ASUS pledges support for AM3+ both for current and future motherboards

[zanzabar]

im guessing that global foundries is having problems ramping up enough production to make the cpus needed for the launch. Also i think that they are trying for a server and consumer launch at the same time so its not really the chipsets but more that they want to launch every thing at the same time but they cannot get 32nm to work right.

[Halk]

I just posted this elsewhere, but if I'm right, it whould clear up the mess:

First have a look at the difference of AM3 and AM3+



Which in fact does make it physically impossible for a AM3+ CPU, to fit in a AM3 motherboard.

However, current AMD chipsets like the 890, 880, 870, 790, 760- series etc. IS compatible with Zambezi/Bulldozer/FX AM3+ CPU's.

So, what the motherboard manufacturers are currently doing, is fitting AM3+ sockets on existing AM3 motherboards, and calling them a new revision.

To sum up: For a motherboard to support Zambezi/Bulldozer/FX, it will need a AM3+ socket, but not (necceseraly) the new 990FX / 990X chipset.

Generally AM3+ sockets are black, and AM3 sockets are white, so it's actually quite easy to spot which boards are compatible, and which are not.

Just have a look at Gigabytes website, and you'll be able to spot both AM3 and AM3+ sockets on motherboards (confusingly) under the AM3 tab:

http://gigabyte.com/products/list.as...jid=10&p=2&v=2


If you want to check if you board has an AM3+ socket, just look for 3 things:

1) Black socket
2) Written "AM3b" in it
3) Has one less pinhole

Sorry no. I don't think you're right. Oliverda got it right - or at least the only possible explanation.

You're partly right though.
AM3+ sockets have an extra pin.
I do not think that motherboard manufacturers are puting AM3+ sockets on AM3 boards and calling it a new revision.
I think the first batch of AM3+ CPUs will have a pin missing.

The reason being no matter how hard Asus try, a BIOS update won't open up a hole for a pin.

[Dainas]

If not someone will just clip the pin to see what happens, only a matter of time till someone has an expendable AM3+ cpu.

[XRL8]

Well, Asus made it fully official.
http://event.asus.com/2011/mb/AM3_PLUS_Ready/

So im stumped.WTH is goin on.
JF-AMD where are you ? Some clarification is MUCH needed.
As for the chipset, seems like all from 7xx series supports BD too.New Asus Am3+ boards are built on 7xx 8xx and 9xx series chipsets.

[richierich]

Awesome news if so, I don't have to shell out as much for the 1st-gen BD setup since all I'll have to buy is a CPU.

[Gilgamesh]

Asus official news:
http://event.asus.com/2011/mb/AM3_PLUS_Ready/

[Spreader]

so its clear; zambezi am3+ can be installed on am3 socket; the 1 pin extra key from am3+ socket is for future second bulldozer generation (prevent them to be installed in am3 normal socket);
zambezi i guess will have 939 pins; one more than am3 cpu and the extra pin is on the pin 1 (in the corner); and that will prevent zambezi fit in am2 socket

[nex_73]

Some more info from sweclockers
Care to comment JF-AMD?

[Manicdan]

anyone think its possible that the M4A88TD could be bios upgradable if the M4A890s are?

[w0mbat]

yes, almost all current AM3 boards can. but ASUS only updates boards >$100 -.-

[Manicdan]

yes, almost all current AM3 boards can. but ASUS only updates boards >$100 -.-

some of those 880G boards, especially mine, are >100$. and it would be really easy to update 6 more boards with one more bios change and some copy/pasting

[DarthShader]

Some more info from sweclockers
Care to comment JF-AMD?

So the processors don't have that extra pin at all??

[w0mbat]

@Manicdan: but maybe not all AM3+ CPUs would run, cause they need a better powermanagement.

@DarthShader: AM3 has 941 pins but AM3 cpus have only 938, so u got room for the extra one.

[nex_73]

So the processors don't have that extra pin at all??

Only the ones "in the know" knows
that extra pin-hole on the am3+ socket might just be for future-proof bd rev2?
or as i stated before - amd has made a quick-fix just not to delay the bd-release?
socket pin-holes =/= cpu-pins
ex: am3 socket = 941 pin-holes, am3 cpu = 938 pins
Some more info FlanK3r found

[FlanK3r]

its stressful for me, need June, now ! What about performance? Hope, this will not be compromis for lower performance...

