AM2 MOBO + Sempron AM3?

[tekhaze]

I recently purchased an AMD Sempron 145 socket AM3 CPU to upgrade the bios of my AM3+ socket mobo to take my FX AM3+ CPU. Now that I'm stuck with this Sempron, I'm wondering if I can use it to upgrade my old Compaq computer that uses an Asus M2N68-LA (Ivy8) AM2 mobo and AMD Athlon LE-1640 CPU. The mobo specs claim to support all Sempron CPUs, but I'm worried that claim was made before AM3 existed and won't hold up.

If it does hold up and can take this Sempron 145, will it need a bios update 1st? I'd like to know if it needs the bios before I waste the thermal paste to test it. Also, would it be even possible for me to find and implement a suitable bios update for that particular AM2 mobo, given its age and that its a premade computer?

Please help! Even a link to some good information would be great! I don't mind reading when I have the time. I'll continue searching anyways, thanks!

Hardware information links:
Asus M2N68-LA (Ivy8) AM2 mobo: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01237548
Sempron 145 AM3 CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103888
Athlon 64 LE-1640 AM2 CPU: http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/processors/athlon/Pages/AMD-athlon-processor-model-numbers-feature-comparison.aspx

P.S. If it does take my Sempron 145, how much, if any, OC'ing ability would that system have? The full Compaq computer: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01423731&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

 

[o1die]

Overclocking the cpu? no. It won't hurt to try the am3 cpu on your board, but it may not work. Hp will normally list some am3 support if it exists for your board.

 

[megamanx00]

It could hurt actually.

Anyway, you need to see if there is a BIOS update for that board to support that CPU, which there probably isn't. After a minute, I couldn't easily find a BIOS update for that computer which means it probably doesn't support any AM3 CPUs or anything newer than a 65W 4800+ X2. E-mail HP tech support to find out for sure.

 

[tekhaze]

Thank you guys for the response. Yeah I'm not going to throw the AM3 in there unless I read some credible information confirming it won't damage my system. The Sempron 145 does support DDR2, has the same TDP as the current Athlon 64 AM2 CPU, and will physically fit the socket AM2, that and the mobo supports all AM2 Sempron CPUs, makes it look promising to take the AM3 version. Only difference I notice is the Sempron has a 45nm and the Athlon 65nm, I'm unsure as to what that implies from an AM2 bios standpoint.

I got nothing better to do today, so I'll be searching for more bios information. Oh, and there's no chance I could OC (assuming I can install it on my AM2 mobo) it from 2.8Ghz to even something like 3.0Ghz? I wouldn't attempt anything much higher given the quality of the mobo...Thanks again!

 

[tekhaze]

Best answer selected by tekhaze.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey