News AMD socket AM3 processors to work in AM2 boards

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/07/20/amd_socket_am3_processors_to_work_in_am2_boards/1

Sources close to AMD have suggested that the company's future 45nm socket AM3 CPUs will work in current socket AM2 motherboards.

 

This has been known about for ages, it's called AM2+.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3169

 

AM2+ is a bridge between AM2 and AM3... AM2+ has HT3.0 and improved power management (as stated in the article) and AM3 adds DDR3. However, the good thing is that AMD isn't changing the power requirements for AM2+ or AM3, which ultimately means there should be no physical issue preventing AM3 chips running in AM2 boards.

 

But as I say, it's been known about since June 2006!

 

I'd rather have a faster/more efficient CPU then a CPU which I can drop into older motherboards and stuff. I'm still skeptical bout AMD's upcoming lineups, especially given the arrival of Penryn not too far from now

 

So would everybody, but the point is, when, in the not-too-distant future, you can't buy a new AM2 processor for your "old" AM2 motherboard you can drop in an AM3. Sure, you'll be crippling it, but you won't be lashing out on a new mobo and new memory. Good for most business and SOHO systems.

 

i am still waiting for this phenom and the Bit-tech review.

 

/\ ditto, and how about a few more DX10 games while we're at it....

 

Its good if you wanna upgrade your pc slowly (or you have no other option, like me).

 

I guess this is good news for me since I just bought an AM2 board but realistically if I later bought an AM3 processor for it what would I do with the old CPU? (Yes, I could sell it IF I found someone who had an AM2 board without a CPU but at that time I suspect those will be like finding a new 754/940/939 board is now.) I find it best to just upgrade the MB & CPU at the same time.

Still, to me it shows AMD is thinking of it's customers (because sometimes changing the board causes way too many hassles - especially in a business)

 

So I guess the idea is that an AM2 chip isn't forward compatible to AM2+ nor AM3 but any chip from AM2+ and AM3 is backwards compatible, it'll just be slower. So it's not really a new socket just a new specing for the chips.

 

afaik an AM2 CPU should be usable in an AM2+ board & in theory would also be in an AM3 board except that an AM3 board is unlikely to have DDR2 sockets for RAM (mind you someone like Asrock may make a combo).
Of course an AM2 CPU wouldn't be able to use the extra features (split power planes etc.) that the future sockets will offer.

 

Granted this may be of questionable value, but it feels good to see a company NOT trying to shaft their customers by making them buy hardware they don't really need. It's stuff like this that keeps me an AMD fanboi!

 

I upgraded to AM2 specifically for this reason when DDR2 hit its lowest price point. Ended up getting a X2 3600 (now at 2.8Ghz), an abit KN9 Ultra and 4Gb of cas4 DDR2 for just over £200. When the new AMD CPUs are released, it should offer a decent upgrade path.