• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Am2+ or AM3

troyrae360

New Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
1,129 (0.20/day)
Location
Christchurch New Zealand
System Name My Computer!
Processor AMD 6400+ Black @ 3.5
Motherboard Gigabyte AM2+ GA-MA790X DS4
Cooling Gigabyte G-Power 2 pro
Memory 2x2 gig Adata 800
Video Card(s) HD3870x2 @ 900gpu and 999mem
Storage 2x wd raid edition 120gig + 1 samsung 320 + samsung 250
Display(s) Samsung 40inch series6 full HD 1080p
Case NZXT Lexa
Audio Device(s) ALC889A HD audio with Enables a Superior Audio Experience (on board)
Power Supply Vantec ION2+ 550w
Software Vista Home pream 64
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
3,459 (0.61/day)
Location
95350
Processor ???
Motherboard 760
Cooling HK
Memory 3x1gb
Video Card(s) 285 Classified / EVGA 480
Display(s) 22" Acer /42" Toshiba
Case Stacker
Power Supply Toughpower 1000w / Coolmaster 650w
Software All of them
i have taken my 955 on my am2+ all the way up to 3.9 just using the FSB

the diff between the 940 and 945 is that the 940 is an unlock multiplier and the 945 isn't

i say just get the 955 in your am2+ then upgrade once you have some money
also you mobo is a sb600 so yours might be a little lower overclock if it even supports it
 

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder
Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Messages
28,472 (4.25/day)
Location
Indiana, USA
Processor Intel Core i7 10850K@5.2GHz
Motherboard AsRock Z470 Taichi
Cooling Corsair H115i Pro w/ Noctua NF-A14 Fans
Memory 32GB DDR4-3600
Video Card(s) RTX 2070 Super
Storage 500GB SX8200 Pro + 8TB with 1TB SSD Cache
Display(s) Acer Nitro VG280K 4K 28"
Case Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s) Onboard is good enough for me
Power Supply eVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G3
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
I say go AM3, and be future proof. No point in buying an AM2+ CPU when AM3 CPUs are available and function just fine in AM2+ boards.

As for the difference between the 940 and the 945, well the 940 is a Black Edition. So the multiplier is unlocked, which will allow easier overclocking. While the 945 has DDR3/AM3 support and a locked multiplier. As for which will overclock better, I believe the 940 overclocks better, but not by a whole lot.
 

troyrae360

New Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
1,129 (0.20/day)
Location
Christchurch New Zealand
System Name My Computer!
Processor AMD 6400+ Black @ 3.5
Motherboard Gigabyte AM2+ GA-MA790X DS4
Cooling Gigabyte G-Power 2 pro
Memory 2x2 gig Adata 800
Video Card(s) HD3870x2 @ 900gpu and 999mem
Storage 2x wd raid edition 120gig + 1 samsung 320 + samsung 250
Display(s) Samsung 40inch series6 full HD 1080p
Case NZXT Lexa
Audio Device(s) ALC889A HD audio with Enables a Superior Audio Experience (on board)
Power Supply Vantec ION2+ 550w
Software Vista Home pream 64
Thanks for the info :)
 

HolyCow02

New Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
1,638 (0.28/day)
Location
New York
System Name Shredder
Processor Phenom II 955 @stock (for the time being)
Motherboard MSI 790FX-GD70
Cooling Noctua U12P
Memory 8 GB muskin DDR3 1600 @ 7-7-6-18
Video Card(s) 2x Sapphire 4870 1GB
Storage 64 GB Super Talent UltraDrive SSD | 2 x WD Caviar Black 500GB in RAID1
Display(s) Samsung 22" 2ms GTG
Case Thermaltake Spedo Advanced Package
Power Supply Corsair HX1000
Software Vista Business 64-bit
They both said everything that needed to be said. Go AM3 cpu and upgrade the board later.
 
Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
2,686 (0.48/day)
Location
Ohio
System Name JIM LAHEY
Processor CORE I9 9900K
Motherboard ASROCK Z390 TAICHI
Cooling COUGAR HELOR 360 AIO
Memory 32GB TRIDENT Z RGB DDR4-3200
Video Card(s) EVGA 3080Ti FTW3 ULTRA
Storage SAMSUNG EVO 1TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG STRIX 4K UG27UQR
Case THERMALTAKE VIEW 37
Audio Device(s) STEELSERIES ARCTIS 7 WIRELESS
Power Supply EVGA SUPERNOVA G+ 1000
Mouse STEELSERIES RIVAL 600
Keyboard STEELSERIES APEX 7 TKL
Software WINDOWS 10 ENTERPRISE
Benchmark Scores WUT
might as well go Am3, That's why I got my 720BE so I can run ddr3 or ddr2.
 
