I want to put a phenom x4 9850 in my pegatron M2N78-LA

[Xaeb]

I looked up the specs on that mb and Pegatron tells me that this board does support the phenom x4 up to the 9xxx series...but when I install the cpu it immediately on powering on tells me the cpu is not supported.
Any words of wisdom to solve this dilemma?

 

[rds1220]

I looked up the specs on that mb and Pegatron tells me that this board does support the phenom x4 up to the 9xxx series...but when I install the cpu it immediately on powering on tells me the cpu is not supported.
Any words of wisdom to solve this dilemma?

Check to see if there are any necessary BIOS updates needed to to run that CPU.

 

[Xaeb]

I will do that, thanks. I'll get back here to let you know if that was the issue.

 

[rds1220]

Also make sure you are placing the CPU into the socket the right way. The pins are lined up in a certain pattern and if the CPU is not in the socket right the pins will stick up and the CPU won't sit right in it's socket. Rember the socket is ZIF (Zero Insertion Force.) Also make sure the Socket lever is fully down and locked in place.

 

[Xaeb]

The cpu was set in the socket properly and the level was fully down and hooked. I'm pretty sure it's the BIOS after looking on a few websites. It's an older HP bundle garbage rig and I'd just like to upgrade it a bit from the Athlon II x2 to a phenom x4 9850 that I happened to have lying around after I built another pc. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[rds1220]

The cpu was set in the socket properly and the level was fully down and hooked. I'm pretty sure it's the BIOS after looking on a few websites. It's an older HP bundle garbage rig and I'd just like to upgrade it a bit from the Athlon II x2 to a phenom x4 9850 that I happened to have lying around after I built another pc. Thanks for the help everyone!

What is the socket and why would you change from an Athlon II to an older Phenom I? The Phenom I was a horrible CPU it was slow and ran hot. It didn't take them long to replace it with the Phenom II. If anything going from an Athlon II to a Phenom I would be a down grade not an upgade.

 

[Xaeb]

I'm playing Guild Wars 2 and the athlon is maxed out at 100% cpu usage at all times. I have horrible fps so I tried dropping the phenom in to another mb a buddy had and tried it. The game stabilized and jumped roughly 40 fps even on high settings so I figured I'd throw it in my pc. I know it runs hot so I got a Scythe Shuriken cpu cooler for it.

Oh and the socket is AM2 so I'm limited in what cpu's I can put in it.

 

[rds1220]

The Athlon II used socket AM2+ and AM3, the Phenom I used socket AM2+. Socket AM2/AM2+ AMD Phenom™ II processors are not compatible with AM3 motherboards.

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/CPU-6-socket-am2-plus-phenom-ii-compatibility-alert.aspx

 

[rds1220]

Is this your motherboard?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c01635734

 

[Xaeb]

Yes that's my Motherboard. The socket is AM2, AM2+ according to the specs.

 

[rds1220]

According to HP's website these are the only CPU's that are compatible with that motherboard.

Socket type: AM2

TDP:

Motherboard supports the following processor upgrades:


•
AMD Athlon X2 (Bt)


•
AMD Athlon 64 X2 up to 6000+ (W)


•
AMD Phenom Triple-Core up to 8xxx (AM2+) (Toliman)


•
AMD Phenom Quad-Core 9xxx series (AM2+) up to 9850 (Agena)

 

[Xaeb]

That's what I'm trying to put in the mb, the AMD Phenom Quad-Core 9850

 

[rds1220]

Yea I know like I said earlier you will probably need to flash the BIOS. If you are unsure you can call HP and ask them.

 

[Xaeb]

Thanks again, much appreciated for the help.

 

[rds1220]

I don't see anywhere on the website saying if you need to flash the BIOS. Usually it will say:

CPU A

CPU B

CPU C (with BIOS revision)

but I don't see that anywhere. I would call HP before you flash the BIOS because there is always a risk. If you do it wrong or if the power goes out during the flashing process it will brick the motherboard and that's it. There is nothing you can do but get a new motherboard.