I don't really like the conclusion and AMD won't like it either, but the upgrade situation for users interested in replacing their Athlon 64 X2 processor with a quad core Phenom is all but promising. We looked at ten different motherboards to check how well these would work with the new Phenom quad core processor. The vast majority, eight out of ten motherboards, did not work with Phenom at all, which I found a very frustrating result. Yes, Phenom has only been available for roughly one month, and AMD is busy bug-fixing the TLB issue, which certainly came at a difficult moment. However, not being able to run the new processor on existing platforms, as promised by AMD, is both disappointing for those users still interested in using a quad core Phenom processor right away, as well as for AMD, who critically depends on selling its new product.
This result is independent from the chipset used, or from the price category or market segments the motherboards were in. Only Asus and Gigabyte were quick enough to provide a BIOS update, which officially declares Phenom support. However, Gigabyte only provides the update for a mainstream product, but not for the enthusiast model we also looked at. To make things worse, the Gigabyte Phenom update for the mainstream motherboard did not work - at least it doesn't on the 0.2 pre-release sample we had at our disposal for this test.
Motherboard makers such as Biostar or Epox haven't followed up with BIOS versions for their products for some months; others such as Foxconn or MSI simply have not yet released updated BIOS versions with Phenom support. The successful Phenom upgrade on the two Asus motherboard leaves no doubt that even older socket AM2 products are capable of running the quad core Phenom. In the end, the matter of supporting the new processor comes down to time to market from a support standpoint. It's difficult to say if it is AMD who could have done more to facilitate BIOS updates, and if the TLB bug had an influence on BIOS releases. It is likely that some motherboard makers prefer to wait with releasing Phenom enabling BIOS updates until the workaround can be implemented.
Eventually, the reasons for the lack of Phenom support are secondary. Looking at the results and BIOS resources available on the web, we cannot recommend to upgrade existing socket AM2 systems from Athlon 64 X2 to Phenom right away. Our recommendation hence is simple: Keep your Athlon 64 X2 if you can and wait for the Phenom B3 stepping. Not only will it fix the TLB bug, but we expect most motherboard manufacturers to be ready with proper Phenom support by then.
So much for megatasking platformance.
"Seamless upgrade path." LOL
Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by TechnologyCoordinator on 12-26-2007 at 07:29:30 PM
I've just adresed this in the Penryns In Trouble thread. This is no longer funny. AMD's continued incompetence could have some lasting and signifcant efects on the world's technology and economy.
The state of K10 is rather bleak. I suspect that AMD didn't have their stuff together in time for mobo manufactures to make timely and reliable updates.
Tom's agrees with me, don't even consider Phenom until B3.
This is really bad. I thaught from what i have read so far that at least half the mobos would support it. I can't wait to see people like baron put his positive AMD spin on this one. Hopefull in the next month or so more of those mobos will have bios updates to support the phenom.
To be fair, I had to get a BIOS upgrade when I upgraded the Pentium-4 in my system for a faster model; though I've no idea whether it was available at the time the new CPU was released, or as delayed as the Phenom BIOS upgrades appear to be.
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E6600 (B3)-HD4850 512MB GDDR3-2GB DDR2-800
"You figured it out. All new CPU's are nothing but overclocked Pentium 1's with a few bells and whistles added, ask any ol timer whose been around."
I can't wait to see people like baron put his positive AMD spin on this one.
"Phenom is supported only by boards that closely adhere to AMD's standards of InterPulchitrudeCommunication and it is enginered by design to not work on boards that restrict L3 caca on the HyperThyroid 3.0 mechanism to ensure maximum F***ed Side Bust throughput so that the user gets an optimum 'true quad core' experience."
Now, now..
Let's not be rude. Just because all the AMDroids have been spouting how "cheap" Phenom was going to be because they wouldn't need a new motherboard. Heck, Intel is having better luck with mobo's supporting Penryn, even though it deliberately set the bar higher, and warned that the upgrade path would be more limited.
AMD is really starting to look like it's being run by the Keystone Kops and the Marx Brothers.
This year has been one disaster after another for AMD: 1) Phenom performs poorly compared to Intel (e.g. phenom 9900 vs Q6600), nowhere near AMD's 40% clock-for-clock claim 2) TLB errata -- not necessarily the bug itself, but the fact that decently clocked Phenoms won't be available for a while 3) Now this
READ BEFORE YOU POST: The title is a little misleading. It should read "AM2 Motherboards FAIL Phenom compatibility test". The motherboard manufacturers are taking their sweet merry time coming out with BIOS updates. Some of those BIOSes haven't been updated in over 9 months! AMD's only fault here is not FORCING these second rate manufacturers to get on the ball and get the updates out. As for Gigabyte and MSI, thats just a damn shame they haven't rolled out their new BIOSes. ASUS and DFI have great support as usual and thats why I only use those two companies. Gigabyte is a big disappointment though, seriously.
What this problem boils down to is the motherboard manufacturers not getting their act together on time. If ASUS and DFI (not mentioned in the article) can get their stuff together in time then the other mobo companies should have too, ESPECIALLY Gigabyte being as big as they are (once again I must reiterate how much of a disappointment they are to AMD). Also, BFELLOW is right, several of them have 790 based boards out at high prices that work just fine with Phenoms, so WTF motherboard companies?! AMD didn't completely drop the ball on this one, they got screwed by their shady, Chinese partners.
READ BEFORE YOU POST: The title is a little misleading. It should read "AM2 Motherboards FAIL Phenom compatibility test". The motherboard manufacturers are taking their sweet merry time coming out with BIOS updates. Some of those BIOS's havent' been updated in over 9 months! AMD's only fault here is not FORCING these second rate manufacturers to get on the ball and get the updates out. As for Gigabyte and MSI, thats just a damn shame they haven't rolled out their new BIOSes. ASUS and DFI have great support as usual and thats why I only use those two companies. Gigabyte is a big disappointment though, seriously.
What this problem boils down to is the motherboard manufacturers not getting their act together on time. If ASUS and DFI (not mentioned int he article) can get their stuff together in time then the other mobo companies should have too, ESPECIALLY Gigabyte being as big as they are (once again I must reiterate how much of a disappointment they are to AMD). Also, BFELLOW is right, several of them have 790 based boards out at high prices that work just fine with Phenoms, so WTF motherboard companies?! AMD didn't completely drop the ball on this one, they got screwed by their shady, Chinese partners.
I wonder if AMD contributed ti the problem at all though. By not having their product ready and making many late changes? This launch seemed to have flown by the seat of its pants.
Remember, the motherboard manufactures did not promise and tout a seamless upgrade, AMD did.
DISCLAIMER: I own an Opteron 185 so I'm obviously a fan of AMD so no need to accuse me of that.
It will be hard as hell for them but as soon as Hector is out the door they'll have a better chance of pulling themselves out of this deep **** hole they are currently in. They were even smart enough to ditch low-k plans and go to an Intel-like high-k process for their 45nm, but we can only hope they make it at this point.
I wonder if AMD contributed ti the problem at all though. By not having their product ready and making many late changes? This launch seemed to have flown by the seat of its pants.
Remember, the motherboard manufactures did not promise and tout a seamless upgrade, AMD did.
I'll give you that. I felt that way too but some of the companies like MSI and Gigabyte had working 790 boards right away when it was launched so they had to have some previous knowledge of what it took to make a Phenom supporting BIOS. It just seems like the companies are trying to milk the 790FX-cow dry, which makes sense when you factor GREED into the equation.
And yes, SOCKET 939 FTMFW4Lyfe!!! (Until Bulldozer or Nehalem...whichever floats my boat in 2008)