D

Deleted member 67555

Guest
If it's a brand new build "Go AM3", good AM3 boards are getting really cheap,well around the same price as a descent AM2+ board and it's good for at least another round of cpu's before AMD does it's socket revision.But since it's not a brand new build i would still suggest AM3 cpu for cheaper future upgrades
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
2,481 (0.45/day)
System Name Always changing
Processor Always changing
Motherboard Always changing
Cooling Always changing
Memory Always changing
Video Card(s) Always changing
Storage Always changing
Display(s) Always changing
Case Always changing
Audio Device(s) Always changing
Power Supply Always changing
Mouse Always changing
Keyboard Always changing
Yeah I'd say go am3 :D
 

Studabaker

New Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
1,116 (0.20/day)
Location
Somewhere in the underground
System Name Built Entirely With Parts From CompUSA
Processor E7400 2.8 @ 3.6 [9.0*400/1.31v]
Motherboard Gigabyte EP45-UD3R
Cooling Masscool 8WA741
Memory 2x1GB Corsair XMS2 800 4-4-4-12
Video Card(s) BFG 9800GTX+OC; GTS250 BIOS
Storage 2x WD 250GB AAKS in RAID0!
Display(s) 19" I-Inc LCD @ 1440x900
Case Ultra X-Blaster Clear Side
Audio Device(s) Audigy with X-Fi drivers; Logitech X-540s
Power Supply Corsair TX750
Software Vista 32-Bit
Might as well use the latest platform.
 

_jM

New Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
1,453 (0.25/day)
Location
Ocala,FL
System Name The money pit v.2 (v.1 is the wife!)
Processor Core2Quad-Q9550@3.9ghz/1860mhzFSB @1.344v
Motherboard ASUS Maximus II Formula = best damn P45 OCer out there!
Cooling CoolerMster V8-- Custom WC system on the way! =]
Memory 8GB DOMINATORS @1100mhz 5-5-5-18
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 280
Storage 150GB WesternDigital Velociraptor OS Drive/1 WD 500AAKS for Storage
Display(s) SAMSUNG 2243SWX 22" LCD
Case Cooler Master Cosmos S w/custom lighting and cable management
Audio Device(s) X-Fi Titanium (Fatality edition) - paired with RAZER Barracuda's
Power Supply CORSAIR HX1000W modular PSU
Software Windows 7 RC 7100--eats vista for breakfast lunch and dinner!
Benchmark Scores Coming to a theater near you!
IMHO.. I would say AM3 and be future proof... I mean most of the newer chips from AMD are going to be AM3 anyways right.. plus you should look into the new AMD 'Tweaker" thingy thats coming out before you choose so soon
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
9,231 (1.66/day)
Location
Montreal, Canada
System Name Homelabs
Processor Ryzen 5900x | Ryzen 1920X
Motherboard Asus ProArt x570 Creator | AsRock X399 fatal1ty gaming
Cooling Silent Loop 2 280mm | Dark Rock Pro TR4
Memory 128GB (4x32gb) DDR4 3600Mhz | 128GB (8x16GB) DDR4 2933Mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3080 | ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage Optane 900p + NVMe | Optane 900p + 8TB SATA SSDs + 48TB HDDs
Display(s) Alienware AW3423dw QD-OLED | HP Omen 32 1440p
Case be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 | be quiet! Silent Base 800
Power Supply Corsair RM750x + sleeved cables| EVGA P2 750W
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate (still has buttons on the right side, crucial as I'm a southpaw)
Keyboard Razer Huntsman Elite, Pro Type | Logitech G915 TKL
This is what I do not understand lol... I would think getting 940 would be an obvious choice o_O I'll make a thread about this later lol.. if I remember... and if I don't fall asleep...
 
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
5,052 (0.80/day)
Location
Manchester, United Kingdom
Processor AMD FX 8320 @ 4GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 rev1
Cooling Corsair H70
Memory 4 x 4GB DDR3 Ripjawz 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vapor-X AMD R9 280X
Storage 1 x 500GB Samsung Evo 850, 1 x 500GB Vrap Data Drive, 3 x 2TB Seagate, 1 x 1TB Samsung F1
Display(s) 3 x DGM IPS-2402WDH
Case Coolermaster HAF X
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Coolermaster 1000W Silent Pro M
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Logitech G510
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
This is what I do not understand lol... I would think getting 940 would be an obvious choice o_O I'll make a thread about this later lol.. if I remember... and if I don't fall asleep...

