Help picking out AMD processor upgrade

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Trident_333

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Hi !

I would appreciate any help I can get in upgrading my CPU. I have a ThinkCentre M75e 5044 A12, currently running AMD Sempon 145. I was wondering whether my upgrade options are limited by my M/B VRM and if so, what is mine. Will I be able to use a 125 W TDP processor ? Or only one that is rated 95 W TDP ? I do understand that I'll also have to upgrade my PSU as well. Please advise me on the best possible CPU upgrade path that I can take. I'm considering the FX-4100 which will physically fit the AM3 socket, but I'm unsure whether my BIOS would recognise it. Is there a BIOS workaround where I can use a BIOS modded to support AMD's Bulldozer processors ? Or could someone recommend me a CPU that is supported by my M/B without having to replace it ?



M/B: Lenovo Tilapia CRB
Chipset : AMD 780G Rev: 00

Southbridge: AMD SB700 Rev: 00
BIOS : 9IKT14A
PSU: 280W (I believe)
ThinkCentre M75e 5044 A12

I'm considering a processor from the AMD Phenom II X4 line-up but I'm not sure which will be compatible and the best pairing for my mainboard.


CPUz mainboard info: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/mainboardx.png/
CPUz current processor info: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/cpul.png/

TIA
 
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$hawn
First of all, check online if the LATEST BIOS supports the 960T. If the 95W 955 is supported, i don't see any reason why the 960t wouldn't be, unless lenovo got really lazy with its BIOS updates:)

Calling them up is the best thing to do. In the end it's better to buy the 955 that's guaranteed to work, rather than risk the 960T. Both of them perform almost the same; 960T wud be slighlty better at single threaded stuff due to Turbo,while the 955 wud be microscopically better at multi-core loads.

Any of the 2 would be a MASSIVE upgrade from your single core, castrated sempron however :D
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Trident_333

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Are you sure my particular motherboard will support Phenom II x4 975 ? I was confused as to whether I'm limited to 95W TDP processors only, as this thread http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120314075718AAZ2s4C states or whether I can use processors rated 125W TDP. Also, will my BIOS support it ? If not, is there a way to add processor support to the BIOS ? Something like BIOS modding maybe ?
 
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wr6133

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Phone Lenovo there seems to be no published details online of that boards exact support list just a boatload of people saying something may/may not work. What the chipset is capable of is irrelevent if the specific BIOS hasn't got support for it.
 
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Trident_333

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Lenovo support is weak here but I'll give them a ring to find out more. I guess it would be better to play it safe and stick with an AM3 processor limited at 95W TDP. My choice finally comes down to two CPUs which were released in 2010, a year older than my BIOS date (August 2011). Unless Lenovo locks their customers to certain configurations only, I should have a chance. Could someone help me decide between the Phenom II X4 955 C3 95W and the Phenom II X4 960T 95W ?

My current processor, Sempron 145, is rated at 45W TDP. My PSU is 280W. Will changing to a 95W processor necessitate a PSU upgrade as well ? I don't have any graphic card, PC has been untouched.

 
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Trident_333

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I want to upgrade my CPU and my choice is between the Phenom II X4 955 C3 95W and the Phenom II X4 960T 95W. Which one should I opt for ?

My current specs:
ThinkCentre M75e 5044 A12
CPU: AMD Sempron 145
M/B: Lenovo Tilapia CRB
Chipset : AMD 780G Rev: 00
Southbridge: AMD SB700 Rev: 00
BIOS : 9IKT14A
PSU: 280W

CPUz M/B info : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/mainboardx.png/

PS: As far as I'm aware, my current mainboard does not support overclocking and it won't be much help in unlocking any cores either.
 
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wr6133

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Normally I would say the 960T but the reasons to buy it dont apply with your mobo (unlock to 6 cores, unlocked multi for OC'ing)

Get whichever is cheaper (but really try to get official word from lenovo first on support)

As to your PSU if it delivers what it claims and as you have no GPU it should suffice.
 
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Trident_333

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Lenovo's official options are :

Sempron® 145 (2.8GHz, 1M Total Cache, AM3, 45W)
Athlon® II X2 B22 (2.8GHz, 2M Total Cache, AM3, 65W)
Athlon® II X2 B24 (3.0GHz, 2M Total Cache, AM3, 65W)
Athlon® II X4 640(3.0GHz, 2MB Total Cache, AM3, 95W)
Phenom® II X3 B73 (2.8GHz, 7.5M Total Cache, AM3, 95W)
Phenom® II X3 B75 (3.0GHz, 7.5M Total Cache, AM3, 95W)
Phenom® II X4 B93 (2.8GHz, 8M Total Cache, AM3, 95W)
Phenom® II X4 B95 (3.0GHz, 8M Total Cache, AM3, 95W)

Courtesy:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/thinkcentre_pdf/0a22749.pdf

The processors I'm considering are AM3, 95W TDP and better than the given alternatives. Pending a call to Lenovo, what's left is choosing one, from the two. Any inputs ?
 
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$hawn

$hawn

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First of all, check online if the LATEST BIOS supports the 960T. If the 95W 955 is supported, i don't see any reason why the 960t wouldn't be, unless lenovo got really lazy with its BIOS updates:)

Calling them up is the best thing to do. In the end it's better to buy the 955 that's guaranteed to work, rather than risk the 960T. Both of them perform almost the same; 960T wud be slighlty better at single threaded stuff due to Turbo,while the 955 wud be microscopically better at multi-core loads.

Any of the 2 would be a MASSIVE upgrade from your single core, castrated sempron however :D
 
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mactronix

mactronix

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Well the b95 is a "business" 955. Its a locked version of the 955 used in OEM builds.

The Phenom II X4 960T is a different core (Zozma) which is really a cut down Thurban.

Of the two allowing for the fact that you cant overclock and you have no official support for the new core's I would be looking at the 955.

The 960 is the better CPU but that depends on support.

Mactronix :)
 
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Trident_333

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@ $hawn
Where do I go to check which processors are supported by my BIOS ? I had a look at Lenovo's website and found nothing. Yes, your right, my current Sempron 145 does feel a wee bit like chemical castration when I use my neighbour's i5-2500K . . . I hope I'm able to buy the 955 C3 given that it's been discontinued.
 
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Trident_333

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@Mactronix

Yes, but also the B95 is unavailable retail, which makes it difficult to obtain. Else it would have been the perfect choice, since by Lenovo, it's officially guaranteed to work with my mainboard. Which makes me ask, why would a manufacturer (Lenovo) cripple their mainboards by limiting the BIOS to support only a few processors ? Considering that my mainboard would be fully compatible with any 95W TDP processor fitting the AM3 processor, as well as an AM3+ processor (reduced functionality) with a BIOS upgrade, which they don't release. Sorry... but I had to vent. Feel better now. :)
 
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Trident_333

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@ allanitomwesh

Yes, it is a bet ! I only wish I could mod by BIOS to support the later generation of processors... Thanks for your input. :)
 
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