need motherboard advice

**TehSpaz** · 09-23-09, 11:32 PM

So, I won a GTX260 TOP at quakecon last month, and I need a mobo to put it on...my current one has two capacitors that get in the way of the heatsink and won't let the card seat properly

currently, I have an Athlon 64 X2 4600+ CPU, and 3 1gig chips of DDR2 667 ram....also, I use 5.1 sound built into my mobo with my headsets.....so I either need the 5.1 built into the mobo, or I'll need to get a sound card.

I was thinking I should get a mobo that's socket AM2/AM2+/AM3 so I can upgrade my CPU later on...I'm too poor to do it now unless you find a SWEET deal...same thing with the RAM...can't really afford too much now.

Anybody have any recommendations? Cheap as possible is best....100 bucks is probably my limit, but I can squeeze out a few more if I pick up a few extra shifts this week.

**WileECyte** · 09-24-09, 06:46 AM

You won't be able to use an AM3 board with that CPU you have currently. A Socket AM2 Athlon will only work in an AM2/AM2+ board. Only Socket AM3 Athlons/Phenoms will work in both AM2+ or AM3 boards.

**Phyrelight** · 09-24-09, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by WileECyte

You won't be able to use an AM3 board with that CPU you have currently. A Socket AM2 Athlon will only work in an AM2/AM2+ board. Only Socket AM3 Athlons/Phenoms will work in both AM2+ or AM3 boards.

+1 wiley always beats me to the post. You will not see the full potential of that card in your current system.

**Mcstrange** · 09-24-09, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Phyrelight

Originally Posted by WileECyte

You won't be able to use an AM3 board with that CPU you have currently. A Socket AM2 Athlon will only work in an AM2/AM2+ board. Only Socket AM3 Athlons/Phenoms will work in both AM2+ or AM3 boards.

+1 wiley always beats me to the post. You will not see the full potential of that card in your current system.

hmm, news to me... I have an AMD 64 x2 5600 in an AM2/AM2+/AM3 socket motherboard right now in preparation to upgrade to a quad core something or other and it works just fine.

AMD is making a smart move going with the same pin configuration, makes life easier as you upgrade.

**TehSpaz** · 09-24-09, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Mcstrange

Originally Posted by Phyrelight

Originally Posted by WileECyte

You won't be able to use an AM3 board with that CPU you have currently. A Socket AM2 Athlon will only work in an AM2/AM2+ board. Only Socket AM3 Athlons/Phenoms will work in both AM2+ or AM3 boards.

+1 wiley always beats me to the post. You will not see the full potential of that card in your current system.

hmm, news to me... I have an AMD 64 x2 5600 in an AM2/AM2+/AM3 socket motherboard right now in preparation to upgrade to a quad core something or other and it works just fine.

AMD is making a smart move going with the same pin configuration, makes life easier as you upgrade.

this is what I was bankin my money on! awesome....this is my plan. use my shitty athlon X2 for a bit, then upgrade to the quads or something down the road....

next question...my ram is DDR2 clocked at 667........I don't think ANY motherboards use this slow of a speed on the ram......with a board that's suited for a faster Hz on the ram take my shitty 667 for now?

**WileECyte** · 09-24-09, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mcstrange

Originally Posted by Phyrelight

Originally Posted by WileECyte

You won't be able to use an AM3 board with that CPU you have currently. A Socket AM2 Athlon will only work in an AM2/AM2+ board. Only Socket AM3 Athlons/Phenoms will work in both AM2+ or AM3 boards.

+1 wiley always beats me to the post. You will not see the full potential of that card in your current system.

hmm, news to me... I have an AMD 64 x2 5600 in an AM2/AM2+/AM3 socket motherboard right now in preparation to upgrade to a quad core something or other and it works just fine.

AMD is making a smart move going with the same pin configuration, makes life easier as you upgrade.

Socket AM3 CPUs are backwards compatible with AM2+ boards. AM2 CPUs are NOT compatible with AM3 boards. AM3 = DDR3. There is not a DDR3 controller on AM2 based CPUs. The AM3 CPUs have BOTH DDR2 and DDR3 controllers on die, and thus they work on both AM2+ and AM3 boards. If you put a Socket AM2 Athlon like Spaz has in an AM3 board it WILL NOT work. DDR2 and DDR3 are totally different protocols when it comes to RAM and the CPU will not be able to talk to the DDR3 RAM that the AM3 platform uses.

Spaz,

If you're dead set on just replacing the motherboard, you can grab an AM2+ you can pick up either this board if you want an AMD chipset:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131330

or this if you want an nVidia chipset:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131318

You'd really be better off either going Socket AM3 if you're set on staying AMD or going Core i5/i7 if you're willing to invest the money.

**Mcstrange** · 09-24-09, 01:34 PM

Here is a whole slew of motherboards that will support both the current CPU and the AM3 CPUs in the future, and may very well support am4 with a bios update:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ue&Order=PRICE

What you are correct about, and what they will not support is DDR3 but that is due to the bridge chip and not the actual CPU socket.

This one looks like it would meet your needs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131381
asus shows it will support the x2 4600 and the 667 ram

**TehSpaz** · 09-24-09, 01:41 PM

alright, for sake of upgradeability....gonna upgrade RAM with the board...

are you saying that my AM2 CPU won't support DDR3?

**Mcstrange** · 09-24-09, 01:52 PM

Correct, you cannot use DDR3 RAM with the CPU you have now. If you want to go to DDR3 you will have to get a new mo-bo, CPU, and RAM.

**TehSpaz** · 09-24-09, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mcstrange

Correct, you cannot use DDR3 RAM with the CPU you have now. If you want to go to DDR3 you will have to get a new mo-bo, CPU, and RAM.

gayness....can't afford to upgrade all 3. So, by buying a mobo that'll support my CPU, I'm buying technology with a foot already in the grave.....

what suggestions do y'all have?