Why? 940 can only work in AM2+ boards, 945 and 955 can work in AM2+ and AM3.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
9,231 (1.66/day)
Location
Montreal, Canada
System Name Homelabs
Processor Ryzen 5900x | Ryzen 1920X
Motherboard Asus ProArt x570 Creator | AsRock X399 fatal1ty gaming
Cooling Silent Loop 2 280mm | Dark Rock Pro TR4
Memory 128GB (4x32gb) DDR4 3600Mhz | 128GB (8x16GB) DDR4 2933Mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3080 | ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage Optane 900p + NVMe | Optane 900p + 8TB SATA SSDs + 48TB HDDs
Display(s) Alienware AW3423dw QD-OLED | HP Omen 32 1440p
Case be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 | be quiet! Silent Base 800
Power Supply Corsair RM750x + sleeved cables| EVGA P2 750W
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate (still has buttons on the right side, crucial as I'm a southpaw)
Keyboard Razer Huntsman Elite, Pro Type | Logitech G915 TKL
because he will only upgrade to AM3 once there is a CPU that is worth upgrading too... going AM3 mobo + RAM compared to AM2+ is not much performance increase... Also, 55$ cheaper the 940... If I don't make much sense sry, I'm tired
 
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
5,052 (0.80/day)
Location
Manchester, United Kingdom
Processor AMD FX 8320 @ 4GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 rev1
Cooling Corsair H70
Memory 4 x 4GB DDR3 Ripjawz 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vapor-X AMD R9 280X
Storage 1 x 500GB Samsung Evo 850, 1 x 500GB Vrap Data Drive, 3 x 2TB Seagate, 1 x 1TB Samsung F1
Display(s) 3 x DGM IPS-2402WDH
Case Coolermaster HAF X
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Coolermaster 1000W Silent Pro M
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Logitech G510
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
because he will only upgrade to AM3 once there is a CPU that is worth upgrading too... going AM3 mobo + RAM compared to AM2+ is not much performance increase... Also, 55$ cheaper the 940... If I don't make much sense sry, I'm tired

720BE is AM3, I'm running an AM2+ board and DDR2. Grabbing an AM3 CPU is better value, it will run in both AM3 motherboards and AM2+ motherboards.

Grabbing an AM2+ chip means he has to buy a brand new CPU when he goes AM3. If he grabs the AM3 now, and then decides to get DDR3 he wont need to buy a new CPU.
 

CDdude55

Crazy 4 TPU!!!
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
8,178 (1.34/day)
Location
Virginia
System Name CDdude's Rig!
Processor AMD Athlon II X4 620
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
Cooling Corsair H70
Memory 8GB Corsair Vengence @1600mhz
Video Card(s) XFX HD 6970 2GB
Storage OCZ Agility 3 60GB SSD/WD Velociraptor 300GB
Display(s) ASUS VH232H 23" 1920x1080
Case Cooler Master CM690 (w/ side window)
Audio Device(s) Onboard (It sounds fine)
Power Supply Corsair 850TX
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
I would say AM3, would help in the future to.
 
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
1,818 (0.33/day)
Location
Latvia
System Name Personal \\ Work - HP EliteBook 840 G6
Processor 7700X \\ i7-8565U
Motherboard Asrock X670E PG Lightning
Cooling Noctua DH-15
Memory G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Black 32GB 6000MHz CL36 \\ 16GB DDR4-2400
Video Card(s) ASUS RoG Strix 1070 Ti \\ Intel UHD Graphics 620
Storage 2x KC3000 2TB, Samsung 970 EVO 512GB \\ OEM 256GB NVMe SSD
Display(s) BenQ XL2411Z \\ FullHD + 2x HP Z24i external screens via docking station
Case Fractal Design Define Arc Midi R2 with window
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC1150 with Logitech Z533
Power Supply Corsair AX860i
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Corsair K55 RGB PRO
Software Windows 11 \\ Windows 10
AM3, os that in future, if you now go for AM2+ mobo, upgrade costs will exclude CPU.
 
