CPU and Motherboard compatibility help.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

I'm looking to upgrade my current CPU (AMD FX-4170) to an AMD FX-8320 or FX-8350. I've noticed that some sites say that these CPUs and compatible with my motherboard and others say that they are not.

Current parts:
CPU: AMD FX-4170
GPU: Sapphire 7870 Ghz
PSU: Corsair CX600
RAM: 16GB DDR3
Motherboard: 760GM-P21 (FX)

At this site, it says that the two CPUs are both compatible: http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-MSI/760GM-P21_(FX).html (link doesn't work unless copies and pasted manually for some reason)

At this site however, it doesn't mention them. However, it also doesn't mention my current CPU either but does mention the older version of my CPU: http://www.msi.com/support/mb/760GMP21_FX.html#support-cpu

Does this just mean that the MSI site is out of date and that the FX-8320 or FX-8350 would in fact work with my motherboard?

ksham · Jun 14, 2014

It will not work. The motherboard has a CPU TDP of 95W. The FX-8320 and FX-8350 both requires 125W. A suitable upgrade is a FX-6300.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

ksham :

OK, thanks for the reply, but it also says that the FX-4170 is 125W. If i'm mistaken, is the website that says that the FX-8350 and 8320 are compatible incorrect?

i7Baby · Jun 14, 2014

Go from a 760 mobo to a 970 at least. Preferably a 990fx chipset mobo. Thsi will let you overclock.

The 8320 is popular because it easily overclocks to match the performance of an 8350. But you do need a good custom cpu cooler to do this eg coolermaster hyper 212 evo or better still - a Noctua.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

i7Baby :

So with my current motherboard it wont work? I would have to upgrade it?

ksham · Jun 14, 2014

I don't know who runs cpu-upgrade.com but I wouldn't trust them. Why would you trust them over the manufacturer's site? MSI does not list it so it is not supported.

i7Baby · Jun 14, 2014

The FX 4170 is not on the list of cpus approved to be compatible with that motherboard.

And neither are the 8320 or 8350.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

ksham :

OK, it's just that on the MSI site it doesn't list my current CPU either (the FX-4170) so i was wondering if it was out of date as it only lists some older versions of my CPU in the FX 4 core range.

ksham · Jun 14, 2014

i7Baby :

They are listed on cpu-upgrade.com, hence OP's confusion.

ksham · Jun 14, 2014

mattgarland1 :

You are looking up your motherboard. Your CPU is not listed because it is not supported by that motherboard. And it's true. The FX-4170 requires 125W and the motherboard provides a max of 95W for the CPU. It won't work. Bottom line.

i7Baby · Jun 14, 2014

Still the same answer though - find a motherboard where they are listed as OK.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

i7Baby :

Yeah, but as it only lists some older versions of the FX-4170 and my motherboard is working fine with my current CPU, is there a chance that the other two CPUs would work as there are CPUs on the list from the same range as the FX-8320 but older models? (the FX-8300)

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

ksham :

You say that but the FX-4170 which I have now works absolutely fine with my current motherboard and is what my computer came with when it was bought.

ksham · Jun 14, 2014

I do not recommend doing that. It will shorten the life of the motherboard and you will have issues with the CPU being underclocked and heating issues because you are over-stressing the motherboard to output more power than it is designed to do.

i7Baby · Jun 14, 2014

But the motherboard does not guarantee that it will work say for example if you overclock it and stress it say with Prime95.

Motherboards are designed to allow you to do these sorts of things.

We will not recommend a motherboard that can easily fail.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

ksham :

Oh ok, so as well as upgrading the CPU, I will upgrade the motherboard to. Will this involve reinstalling Windows?

ksham · Jun 14, 2014

Or you can take my advice from my first post in this thread and upgrade to the FX-6300, which is compatible with your motherboard. If you change your motherboard, you will have to re-install Windows. It's less to do with Windows and more to do with drivers. The installed drivers that were configured when you installed Windows to work on the motherboard won't work on the new one, hence why most people suggest that you re-install Windows. You can uninstall all drivers manually and run a Windows repair disk to re-install the new drivers. This can lead to issues if you are not careful and are not comfortable with doing that, so most recommend you reinstall because it is simple.

i7Baby · Jun 14, 2014

Yes, but whether you can use your existing copy depends on the version of Windows you've got. Is it a retail version (in a fancy cover)? Then yes.

If it was a pre-installed version then No and you'd have to buy a new copy of Windows.

mattgarland1 · Jun 14, 2014

i7Baby :

I have the retail version as i had to get it separately to the PC so that should be no problem. I'll either just get the FX-6300 or get the FX-8320 and upgrade the motherboard too with the asus 990fx (I guess this will also leave room for overclocking too).

Many thanks for all the help

i7Baby · Jun 14, 2014

I was just looking up Windows license on another thread. It says one pc only. I take that as one pc at a time. Which means eg a new motherboard.

CPU and Motherboard compatibility help.

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