Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

Is a AMD Athlon II X4 640 under the 4000+ limit?

Tags:
  • AMD
  • Phenom
  • Hewlett Packard
  • CPUs
  • Compatibility
Last response: in CPUs
Share
March 27, 2013 11:43:40 AM

Quick question guys, guess it's just a lack of understanding.

I'm running a HP M9400f with the Narra3 board, BIOS version LTD 5.14 6/20/2008, and a Phenom x4 9750, thinking of upgrading to an AMD Athlon II X4 640. Everywhere I've looked, the only thing I've found listed for compatibility is "Athlon 64 less than 4000+"

I just don't understand what the 4000+ is referring to. Surely it's not the Hyper Transport value, which I think the board'll just downgrade to what it can use. Or is it a model number of later Athlon processors?

The TDP of the AMD Athlon II X4 640 is 95W, which is what the board is rated to.
And it's an AM3 socket backwards compatible with AM2+.

So it should be okay, right?

The other potential issue, obviously, is there aren't any BIOS updates for the board from HP apart from an older version. Couldn't find any prior information on whether that'd be a problem.

So, ideas and opinions?


Edit: The reason I'm specifically considering the Athlon 640 is it's up on one of Newegg's sales at $65. Not specifically attached to the idea, just seems like the best/only balance of power, price, and compatibility. And a good jump from 2.4gHz.

More about : amd athlon 640 4000 limit

a b À AMD
a c 96 à CPUs
March 27, 2013 11:55:17 AM

Quest723 said:
Quick question guys, guess it's just a lack of understanding.

I'm running a HP M9000f with the Narra3 board, BIOS version LTD 5.14 6/20/2008, and a Phenom x4 9750, thinking of upgrading to an AMD Athlon II X4 640. Everywhere I've looked, the only thing I've found listed for compatibility is "Athlon 64 less than 4000+"

I just don't understand what the 4000+ is referring to. Surely it's not the Hyper Transport value, which I think the board'll just downgrade to what it can use. Or is it a model number of later Athlon processors?

The TDP of the AMD Athlon II X4 640 is 95W, which is what the board is rated to.
And it's an AM3 socket backwards compatible with AM2+.

So it should be okay, right?

The other potential issue, obviously, is there aren't any BIOS updates for the board from HP apart from an older version. Couldn't find any prior information on whether that'd be a problem.

So, ideas and opinions?

Edit: The reason I'm specifically considering the Athlon 640 is it's up on one of Newegg's sales at $65. Not specifically attached to the idea, just seems like the best/only balance of power, price, and compatibility. And a good jump from 2.4gHz.


without reading the exact same thing, I believe the 4000 that is listed is a model number of the Athlon 64 CPU's and has nothing to do with the Athlon II CPU's.

"So it should be okay, right?"
the bios on the board needs to support the Athlon II CPU's or it will not work. you will need to find out if the Bios supports the new CPU or not.

I have in my other system the same CPU you are looking at and it still handles heavy apps well (not great but well).
m
0
l
a b à CPUs
March 27, 2013 11:55:28 AM

It will not work the x4 Phenom you have is mostlikely the best or close to the best that board supports. That board is an AM2+ board the + is why it supports the phenom version 1. The CPU you are trying to by is an AM3 and will not work in this board.

Thent
m
0
l
Related resources
a b À AMD
a c 96 à CPUs
March 27, 2013 12:02:22 PM

thently said:
It will not work the x4 Phenom you have is mostlikely the best or close to the best that board supports. That board is an AM2+ board the + is why it supports the phenom version 1. The CPU you are trying to by is an AM3 and will not work in this board.

Thent


Don't forget that the AM3 CPU's WILL work in an AM2+ motherboard as long as the bios supports the CPU. Both of my systems are AM2+ motherboards and BOTH have AM3 socket CPU's on them. One system is in my signature. The other is an AsRock A785GM-LE AM2+ socket motherboard with an Athlon II X4 640 CPU.
m
0
l
March 27, 2013 12:17:27 PM

I've found posts indicating the Athlon II's will work in the Narra3 board, I was just wondering if anybody on here could confirm. I also don't know if those people were using one of asus's "generic" boards, or if they were talking about an hp stock box.

