AMD FX Zambezi Processors Compatible with ASUS AM3 Motherboards Using BIOS Update

[devguy]

Here's the situation, as posted at XtremeSystems:

am3 socket: 941 pin holes
am3+ socket: 942 pin holes
---
am3 cpu: 938 pins
am3+ cpu: 940 pins

And Asus have already routed (activated) the 2 extra pinholes on the am3 socket for the boards on their list (940pin-938pin), and the 940pin am3+ cpu is physically able to be placed in the 941 pinhole am3 socket.

Garner what you will from that. Basically, just because there are extra pin slots in a socket, doesn't necessarily mean that a processor has a corresponding pin to put inside it.

 

[Tomisw]

the first zambezi processors will not have this pin, this is the reason of it will fit.
ASUS said that, AASUS don t have reasons to lie, bcz if they lie some users like me will strop buying em boards

 

[TheLaughingMan]

There is no reason for ASUS to lie. They say just a BIOS update is all that is required. I have no doubt that they will release a revision that uses the actual AM3+ socket, so that the extra pin doesn't get in the way, but that is it. From what they have said, the old boards just need a BIOS update and they will support the new socket(I'm guessing with the removal of that pin).

Ok, then we are both on the same page I see. I am not saying they are lying. I am saying the reported on half of the truth to get a nice news buzz for their new boards (which worked by the way). I also think they are going to stated the new board with the new socket will be needed once beta tests are done.

Here's the situation, as posted at XtremeSystems:

Didn't think about that. Interesting. Back to wait a see mode. Last post from me.

 

[CDdude55]

Here's the situation, as posted at XtremeSystems:



Garner what you will from that. Basically, just because there are extra pin slots in a socket, doesn't necessarily mean that a processor has a corresponding pin to put inside it.

Ahh, that makes sense, didn't know how many pins Bulldozer had.

 

[newtekie1]

I am saying the reported on half of the truth to get a nice news buzz for their new boards (which worked by the way). I also think they are going to stated the new board with the new socket will be needed once beta tests are done.

That is where we differ. I don't think they are reporting half truths at all. I think they are reporting the whole truth, but might be expecting users to break an unused pin off their CPU to make it fit in the older socket. New boards won't be required, they will just make then easier.

But either way, we'll have to wait and see for sure, as you said.

Either way though, regardless of if the CPU will fit in the socket or not, ASUS has provent that the CPUs are in fact compatible with older chipsets/motherboards, and AMD is just not allowing it for whatever reason.

 

[Melvis]

Sure it does, if I have to buy a new mobo to make the new processor work why not go Intel, the main reason I was interested in the new AMD processors is because I figured they would be backwards compatable, if there not then I see no reason to pursue second best performance only to possibly save a few dollars

A few $$$? you must be joking right, we are talking about a mobo and CPU here at least, i find that just more then a few dollars?

Name one intel CPU that is forwards/backwards compatible with any of the other intel skt's?

Least this way you can use your current AM3 CPU and put it into a new AM3+ mobo considering this is going to be a whole new arch, i find that impressive.

SB should of been backwards compatible with the older i7's but it wasnt, i think that's fail.

Agreed Melvis.

Clearly you seem to have animosity against myself and Intel, grow a thicker skin ?

Clearly

 

[Mussels]

A few $$$? you must be joking right, we are talking about a mobo and CPU here at least, i find that just more then a few dollars?

Name one intel CPU that is forwards/backwards compatible with any of the other intel skt's?

socket 775 had P4, allendale, conroe, wolfdale, kentsfield and whatever the 45nm quad variants were called. that was several architechtures that shared one socket. no modern intel platforms do it, but the older ones did.

Least this way you can use your current AM3 CPU and put it into a new AM3+ mobo considering this is going to be a whole new arch, i find that impressive.

we dont know for sure what way around it works - AM3+ could work on AM3 boards, or vice versa.

