Socket AM2 upgrade

[cmk2690]

I am currently running a AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ (2.21ghz), I want to upgrade as much as possible.
I have a M2N-MX Asus Mobo, socket AM2. I've done some research and so far AMD Athlon 64 x2 6400+ (3.2ghz) is my best bet, the AMD athlon 64 x2 6000+ (3.0ghz) is farely cheaper. Should i spring for the 3.2ghz or is there another suggestion for the price/socket type. (DO NOT WANT TO UPGRADE MOBO) a lot of people suggest upgrading my mobo for AM2+, im not interested in upgrading anything at this time but my CPU.

thank you

 

[Userremoved]

Well apparently it's also AM2+ so you can update the BIOS and pop-in a new Athlon II but I'm not sure there's also the Phenom I line but those chips ran really hot.

 

[cmk2690]

i'm kinda ignorant to the BIOS updating, could you be a little more specific? =]

i didn't know how to be exactly sure that i could use a AM2+ on my AM2 socket mobo.

thank you

 

[Userremoved]

i'm kinda ignorant to the BIOS updating, could you be a little more specific? =]

i didn't know how to be exactly sure that i could use a AM2+ on my AM2 socket mobo.

thank you

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27346&promoid=1130
It says it's AM2+ but I'm not sure what CPUs it supports for the update I'm not sure too.

 

[cmk2690]

That is the SE PLUS model, mine is a

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131040

 

[randomkid]

I am currently running a AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ (2.21ghz), I want to upgrade as much as possible.
I have a M2N-MX Asus Mobo, socket AM2. I've done some research and so far AMD Athlon 64 x2 6400+ (3.2ghz) is my best bet, the AMD athlon 64 x2 6000+ (3.0ghz) is farely cheaper. Should i spring for the 3.2ghz or is there another suggestion for the price/socket type. (DO NOT WANT TO UPGRADE MOBO) a lot of people suggest upgrading my mobo for AM2+, im not interested in upgrading anything at this time but my CPU.

thank you

I can not find how much the X2 6400+ cost because it is unavailable at newegg currently. I saw that the X2 6000+ only cost $52.99 which I think is a fair upgrade. You can just overclock it a bit to 3.2Ghz to simulate the X2 6400+ performance. But if you can find the X2 6400+ and the price difference is not much, then go for it since you can even go for higher OC to squeeze the most out of your current rig.

 

[Userremoved]

Does not look like theres a lot of option I guess you could upgrade to one of the more powerful Athlon X2 models but it would be really worth it.

 

[Userremoved]

I can not find how much the X2 6400+ cost because it is unavailable at newegg currently. I saw that the X2 6000+ only cost $52.99 which I think is a fair upgrade. You can just overclock it a bit to 3.2Ghz to simulate the X2 6400+ performance. But if you can find the X2 6400+ and the price difference is not much, then go for it since you can even go for higher OC to squeeze the most out of your current rig.

I guess it would be worth a shot but will the performance boost be big for him?

 

[cmk2690]

well how much of a performance change will I see if I go with the 6000+ from a 4200+?

Is it worth the $52, I also found the 6400+ for 70$ and would that be worth the extra 20$ for the speed difference?

 

[Herr_Koos]

I know you don't want to, but methinks it would be worth saving a bit longer and upgrading CPU+mobo+RAM in one shot.

 

[Userremoved]

He does not even need to upgrade is RAM but I think it's a prebuilt so upgrading would be a pain in the @$$.

 

[megamanx00]

Always check the CPU support page for your motherboard first

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M2N-MX%20SE%20PLUS&product=1

You'll see that the Athlon 6000+ is not supported. Seems the board is pretty much limited to CPUs that use 65W and below. In other words, you got a cheapo board that only takes lower end CPUs. The best you can do is the Athlon 5600+ Brisbane G2 CPU or a Phenom X4 9450

 

[megamanx00]

I'd also like to ad that even though the board should be physically capable of supporting low end AM3 chips, ASUS probably won't update the BIOS on that board to do so if they haven't done it by now.

 

[randomkid]

well how much of a performance change will I see if I go with the 6000+ from a 4200+?

Is it worth the $52, I also found the 6400+ for 70$ and would that be worth the extra 20$ for the speed difference?

Here is a good benchmark comparison.
http://anandtech.com/bench/Product/37?vs=27
There is no X2 4200+ so I used a CPU closest to it. The performance difference in substantial but whether its worth $70, only you can judge.

 

[feeddagoat]

Update the bios and go for an athlon II. If your not confident with that I would avoid both the 6000+and the 6400+ and go for the athlon 7850 (think thats the number) which was based on the phenom I core. I should be cheaper than the 6400+ and also has an unlocked multiplier.

 

[cmk2690]

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASUS/M2N-MX.html

these are all of the CPU's my mobo can support.

I'm upgrading from a AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ (2.21ghz)

 

[FALC0N]

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASUS/M2N-MX.html

these are all of the CPU's my mobo can support.

I'm upgrading from a AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ (2.21ghz)

The official Asus cpu support list differs from this one. The Asus list does not include any parts over 89 watts. Like megaman said, this boards ability to handle 125 watt chips like the ones being discussed here is questionable. There is an 89 watt X2 6000 listed, but at last report it was expensive and hard to find.

May I ask why you do not wish to consider MB changes?

 

[FALC0N]

I was looking at the plus version of the board. 65 watts is the largest part listed on the official support list. Megaman was on the money.

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=0pKBwEIE8tqMT4j7

 

[cmk2690]

I'm not completely against upgrading the mobo, i just wanted to get the most out of my m2n-mx before letting it RIP =/

 

[randomkid]

I'm not completely against upgrading the mobo, i just wanted to get the most out of my m2n-mx before letting it RIP =/

Megamanx & Falcon are right. Your board will not support more than the an X2 5600+. I check it before when I agreed with you about the upgrade to 6400+ but I must have looked at the wrong board then.

I think only way to upgrade is go for new motherboard after all.