Am3 CPU in AM2 motherboard? Wattage is correct.

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Last response: November 8, 2012 6:47 PM in CPUs

November 8, 2012 4:58:17 PM

Ok, so here's the situation. I'm looking to upgrade my prebuilt computer. I got it a few years back, so it has an AM2 mobo with a 65 watt TDP max. I have found a 65w AMD Phenom x2 905e, but it has an am3 socket. I know that an am3 CPU will physically fit into an Am2 socket, but will it work?

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twelve25

CPUs Authority

Motherboard Expert

November 8, 2012 5:04:06 PM

No you can't.

905e is pretty slow anyway (low power) so it wouldn't likely be much faster anyway.

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DorianGraves

November 8, 2012 5:07:51 PM

But I have heard people that have gotten an AM3 processor to work on an AM2 mobo before, even over the max TDP, with a bios update. How can you be so sure?

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DJDeCiBeL

CPUs Master

Motherboard Master

November 8, 2012 6:34:27 PM

Which motherboard? If it's an OEM motherboard (Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.) you can pretty much forget about it, but if it's a store bought board, there may be a chance (a very slim one, however).

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twelve25

CPUs Authority

Motherboard Expert

November 8, 2012 6:47:49 PM

That's what I meant. He said it was a prebuilt and those never have the higher end chipsets and BIOS updates to support the next gen CPUs.

Really, the answer is you have to check with your motherboard documentation.

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