D

Deleted member 67555

Guest
No really I get what you are thinking!! I originally went for the 955 and got a bad 1 (or i killed it by taking the multiplier and voltages a little to high) so after i got it RMA'd I got the 920...thinking what the heck by the time it's out of date the I7's would be a lot cheaper so i would just take this unit to it's grave instead of upgrading it again.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
9,231 (1.66/day)
Location
Montreal, Canada
System Name Homelabs
Processor Ryzen 5900x | Ryzen 1920X
Motherboard Asus ProArt x570 Creator | AsRock X399 fatal1ty gaming
Cooling Silent Loop 2 280mm | Dark Rock Pro TR4
Memory 128GB (4x32gb) DDR4 3600Mhz | 128GB (8x16GB) DDR4 2933Mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3080 | ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage Optane 900p + NVMe | Optane 900p + 8TB SATA SSDs + 48TB HDDs
Display(s) Alienware AW3423dw QD-OLED | HP Omen 32 1440p
Case be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 | be quiet! Silent Base 800
Power Supply Corsair RM750x + sleeved cables| EVGA P2 750W
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate (still has buttons on the right side, crucial as I'm a southpaw)
Keyboard Razer Huntsman Elite, Pro Type | Logitech G915 TKL
Thing is why would he want to go am3 with a PII 955 when he already has am2+? Only reason to go am3 is that theres some new cpu that comes out that's better... and besides, prices for am3 will either stay or lower in the future... I don't see why he would want to go AM3 now when he already has am2+ that performs practically the same.... I am still tired btw :p
 
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
5,052 (0.80/day)
Location
Manchester, United Kingdom
Processor AMD FX 8320 @ 4GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 rev1
Cooling Corsair H70
Memory 4 x 4GB DDR3 Ripjawz 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vapor-X AMD R9 280X
Storage 1 x 500GB Samsung Evo 850, 1 x 500GB Vrap Data Drive, 3 x 2TB Seagate, 1 x 1TB Samsung F1
Display(s) 3 x DGM IPS-2402WDH
Case Coolermaster HAF X
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Coolermaster 1000W Silent Pro M
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Logitech G510
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
Thing is why would he want to go am3 with a PII 955 when he already has am2+? Only reason to go am3 is that theres some new cpu that comes out that's better... and besides, prices for am3 will either stay or lower in the future... I don't see why he would want to go AM3 now when he already has am2+ that performs practically the same.... I am still tired btw :p

He doesn't, he has AM2 right now. An X2 6000
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
2,481 (0.45/day)
System Name Always changing
Processor Always changing
Motherboard Always changing
Cooling Always changing
Memory Always changing
Video Card(s) Always changing
Storage Always changing
Display(s) Always changing
Case Always changing
Audio Device(s) Always changing
Power Supply Always changing
Mouse Always changing
Keyboard Always changing
Thing is why would he want to go am3 with a PII 955 when he already has am2+? Only reason to go am3 is that theres some new cpu that comes out that's better... and besides, prices for am3 will either stay or lower in the future... I don't see why he would want to go AM3 now when he already has am2+ that performs practically the same.... I am still tired btw :p

Well he has a 6400+ windsor right now so the 955 would be a pretty big upgrade while with his same board.
I am guessing you must have thought he already had a 940 or something.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
9,231 (1.66/day)
Location
Montreal, Canada
System Name Homelabs
Processor Ryzen 5900x | Ryzen 1920X
Motherboard Asus ProArt x570 Creator | AsRock X399 fatal1ty gaming
Cooling Silent Loop 2 280mm | Dark Rock Pro TR4
Memory 128GB (4x32gb) DDR4 3600Mhz | 128GB (8x16GB) DDR4 2933Mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3080 | ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage Optane 900p + NVMe | Optane 900p + 8TB SATA SSDs + 48TB HDDs
Display(s) Alienware AW3423dw QD-OLED | HP Omen 32 1440p
Case be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 | be quiet! Silent Base 800
Power Supply Corsair RM750x + sleeved cables| EVGA P2 750W
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate (still has buttons on the right side, crucial as I'm a southpaw)
Keyboard Razer Huntsman Elite, Pro Type | Logitech G915 TKL
First of all he has a am2+ mobo

no what I mean is... since he already has a am2+ mobo, why even go PII 955 if the 940 gives out similar performance?

Your answer: Because it is AM3 mobo compatible

Yet what I fail to understand is how that is a benefit... even if he does do AM3, what benefits would he see over a 955 on am2+? barely any, hence why the ONLY reason he would want to upgrade to AM3 is if another CPU comes out for AM3 that is far superior than the PII 955 or 940... Hence me saying going PII 955 is practically a waste of 55$ if he can go 940 instead with practically same performance

My debate here is that if he does go AM3, it won't be with a PII 955 since he already has AM2+ and AM3 does not grant much more benefit
 
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
5,052 (0.80/day)
Location
Manchester, United Kingdom
Processor AMD FX 8320 @ 4GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 rev1
Cooling Corsair H70
Memory 4 x 4GB DDR3 Ripjawz 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vapor-X AMD R9 280X
Storage 1 x 500GB Samsung Evo 850, 1 x 500GB Vrap Data Drive, 3 x 2TB Seagate, 1 x 1TB Samsung F1
Display(s) 3 x DGM IPS-2402WDH
Case Coolermaster HAF X
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Coolermaster 1000W Silent Pro M
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Logitech G510
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
First of all he has a am2+ mobo

no what I mean is... since he already has a am2+ mobo, why even go PII 955 if the 940 gives out similar performance?