SB should of been backwards compatible with the older i7's but it wasnt, i think that's fail.

which i7's? if it was 1366 that means it had to do triple channel, and if it was 1156 that would mean it had to be compatible with the lesser/crippled PCI-E lanes of that CPU architecture



as soon as intel integrated more stuff into the CPU, it stopped being so upgradeable. same thing happend with IMC's.

 

[JrRacinFan]

AMD is supporting BD on AM3+ sockets only. Period.

Then why manufacture them on a similar socket when clearly as this news post pointed out is about getting Zambezi/BD/AM3+/whatever on AM3?

So if needing to RMA one of AM3+ cpu's one of your support questions will be "what motherboard? was it AM3?" Therefore voiding warranties? Correct?

we dont know for sure what way around it works - AM3+ could work on AM3 boards, or vice versa.

Yes we do. Then why did Asus and btarunr post this as news?

 

[Mussels]

Yes we do. Then why did Asus and btarunr post this as news?

we dont know if it works on all of them, or only very specific boards.

 

[JrRacinFan]

we dont know if it works on all of them, or only very specific boards.

Contradictory eh? *Looks at OP* Specific boards I would say as was pointed out previously.

 

[Mussels]

Contradictory eh? *Looks at OP* Specific boards I would say as was pointed out previously.

to clarify my point:

we dont know if a BIOS update is all thats needed, or if some board makers knew early on and updated their sockets/board designs to work with the upcoming CPU's on the sly.


i dislike blanket statements such as "AM3+ works on AM3 boards" because its too easy for someone to read that and get the wrong idea. works on SOME boards, is what i want to see.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Oh I know what you're saying Mussels. Refer back to my reply to JF-AMD. I totally agree with you and am far from ranting at you...

Sorry if my posts looked bad in context, just horribly worded and looked harsh.
No disrespect.... You're my bud!

 

[Melvis]

socket 775 had P4, allendale, conroe, wolfdale, kentsfield and whatever the 45nm quad variants were called. that was several architechtures that shared one socket. no modern intel platforms do it, but the older ones did.

True but i mean skts as in 478 to 775 or 775 to 1366 etc, not like AM2/AM2+/AM3 see?
Same thing could be said from 939 to AM2, same thing just support for DDR2.

we dont know for sure what way around it works - AM3+ could work on AM3 boards, or vice versa.

Going by what JF-AMD says ( and i believe him over anyone else) this wont happen, but it be nice if it did

which i7's? if it was 1366 that means it had to do triple channel, and if it was 1156 that would mean it had to be compatible with the lesser/crippled PCI-E lanes of that CPU architecture

Ether one realy, doesnt matter, it was just a surprise they didnt make them fit into ANY old skt, i felt bad for those i7 owners.

as soon as intel integrated more stuff into the CPU, it stopped being so upgradeable. same thing happend with IMC's.

Yea i do realize this and that makes sense, and this i think will be the same with Bulldozer and it also makes sense, its all new.

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

A few $$$? you must be joking right, we are talking about a mobo and CPU here at least, i find that just more then a few dollars?

Name one intel CPU that is forwards/backwards compatible with any of the other intel skt's?

Least this way you can use your current AM3 CPU and put it into a new AM3+ mobo considering this is going to be a whole new arch, i find that impressive.

What's the difference if I have to buy a new AMD mobo and a new AMD CPU which is a whole new platform or if I have to do the same to switch to Intel.

You have 0 evidence that AM3 and AM3+ will be backwards compatible, other than a sketchy release from ASUS, and if it didn't come from AMD the one making the chips and chip sets themselves it's worth less than your opinion.

SB should of been backwards compatible with the older i7's but it wasnt, i think that's fail.

That's your opinion and it's backed up by nothing but hatred, you have 0 incite into the internal specs and if the 1156 bus could have actually supported the Sandy Bridge architecture, which if it couldn't I will grant you kinda sucks and shows a lack of internal coordination on Intel's part, but in no way makes it a fail, given it's nearly double the performance of AMD's best efforts.

Also I would expect you to admit you were wrong if it turns out AM3 and AM3+ aren't compatible, and the nonsensical vitriol you have spewed all over this thread and at others simply expressing their opinions.

