AM2+ AM3 compatibility/performance

[k.stck]

I'm looking to squeeze a little more life out of my old computer while I save some real money for a whole new gaming build. I have an am2+ mobo, looking at possible am3 cpu's or best possible upgrade for cheap. I know am3 is compatible with am2+ in most cases, and from what I've found on line there are a number of compatible am3 cpu's available.

 

What are the best options for upgrading for most performance, Stick with am2+ or move to am3? What kind of performance can one expect from running an am3 in an am2+ socket? Lastly what does it take to run an am3 in an am2+ socket, is it plug and play or is some bios or other work required?

 

Thanks!

 

Current build:

MSI 785GTM-E45

CPU AMD Athlon 7850 Dual-Core

Ram 8GB DDR2 800 PC2-6400.

GPU MSI GeForce GT 730 DDR3 4GB

 

The ram and GPU are recent upgrades, got the GPU free and the ram here: http://ebay.to/2yCzw02

was running 4gb ram, 1gb gpu.

 

[just_dave]

Sockets are not backwards compatible lel

[Danny_UK]

You can use a AM2+ CPU in a AM3 mobo, and the benefit from the AM3 chipset is being able to use DDR3 ram even with a previous generation CPU.  Running a AM3 CPU in a AM2+ board like the current one you have will result in you having to stick with DDR 3.   I assume money is tight to you could look into a FX series cpu maybe a FX6300.  If you're in the UK I can sell you my old setup for £100, the ram 16gb HyperX (DDR3) alone is worth £80 used, but i like to help people out. I used to play GTA with that and it's OC'able like a hore  

 

But yes those are the main differences, DDR3 support and a few minor improvements like PCIe 2.0/3.0, overclocking support, higher HTT clock speeds and a few others things that i cant remeber

[Danny_UK]

4 minutes ago, dave_k said:

Sockets are not backwards compatible lel

You can use a AM3 CPU on a AM2+ board, I've had to do that before.

[just_dave]

5 minutes ago, Danny_UK said:

You can use a AM3 CPU on a AM2+ board, I've had to do that before.

Why you have so many HDDs?

How is it possible to have AM3 on AM2+?

[Danny_UK]

4 minutes ago, dave_k said:

Why you have so many HDDs?

How is it possible to have AM3 on AM2+?

960 = Main OS

850 = Music OS

OCZ = Main games

3x2tb = games and media storage

1TB = Streams & nVidia captures

320gb = Music & Main OS backups with drivers/application i know ill use on the OS. So its a core disk image

 

Note: I dont like disks having do multiple things (queuing/disk access time), so they all serve their own purpose (I guess i could have said i have some form of OCD )

 

That was something AMD and AsRock developed i think, but all the other vendors followed their path.  It's just a thing to make upgrade paths easier for the end users.  AM3 CPU will can only work with DDR2 if you put that in a AM2+ board though, but been as you've brought the ram already i guess that's you next best step as you dont want to waste cash.  

 

With todays applications and games I wouldn't go any lower than a FX6300. if you can afford it, I guess you could get away with a Phenom II x4, but be warned that can/will struggle with some of todays programs (but it will be wayyyyyyy better than what you have in there already so bare that in mind too)

 

Hope that helps bro

[ApolloX75]

AM3+ CPUs like the FX series won't work in Am2+, only AM3 chips up to a Phenom II x6 will work.