Can someone explain the AMD AM2, AM3, DDR2, DDR3 please

[foxyg]

I am looking to build a system. I haven't build for 4 years.

I looked up AMD CPUs, phenom II X4 940 sounds cheap and powerful enough. And it is socket AM2.

I look at newegg.com for a mother board.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387
GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

Not really sure what AM3/AM2+/AM2 means. And this board says memory standard is Memory Standard DDR2 1333 OC . But on newegg.com, DDR2 only goes up to DDR2 900, anything higher is DDR3.

I am very confused. Will this board run X4 940, and what is the highest memory I can run with this board and X4 940?

Thanks

 

[mi1ez]

AM2 or AM2+ CPUs will not fit in an AM3 mobo.
AM3 CPUs WILL fit in an AM2 or AM2+ mobo.

AM3 cpu supports DDR2/DDR3 dependent on what connectors the mobo manufacturer fits.
AM2(+) cpu/mobo only supports DDR2

 

[B-Unit]

AM3/AM2+/AM2 indicates that the board has a BIOS available that supports the newest PhenomII chips.

AM3 CPUs have all the parts needed to work in any AM2 variant.

AM2+ CPUs play nice with AM2 and AM2+, but not AM3

AM2 CPUs play nice with AM2 and AM2+, but not AM3

The 940 is an AM2+, therefore supports DDR2-1066(Officially). Your motherboard is advertising support for memory overclocking up to 1333Mhz.

 

[Devastator_uk]

Technically the GA-MA790X-UD4P is an "AM2+" or "AM2/AM2+" motherboard, the reason they put "AM3/AM2+/AM2" is because AM3 processors do work in it but that's more of a feature of the CPU than the motherboard.

And newegg do have DDR2 faster than 900, they have 81 products to be precise, 59 of which are 1066:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147+1052108080+1052420643&Configurator=&Subcategory=147&description=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=