CPU/mobo compatibility - older Phenom

[Verrierr]

Hello,

I've recently looked into reviving my old, unused for a couple of years now, system. The mobo is GA-M56S-S3 from Gigabyte (https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-M56S-S3-rev-1x/support#support-cpu) and when I looked up the compatible CPUs for it I was quite surprised to find that according to the list of supported CPU-s I can fit a quad core in it. I'm most interested in a Phenom II X4 955, since that looks like the most powerful chip I can use, and it's quite frankly dirt cheap and plenty for what the system will be doing. Problem is the deal I'm most intersted in is one for a Black Edition (unlocked) of this chip, which is technically rated at an 125W TDP, as opposed to do 95W of the standard version. And that is not supported according to the list. I suppose that does make some sense since overclocked chips need more power which the mobo in question is unable to deliver. Here's the question though, will the BIOS lock me out of using the unlocked version? And while we're at it, perhaps I could actually go for the more powerful Phenom II X4 975?

[minibois]

4 minutes ago, Verrierr said:

Hello,

I've recently looked into reviving my old, unused for a couple of years now, system. The mobo is GA-M56S-S3 from Gigabyte (https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-M56S-S3-rev-1x/support#support-cpu) and when I looked up the compatible CPUs for it I was quite surprised to find that according to the list of supported CPU-s I can fit a quad core in it. I'm most interested in a Phenom II X4 955, since that looks like the most powerful chip I can use, and it's quite frankly dirt cheap and plenty for what the system will be doing. Problem is the deal I'm most intersted in is one for a Black Edition (unlocked) of this chip, which is technically rated at an 125W TDP, as opposed to do 95W of the standard version. And that is not supported according to the list. I suppose that does make some sense since overclocked chips need more power which the mobo in question is unable to deliver. Here's the question though, will the BIOS lock me out of using the unlocked version? And while we're at it, perhaps I could actually go for the more powerful Phenom II X4 975?

Seems like it supports the 955 125W and 95W.

It also seems to support the 975.

[Verrierr]

1 hour ago, minibois said:

Seems like it supports the 955 125W and 95W.

It also seems to support the 975.

well it says "N/A"  in the right most bracket, which is explained as "Not support" on top of the page, which is why i'm not sure

[minibois]

1 minute ago, Verrierr said:

well it says "N/A"  in the right most bracket, which is explained as "Not support" on top of the page, which is why i'm not sure

Ah I see, missed that part.

It's probably a thing of them not being confident enough in this board to say it supports 125W CPU's.

 

So maybe it will start up (or maybe it won't, because they removed the microcode for it), but it likely won't work great.

But i have never tried running out of QVL spec, so not sure.

[Verrierr]

59 minutes ago, minibois said:

(or maybe it won't, because they removed the microcode for it)

this is the part i'm worried about, but I think even if other phenoms in the family won't, the unlocked edition of a supported chip probably should?