First AM3+ board hits the egg

[Spikesoldier]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128490

too new for a picture!

 

[blckgrffn]

Should have guessed it was Gigabyte, they have been awesome about keeping my fleet of AM2 boards compliant with AM2+ and AM3 Processors...

 

[dma0991]

Manly tears were shed :'(. Here is a picture of what it should look like :awe:

 

[Tanclearas]

I wonder if they're sure this time...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2152693

 

[Vette73]

Here are all Gigabytes AM3+ boards...

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/list.aspx?s=42&jid=10&p=2&v=26

 

[fffblackmage]

It looks like an AM3 mobo... so what's new that makes it AM3+?

 

[busydude]

It looks like an AM3 mobo... so what's new that makes it AM3+?

The socket.. which is quite apparent.. and possibly few internal tweaks.

 

[lifeblood]

Anyone know if it will support core unlocking? I have a Athlon II X3 unlocked to a X4 that I would like to put into a AM3+ board, but I don't want to lose the forth core.

 

[RyanGreener]

Really strange. I don't see why people would buy these boards if it isn't confirmed that it'll use all of Bulldozer's new features.

 

[Vette73]

Anyone know if it will support core unlocking? I have a Athlon II X3 unlocked to a X4 that I would like to put into a AM3+ board, but I don't want to lose the forth core.

As long as it has a 710 or 850 southbridge and the BIOs supports it then yes.

Most boards with the newwer 850 southbridge will support unlocking.

 

[chucky2]

So basically, will support the future AM3+ CPU's, but, uses the current 800 series chipset.

These boards are only useful if you cannot wait for the 900 series AM3+ boards to come out - whenever that is.

It'd be nice if a credible site could nail AMD down on exactly when their 900 series chipsets will be shipping, and what features over the 800 series they'll bring.

Chuck

 

[toolbag]

So basically, will support the future AM3+ CPU's, but, uses the current 800 series chipset.

These boards are only useful if you cannot wait for the 900 series AM3+ boards to come out - whenever that is.

It'd be nice if a credible site could nail AMD down on exactly when their 900 series chipsets will be shipping, and what features over the 800 series they'll bring.

Chuck

Right. I'm just going to wait. I thought about buying this board but decided against it since the newer chip sets must be arriving soon or at the time the cpu's come out.

 

[chucky2]

Well, that's what has me worried a little. If the CPU's are really going to release in 2 months, then why would multiple manufacturers do a whole run of boards with AM3+ sockets using 800 series chipsets, rather than just waiting to the 2 months (if the CPU's are really coming then) and themselves the hassle of having to manufacture - and support - 800 series AM3+ boards?

Unless they're using up a ton of inventory they can't get rid of, I can't think of a good reason for it from their perspective.

Which worries me...perhaps the 900 series are a good way off...

Chuck

 

[The J]

Unless they're using up a ton of inventory they can't get rid of, I can't think of a good reason for it from their perspective.

This makes sense to me. Perhaps manufacturers were seeing sales slow down since enthusiasts wanted to wait for AM3+ motherboards. This might imply that they would then sell less 9xx-series boards, but maybe there's some brand new feature that they think will still let them sell lots of new boards?

I mentioned this in another thread, but I bought an MSI 890FXA-GD65 from Newegg a bit over a week ago and the board has text right above the northbridge heatsink that says "AM3+ CPU Support". I'm not sure if I got lucky or if these boards have been in retail channels long enough so that you'll actually get a new rev of the board. My board, however, does NOT have the black socket like the one shown in the picture of the Gigabyte board; it has a normal AM3 socket.

 

[toolbag]

I'd say Gigabyte probably just wants to grab the first am3+ mb sales.

 

[insurgent]

I might be too optimistic but doesn't this mean bulldozer is promising in terms of performance? Otherwise why go through all the trouble of releasing 800 series mobos and hyping up am3+ support?

 

[Tanclearas]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157248

I'm not sure why newegg is marking some boards as AM3+ and not others. This board was one of the first AM3+ (890fx based) boards announced.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=890FX Deluxe5

 

[chucky2]

This makes sense to me. Perhaps manufacturers were seeing sales slow down since enthusiasts wanted to wait for AM3+ motherboards. This might imply that they would then sell less 9xx-series boards, but maybe there's some brand new feature that they think will still let them sell lots of new boards?

I mentioned this in another thread, but I bought an MSI 890FXA-GD65 from Newegg a bit over a week ago and the board has text right above the northbridge heatsink that says "AM3+ CPU Support". I'm not sure if I got lucky or if these boards have been in retail channels long enough so that you'll actually get a new rev of the board. My board, however, does NOT have the black socket like the one shown in the picture of the Gigabyte board; it has a normal AM3 socket.

Well, could be that your board - including white socket - really does support AM3+ CPU's. Or, maybe it doesn't, but, it's the same PCB as the ones that do, so you've got the logo but not the support.

What does Gigabyte say?

Chuck

 

[GeezerMan]

the GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-USB3 looks like a mATX board to me.

 

[toolbag]

Here is an AsRock that has the black socket and says it supports am3+.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157243

 

[drizek]

pics are up, btw.

 

[dawp]

Well, that's what has me worried a little. If the CPU's are really going to release in 2 months, then why would multiple manufacturers do a whole run of boards with AM3+ sockets using 800 series chipsets, rather than just waiting to the 2 months (if the CPU's are really coming then) and themselves the hassle of having to manufacture - and support - 800 series AM3+ boards?

Unless they're using up a ton of inventory they can't get rid of, I can't think of a good reason for it from their perspective.

Which worries me...perhaps the 900 series are a good way off...

Chuck

1, people will buy a AM3+ motherboard if it is available whether it has 8 series or 9 series chipset.

2, I'm pretty sure the AM3+ socket is a drop-in upgrade since it's missing 1 pin compared to AM3 sockets so there is no need to rework the board.

3, AMD has stated that the 8 series chipset does support AM3+ chips.

 

[dawp]

Well, could be that your board - including white socket - really does support AM3+ CPU's. Or, maybe it doesn't, but, it's the same PCB as the ones that do, so you've got the logo but not the support.

What does Gigabyte say?

Chuck

My understanding is that an AM3+ chip will drop into a AM3 socket and all that is needed is a bios update, which some venders already have out, such as asus. the a4m89gtd pro/usb does, I have two and I already checked their download site.

 

[hans007]

the difference in pinout is only for things like power gating and such. the cpus are all hypertransport 3 which is how the chipset communicates , so basically any hypertransport 3 chipset should be able to communicate with bulldozer with bios support. theoretically at least.

 

[lifeblood]

Here is an AsRock that has the black socket and says it supports am3+.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157243

I went to the Asrock product page for this board and it says nothing about supporting AM3+. I would be cautious until the vendor says it. NewEgg is pretty good but does occasionally make mistakes when describing features.