Looking for a new CPU

[marathonturtle]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to upgrade my old dual core to a quad core. I currently have this motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376R

Which has a AM2+ socket, so I heard that limits the compatibility of some cpus. I was wondering if you guys could recommend a quad core CPU that would fit that socket.

I think the dual core I have currently is starting to be a bottleneck on my system and ruining the performance of games, mainly Witcher 2 which is stuttering like hell and I get a bad FPS all around.

Here are the rest of specs on my system:
AMD Phenom II X2
ATI Radeon 4870
650watt PSU

Thanks.

 

[Keemann]

I found this one:

http://www.pcupgrade.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=6198&categoryid=484

Look for an AMD Phenom for AM2+

 

[johnsonjohnson]

Hi. What's your budget? Since you only mentioned AM2+, I'm going to assume you have Rev 1.0 of this motherboard. All 3 revisions of your motherboard are Socket AM3 Ready. With the latest BIOS update (F9G) your motherboard will support Socket AM3 CPUs so you'll have a range of Phenom II X4 and X6 CPUs to choose from the list below. I'm also assuming your budget is only enough for a CPU upgrade or else I might recommend you think about a platform upgrade.

BIOS download page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2982#bios

CPU support list: http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=2982

 

[marathonturtle]

Hi. What's your budget? Since you only mentioned AM2+, I'm going to assume you have Rev 1.0 of this motherboard. All 3 revisions of your motherboard are Socket AM3 Ready. With the latest BIOS update (F9G) your motherboard will support Socket AM3 CPUs so you'll have a range of Phenom II X4 and X6 CPUs to choose from the list below. I'm also assuming your budget is only enough for a CPU upgrade or else I might suggest you to think about a platform upgrade.

BIOS download page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2982#bios

CPU support list: http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=2982

The price I'm aiming for is around the $100 range but I'm willing to spend up to $150, and that's only for the CPU.

Also i'm not sure what you mean by platform upgrade, could you clarify?

Thanks for both of the links, I'll update the BIOS.

 

[johnsonjohnson]

I meant upgrading to AM3+ or switch to Intel because aside from your graphics card you are at the end of your upgrade path. This should help narrow down the list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/#k=3,6&sort=a7&s=1,7

 

[marathonturtle]

If I update the BIOS won't my mobo be able to support AM3+?

 

[johnsonjohnson]

No only AM3. The CPU support list doesn't include any AM3+ processors.

 

[marathonturtle]

Ah, so to get AM3+ I would need a new mobo then?

I can't really afford that much of upgrading currently, I'm just aiming to get games running better with minimal part replacement. Out of that cpu list you gave me, this seems like the best one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Also with the BIOs update that I downloaded (F9G) When I try to run the applications it says it doesn't support 64bit systems. Is there another version that does?

Thank you, you have been super helpful!

 

[johnsonjohnson]

Yes you will need a new motherboard for AM3+. That CPU looks fine and would give you better performance. It shouldn't matter whether you're running a 32 or 64 bit OS. I suggest you follow the instructions from your motherboard manual or download one here:

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-ma770-ud3_e.pdf

Make you your motherboard is rev 1.0 and not 2.0 or 2.1.

 

[marathonturtle]

Yes you will need a new motherboard for AM3+. That CPU looks fine and would give you better performance. It shouldn't matter whether you're running a 32 or 64 bit OS. I suggest you follow the instructions from your motherboard manual or download one here:

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-ma770-ud3_e.pdf

Make you your motherboard is rev 1.0 and not 2.0 or 2.1.

Yeah turns out mine was Rev. 2.0, So I tried downloading the update for that revision but I'm still getting the incompatibility error that it doesn't work on 64bit systems because apparently it's a unsupported 16bit application.

Any Ideas here?

Also I found out that my processor is already AM3 yet my mobo is AM2+, why would they work together then?

 

[johnsonjohnson]

In that case you need at least version FF to support the Phenom II X4 965. Maybe you should try the @BIOS utility to update the BIOS?

 

[johnsonjohnson]

I think the manual says there are 2 methods to update the BIOS which are Q-Flash and @BIOS.

Edit: I found a thread that might be helpful after a quick search here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/320960-30-890gpa-ud3h-bios-update-64bit

 

[johnsonjohnson]

I didn't see the last sentence in your post. The reason must be that your processor is already supported in whatever BIOS version in the CPU compatibility list. What is the version of your BIOS? Maybe it already supports the Phenom II X4 965 and you don't need to update your BIOS.

 

[marathonturtle]

Yeah that's what I was thinking, though not sure if this is true or not, my friend told me some AM3 processors are compatible with AM2+ motherboards. Though I don't know if that the case for the Phenom II X4 965.

I'm looking through my mobos manual from the link you gave me earlier and I'm thinking i'm going to attempt to use @BIOS to update my BIOS, but I don't want to if i don't have too. How do i check the version of my BIOS?

 

[johnsonjohnson]

The manual I linked to is for revision 1.0 motherboard. It will show you how to find your BIOS version. I think it appears during POST when the computer boots and also listed in the BIOS. You'll have to look at the one for revision 2.0 here:

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-_ma770-v.2.0_e.pdf

BIOS download page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3097#bios

Edit: It's on page 34.

CPU support list: http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3097

 

[FALC0N]

Yeah that's what I was thinking, though not sure if this is true or not, my friend told me some AM3 processors are compatible with AM2+ motherboards. Though I don't know if that the case for the Phenom II X4 965.

Am2+ and AM3 are basically the same but am2+ uses ddr2 memory while am3 uses DDR 3 memory. AM3 processors will work in AM2+ boards because the memory controller supports DDR2 or DDR 3. the reverse is not true because am2+ processors do not support DDR3.

Your board supports any AM2, AM2+, or AM3 processor. It does not support AM3+ processors, which right now is Zambezi and piledriver.

 

[marathonturtle]

The manual I linked to is for revision 1.0 motherboard. It will show you how to find your BIOS version. I think it appears during POST when the computer boots and also listed in the BIOS. You'll have to look at the one for revision 2.0 here:

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-_ma770-v.2.0_e.pdf

BIOS download page: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3097#bios

Edit: It's on page 34.

CPU support list: http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3097

Ok, I have version FB. But according to what Falcon said it doesn't even matter because my board supports AM3 anyways?

 

[johnsonjohnson]

Yes he's right but that's after the proper BIOS update for every CPUs to be compatible. You'll need version FF for it to be compatible with Phenom II X4 965 as indicated from the list.

 

[marathonturtle]

Ah, alright I'll get that one then.

 

[marathonturtle]

Ok, I used @BIOS and updated to BIOS version FJ, which i assume has all previous updates in it as well. So now i'm set for the CPU I want?

 

[johnsonjohnson]

Good to hear you updated it successfully. Yes you're now set for the new CPU.

 

[FALC0N]

One nice thing about Gigabyte, they tend to keep their bios updates coming for good length of time. Some manufacturers are not that thorough.

 

[marathonturtle]

Awesome! Thanks guys you've been super helpful!

 

[johnsonjohnson]

You're welcome and good luck with your upgrade!

 

[marathonturtle]

Best answer selected by marathonturtle.