Your answer: Because it is AM3 mobo compatible

Yet what I fail to understand is how that is a benefit... even if he does do AM3, what benefits would he see over a 955 on am2+? barely any, hence why the ONLY reason he would want to upgrade to AM3 is if another CPU comes out for AM3 that is far superior than the PII 955 or 940... Hence me saying going PII 955 is practically a waste of 55$ if he can go 940 instead with practically same performance

My debate here is that if he does go AM3, it won't be with a PII 955 since he already has AM2+ and AM3 does not grant much more benefit

How is it a benefit? Ok. You grab a PII 940, you then want to upgrade to DDR3, you have to buy a new CPU, motherboard and RAM.

You grab a PII 955 and want to upgrade to DDR3, you grab a motherboard and RAM.

That is a benefit, it's future-proofing.

PII 955 also overclocks further. Stock speeds are 3.2Ghz over 3Ghz.

My point, is why should he not go with the best CPU he can get right this moment if 1. he can afford it, 2. it will cost him less to upgrade again later, and 3. it's a better overclocker.
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
9,231 (1.66/day)
Location
Montreal, Canada
System Name Homelabs
Processor Ryzen 5900x | Ryzen 1920X
Motherboard Asus ProArt x570 Creator | AsRock X399 fatal1ty gaming
Cooling Silent Loop 2 280mm | Dark Rock Pro TR4
Memory 128GB (4x32gb) DDR4 3600Mhz | 128GB (8x16GB) DDR4 2933Mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3080 | ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage Optane 900p + NVMe | Optane 900p + 8TB SATA SSDs + 48TB HDDs
Display(s) Alienware AW3423dw QD-OLED | HP Omen 32 1440p
Case be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 | be quiet! Silent Base 800
Power Supply Corsair RM750x + sleeved cables| EVGA P2 750W
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate (still has buttons on the right side, crucial as I'm a southpaw)
Keyboard Razer Huntsman Elite, Pro Type | Logitech G915 TKL
How is it a benefit? Ok. You grab a PII 940, you then want to upgrade to DDR3, you have to buy a new CPU, motherboard and RAM.

You grab a PII 955 and want to upgrade to DDR3, you grab a motherboard and RAM.

That is a benefit, it's future-proofing.

PII 955 also overclocks further. Stock speeds are 3.2Ghz over 3Ghz.

My point, is why should he not go with the best CPU he can get right this moment if 1. he can afford it, 2. it will cost him less to upgrade again later, and 3. it's a better overclocker.

Thing is that I don't understand the purpose of upgrading to AM3 when you would have an AM2+ w/ pII 955 or 940...
Ther performance difference is small yet the price difference isn't since you would have to pay for a mobo and RAM...

If he wanted to upgrade to AM3, I guess I would wait till they get new very good CPUs out and perhaps better mobos etc...

What is the point if he buys the 955 now (-55$) and then say one month later he gets AM3 (~130$ mobo ~65$ RAM) which provides him a tiny performance boost and its still little even compared to the 940... for 250$... He'd need to buy a new AM3 CPU so that buying the AM3 setup is justified yes?

When he can get the 940 now, then get an AM3 when they are better/cheaper and that a new great CPU comes out or something... Then he can get a better board/CPU/RAM for the price he would have payed if he had went AM3 from the beginning... and going am3 would also be paying 55$ for that little performance increase between PII 940 and 955, which is about 30% more than the 940... Even if say the 955 performs 10% better, it still doesn't justify a 30% price increase...


EDIT: Wait I think I can compare it with something that might make my argument clearer lol... It's like paying extra for new tech now that only increases performance a little bit but costs a lot more for now, but that everyone knows that in the future, great upgrades are to come (new great CPUs) instead of waiting until it becomes better and cheaper and by an older, but almost same performing tech

idk if you guys understand me yet... I explain like shit and weirdly, I'm still tired? Fwaking allergies while I sleep :(
 
Top