All I can say to you is QQ?

 

[Mussels]

That's your opinion and it's backed up by nothing but hatred,... ...but in no way makes it a fail, given it's nearly double the performance of AMD's best efforts.
All I can say to you is QQ?

for someone claiming the opposing party to be backed up on hatred and ignorance, you sure made a great screwup with that comment.


find me a single shred of proof that sandy bridge has twice the performance of AMD's latest chips (meaning, thuban) and i'll listen to you. otherwise, you're just another fanboi hatin.

 

[Melvis]

What's the difference if I have to buy a new AMD mobo and a new AMD CPU which is a whole new platform or if I have to do the same to switch to Intel.

None since it is all new tech, but at least AM3+ will hold your older AM3 CPU's.

You have 0 evidence that AM3 and AM3+ will be backwards compatible, other than a sketchy release from ASUS, and if it didn't come from AMD the one making the chips and chip sets themselves it's worth less than your opinion.

Ummm i didnt say it was, i said the opposite actually.

That's your opinion and it's backed up by nothing but hatred, you have 0 incite into the internal specs and if the 1156 bus could have actually supported the Sandy Bridge architecture, which if it couldn't I will grant you kinda sucks and shows a lack of internal coordination on Intel's part, but in no way makes it a fail, given it's nearly double the performance of AMD's best efforts.

No just stating the facts is all, sorry if you think its hatred as thats a strong word. I just think at least that SB should of been compatible with one of the old skts that havent been out that long realy? Double? i find that hard to believe with every benchmark's ive seen on the net, now thats just going abit over board.

Also I would expect you to admit you were wrong if it turns out AM3 and AM3+ aren't compatible, and the nonsensical vitriol you have spewed all over this thread and at others simply expressing their opinions.

I will be happy to admit this, but i will expect you to admit im right in this up coming June

 

[devguy]

socket 775 had P4, allendale, conroe, wolfdale, kentsfield and whatever the 45nm quad variants were called. that was several architechtures that shared one socket. no modern intel platforms do it, but the older ones did.

Funny you should mention that. One of my idiot, gotta have the latest and greatest, friends went through dealing with the pains of incompatible chipsets on LGA775. I believe his initial 775 board didn't support hyperthreaded Pentium 4s, so he upgraded. Next, his new chipset didn't support the dual-core Pentium D processor, so he had to upgrade again. Along came Conroe, and another chipset incompatibility hit him, so again he upgraded. Finally, he wanted to get a quad-core 45nm, but his chipset wouldn't work with those either. Frustrated, he swapped over to AMD's AM2 platform with the Crosshair II, and started with an Athlon x2, moved to a Phenom I 9850, and I believe he currently has a Phenom II 940 in there.

I suppose it might have helped if he had purchased an nVidia chipset instead of the latest Intel ones (as well as not be an early-adopter), but I would still say he got screwed pretty badly there.

we dont know for sure what way around it works - AM3+ could work on AM3 boards, or vice versa.

I can guarantee you that AM3 processors will work in AM3+ boards. As for the other way, wait and see.

as soon as intel integrated more stuff into the CPU, it stopped being so upgradeable. same thing happend with IMC's.

Yup, bringing that northbridge into the CPU forced some changes. Whether or not they are better or worth it is a different question (I haven't used them, so I can't give an opinion).

... and the nonsensical vitriol you have spewed all over this thread and at others simply expressing their opinions.

lolwut?

 

[erocker]

 

[Mussels]

that seems to imply that AM3+ CPU's will boot in boards even without a BIOS update, just that the update is needed for full recognition

 

[JrRacinFan]

that seems to imply that AM3+ CPU's will boot in boards even without a BIOS update, just that the update is needed for full recognition

just adding; sounds to me like once that bios is flashed it will no longer post with an AM3 cpu installed.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Well this is awesome news. Personally I want a new mobo with more USB 3.0 ports on it. I don't currently have that with my Crosshair 3 but I hope to soon