Phenom II CPU

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

So I recently found an AMD Phenom II CPU kicking around my place in a board that was in a case that was in poor shape, now I know the board is for sure dead but the chip is okay, now after doing a search for the chips part number (P/N: HDX945WFK4DGM) I have found that it's an OEM CPU (that's fine) so I am thinking about finding a cheap board for it that will take DDR3 and a simple GFX card and using it as a HTPC.

What do you guys suggest for this chip for a board? from what I can tell the chip is a AM3 socket, but I am no AMD guy so any insight is welcome.

[QueenDemetria]

So I recently found an AMD Phenom II CPU kicking around my place in a board that was in a case that was in poor shape, now I know the board is for sure dead but the chip is okay, now after doing a search for the chips part number (P/N: HDX945WFK4DGM) I have found that it's an OEM CPU (that's fine) so I am thinking about finding a cheap board for it that will take DDR3 and a simple GFX card and using it as a HTPC.

What do you guys suggest for this chip for a board? from what I can tell the chip is a AM3 socket, but I am no AMD guy so any insight is welcome.

If you want a new board, this one is good, but if you want used, then I can find you some boards. Also if you are buying used, don't buy MSI, they were going through rough times during the AM3 socket, the boards tend to catch on fire.

[AMICLG]

It should work in any AM3 and AM3+ (FX boards) socket boards. You're likely going to have to get an ATX board unless it's a dual core with a lower wattage as the VRM on the M-ATX AMD boards suck.

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

If you want a new board, this one is good, but if you want used, then I can find you some boards. Also if you are buying used, don't buy MSI, they were going through rough times during the AM3 socket, the boards tend to catch on fire.

New or used, doesn't exactly matter to me, don't need anything super fancy seeing as I will just be using it as a HTPC (AKA heater:P) so which ever is cheapest and will fit a HTPC case (likely an mATX board.

 

It should work in any AM3 and AM3+ (FX boards) socket boards. You're likely going to have to get an ATX board unless it's a dual core with a lower wattage as the VRM on the M-ATX AMD boards suck.

Most definitely a quad core, I think all the Phenom II's were quad core, but I could be wrong as I said I'm not an AMD guy, but from what I have found in researching this chip no dual cores have come up.

[harrynowl]

New or used, doesn't exactly matter to me, don't need anything super fancy seeing as I will just be using it as a HTPC (AKA heater:P) so which ever is cheapest and will fit a HTPC case (likely an mATX board.

 

Most definitely a quad core, I think all the Phenom II's were quad core, but I could be wrong as I said I'm not an AMD guy, but from what I have found in researching this chip no dual cores have come up.

Something 760G and microATX will work, perhaps a GA78LMT-USB3. Phenom IIs weren't so VRM abusive like their FX replacements.

 

Based on that code it looks like a Phenom II X4 945. Although not all Phenom IIs were quad core. They made X2s and X3s as well.

[AMICLG]

New or used, doesn't exactly matter to me, don't need anything super fancy seeing as I will just be using it as a HTPC (AKA heater:P) so which ever is cheapest and will fit a HTPC case (likely an mATX board.

 

Most definitely a quad core, I think all the Phenom II's were quad core, but I could be wrong as I said I'm not an AMD guy, but from what I have found in researching this chip no dual cores have come up.

They made dual-cores and triple-core some of which were unlocked for overclocking. Also with the right board you could unlock disabled cores on chips.

 

The number after the X is how many cores it has.

 

Phenom II X2

Phenom II X3

Phenom II X4

Phenom II X6

[rjfaber91]

They made dual-cores and triple-core some of which were unlocked for overclocking. Also with the right board you could unlock disabled cores on chips.

 

The number after the X is how many cores it has.

 

Phenom II X2

Phenom II X3

Phenom II X4

Phenom II X6

 

Partially, yes. However, a great many Phenom IIs actually have more cores than they are advertised to have. Many Thuban hexacores for example were sold as Zosma quadcores simply because of the demand for the cheaper Zosma CPUs, and while some Zosmas will have faulty fifth or sixth cores on them, it's very well possible that they're fully functioning and can be enabled through the BIOS.

 

Then again, there were also native quadcore and dualcore Phenom IIs, so it'll rather depend on exactly which Phenom II the original poster has.

[AMICLG]

Partially, yes. However, a great many Phenom IIs actually have more cores than they are advertised to have. Many Thuban hexacores for example were sold as Deneb quadcores simply because of the demand for the cheaper Deneb CPUs, and while some Denebs will have faulty fifth or sixth cores on them, it's very well possible that they're fully functioning and can be enabled through the BIOS.

I said "Also with the right board you could unlock disabled cores on chips." But from the factory the number refers to how many cores are useable.

[rjfaber91]

I said "Also with the right board you could unlock disabled cores on chips." But from the factory the number refers to how many cores are useable.

 

Quite. Didn't read that, sorry...

[Sn4tchBandicoot]

ANYWAYS, if you gents are done, anyone mind suggesting a board for me that won't destroy my wallet?

It's simply going to be a HTPC so I don't need a million fancy features, the cheaper the better. If I have to order one on ebay or something I can, any links will want to be Canadian retailers.

[Jarsky]

Pretty much any of the 970 chip boards are going to be a good buy for a Phenom II

 

I personally have the ASRock 970 Pro R2.0 because it was cheap in my region.

Some suitable boards in the US would be

 

Gigabyte ATX: http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-SATA-6Gbps-Motherboards-GA-970A-DS3P/dp/B00CX4MUCC

Asus mATX: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Micro-Motherboard-M5A78L-M-USB3/dp/B00DQO9L1Q

 

Depending on which form factor you want/need.

Both boards support core unlocking also.

[Mr.Dingle]

This was ( and is , just i dont use that system anymore ) my motherboard for my old rig , and it handled an OCed and unlocked II x4 B55 at 3.7Ghz ...

 

Idk how would it handle a hexacore , but for just an HTPC system with no OC , i think this should do . 

 

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-processors-CrossFireX-motherboard-M3A770DE/dp/B002LFYYAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435352687&sr=8-1&keywords=M3A770DE

[harrynowl]

ANYWAYS, if you gents are done, anyone mind suggesting a board for me that won't destroy my wallet?

It's simply going to be a HTPC so I don't need a million fancy features, the cheaper the better. If I have to order one on ebay or something I can, any links will want to be Canadian retailers.

Already had

Something 760G and microATX will work, perhaps a GA78LMT-USB3. Phenom IIs weren't so VRM abusive like their FX replacements.

 

Based on that code it looks like a Phenom II X4 945. Although not all Phenom IIs were quad core. They made X2s and X3s as well.