Edit: I understand that the BIOS has to support the chip. One sec, trying to find the hp page it was listed on.
Edit2: Found it.


Processor upgrade information

Socket type: AM2+
Motherboard supports the following processor upgrades:
Phenom with Quad Core (Agena) technology (AM2+) up to 9600 (up to 95 watt)
Athlon 64 X2 with Dual Core technology X2 up to 5600+ (up to 89 watt)
Athlon 64 less than 4000+
Sempron less than 3800+

Like I said, others in the HP forums have indicated the Athlon II's will work in the Narra3 board. Since the list above is outdated, and AMD likes making their stuff backwards compatible...

And I had no idea if the Athlon II's were compatible in an Athlon 64 slot.

Just thought there was a chance. Other than the above, I haven't found any information on what the BIOS supports.
m
0
l
a b à CPUs
March 27, 2013 12:18:01 PM

I do remeber a little bit of crossover but it was not 100% and when you put an AM3 in a AM2+ board it would slow down the HT and loose some features ... Anyway 1 I don't think it would work 2 If it would at this point it is not worth it IMHO.

Thent
m
0
l

Best solution

a b À AMD
a c 96 à CPUs
March 27, 2013 12:26:57 PM

the HT drop depends on the board itself Both of my boards support 2600 MHz HT. As for the loss of features it is just the loss of DDR3 ram and its speed. I do agree that it may be better to swap out the Motherboard for a newer model if the funds permit it.
Share
March 27, 2013 12:41:25 PM

That's probably what I'm going to end up doing, just grabbing a new mobo and processor. Just wanted to investigate the possibility.

Thanks for the input guys, it's much appreciated. I'll continue to monitor, in case someone pops in with confirmation of cross-compatibility.

Edit: CRIPES. I had a derp moment. It's an m9400f model.
m
0
l
March 27, 2013 1:42:50 PM

Though it MIGHT work, I think the best solution is as you guys said, a new mobo. And if I'm grabbing a new mobo, I won't be restricted in my choice of processor. So I think leaving this one alone, maybe putting the stock hardware back in it, and putting together a new system would be best.

Thanks for the help guys.

m
0
l
March 27, 2013 9:32:44 PM

Quest723 said:
Though it MIGHT work, I think the best solution is as you guys said, a new mobo. And if I'm grabbing a new mobo, I won't be restricted in my choice of processor. So I think leaving this one alone, maybe putting the stock hardware back in it, and putting together a new system would be best.

Thanks for the help guys.



m
0
l
March 27, 2013 9:32:46 PM

Quest723 said:
Though it MIGHT work, I think the best solution is as you guys said, a new mobo. And if I'm grabbing a new mobo, I won't be restricted in my choice of processor. So I think leaving this one alone, maybe putting the stock hardware back in it, and putting together a new system would be best.

Thanks for the help guys.



m
0
l
March 27, 2013 10:33:09 PM

Found your system at geekbench tested: http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/search?utf8=%...
Only upgrade might be AMD 9850B 95W version ...did this once on HP Pavilion P6115Y that was limited to 95W then had to replace MB later to ASUS M4A785-M, my 9850B test: http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1127563
upgraded to AMD 980BE now tested: http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1803258
That's a Phenom X4 980BE @ 4.49Ghz not stable had to back down to 4.35Ghz for stability: http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1804893
CPU-Z validation: http://valid.canardpc.com/2747879
Power supply now Corsair GS600, video card visiontek HD 7750, SSD vertex 3, Windows EXP Index all 7.5, SSD 7.8, Plays BF3 great.
Time for a new MB and processor
m
0
l
April 10, 2013 9:53:16 AM

I may be a little late, But i thought i would throw this out there, My mothers PC which is a HP A6430F with the same Narra3 Motherboard, i just successfully installed a Athlon II X4 635 into it
Absolutely no issue aside from the bios listing the Processor as unknown
m
0
l
!