if bios F3I supports other AM3s.
 
Well, I just asked Gigabyte the following question:

Is the CPU support list complete for the GA-M78SM-S2H motherboard on your website? I see with the F3I BIOS that the only Phenom II processor in the list that is supported is the 125 Watt Phenom II 945 [the Phenom II 940 and the Phenom II X4 920] processor. Are any of the following processors also supported with this motherboard using the F3I version BIOS:

Phenom II 810
Phenom II 720
Phenom II 710
Phenom II 705e
95 Watt Phenom II 945
Phenom II 550
Phenom II 545
Athlon II 250
Athlon II 240

Gigabytes response was:
If not listed or states N/A behind those processor on the support list is not supported


Major Bummer for me. I don't want to purchase a 125 Watt processor because I don't want to pay for the power bill (my current processor is only 65 Watt). So my options with Phenom II processors so far are only:
Phenom II 945
Phenom II 940
Phenom II 920
 
90% of people working customer support at Gigabyte Email/online are probably picked up standing on the corner every morning. Thats there one line quote. Its rare to get someone that really knows anything. Cheap Labor.

I would just keep a eye on there support list. With the new Athlon II X2/X4 that came out I would say there might be another update soon. And they might add other processors.
 
In your opinion StrangleHold would a Phenom II 720 Processor or a Phenom II 810 likely work with my motherboard? I just recently updated my BIOS to the F3I.
 
Well I see no physical reason it should not. If it will support the 945 125W I dont know why it would not support processors under that.

Three thing can happen
1. It just wont boot (pain in the ass)
2. It boots, but calls it a unknown processor. Runs fine but you might have to manually set the voltage to default.
3.Boots up, recognizes the processor and runs fine.

If you dont want to wait to see if they might update the support list. I would just make sure you have the extra money to get another board if it doesnt work out.
 
If AMD is going to be making the Phenom II 720 Tri-Core Processor for several more months then I can wait. I am in no hurry to upgrade but I would hate for AMD to quit making the 95 Watt Phenom II processors that work with my motherboard and miss out. This means my next upgrade would have to be a used processor or I would have to purchase a new motherboard and RAM.
 
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