[nex_73]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...3&postcount=80

[XRL8]

Not all of them were needed, so not all of them were properly routed.Thats reasonable.
But why JF-AMD stated that it WONT FIT and that bulldozer REQUIRED new different motherboards.
Im sure electrical reqs and specs for BD were known to AMD at least year ago.That would mean simple memo to the mb manufacturers urging them to properly route all am3 pins would solve all this mess.Yet, they said back then that BD "in spite of their tries" just wont work in AM3,and new redesigned socket was NEEDED.
I smell bull coming from AMD.It looks like any properly designed mb would work with BD, just as i thought it should.

[nex_73]

Sure any properly designed am3 mb would work but only if the 2 extra am3 socket pin-holes are routed by default, as done only on the ones on ASUS list.
So it's easer for AMD to go out and say what they have said. Probably it was to late by the time they found out, and to many mb:s where already manufactured & sold to the market...

[XRL8]

They didnt "found out" ,they are the cpu manufacturer, they KNEW from day one.Or do you believe AMD doesnt know their own specifications :/.
For one bulldozer is a chip that was in development many years.And from the start of AM3 socket it was supposed to be compatible with it.
However about a year ago, things changed.All of a sudden AMD does a 180 turn, saying it absolutely needs new socket/chipset combo ie, new mainboards.
There wasnt there anything about the fact that not all mb makers properly route all pin sockets.
If they have just put a list of required specs for BD back then ,all mainboards at the market currently would be already BD compatible, not just the random ones.
Not all AM2 boards were compatible with AM2+ cpus, but AMD back then didnt REQUIRE new socket/chipset combo for them.
All this looks shady at best.Awaiting some JF-AMD comment, or better yet official AMD one ,but AMD latelt is more secretive than CIA. So probably they wont issue anything.

[nex_73]

One can only speculate. As often what is communicated to partners and heck even internal in a company could vary. You tell them what they need to know right there and then, you don't tell them everything...(as we know things could very fast change)
And yes i know the story behind bd development... And no i don't think all am3 boards out there could cope with the bd. am3 specs are met, but on the ones on asus list the specs are higher (better vrms and electronics etc etc)
as you said - it was about a year ago things changed, don't you think the mb makers already had the am3 boards ready by then (design, bios etc)? why delay the thuban/am3 launch waiting for bd/am3+ specs not set in stone then?

[Spreader]

But why JF-AMD stated that it WONT FIT and that bulldozer REQUIRED new different motherboards.

JF-AMD stated : "Bulldozer is ONLY supported in AM3+ sockets. This comes straight from the desktop guys."

he never said it WONT FIT; only is not supported

[wez]

Great news for those with Asus boards
But cant blame other manufactures for not including, at the time, unneeded pcb tracing. If that info is true, that is

[Lightman]

I'm pretty sure ASUS knows what is telling on their official website. They must by now ran DVT or even production samples of BD through their boards. I'm happy I've went with CH IV form my last upgrade because I will be able to just update CPU in the near future! Even if support of BD will not be perfect on AM3 boards it's great to spread your upgrade cost more evenly across few months

[XRL8]

... And no i don't think all am3 boards out there could cope with the bd. am3 specs are met, but on the ones on asus list the specs are higher (better vrms and electronics etc etc)
as you said - it was about a year ago things changed, don't you think the mb makers already had the am3 boards ready by then (design, bios etc)? why delay the thuban/am3 launch waiting for bd/am3+ specs not set in stone then?

Im not saying all AM3 boards could.
Between a year ago and now, there were many new MB made.They all could be BD ready now,if steps had been taken a year ago.AMD said it wasnt possible.It is.
AM3 was launched WAY before thuban.And thuban launch doesnt have anything to do with this.Thuban is compatible even with AM2+ boards.And AM3 with or without all pins connected.
Mainboard development isnt particurarly hard when you have the base already done, and just have to do new revision to met some new specs (point in case, gigabyte and theirs rev 3.1 am3+).
I have a feeling AMD wanted to go with new sockets/chipsets, but got some major resistance from asus on this, maybe the rumoured delay of the 990fx has something to do with it also.

In essence, all this shift to BD compatible boards could be done long ago.

JF-AMD stated BD NEEDS AM3+ SOCKET here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...85#post4777285

Asus claims BD will fit in AM3.

And a post here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...40#post4771640

Sneaky, "that will not be supported", ok, i understand now.So its possible but AMD wont "support" that.Sheesh.

Although here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...99#post4765499

He clearly states that the thing asus just announced ,isnt true.

Its a mess, AMD should give a press release in response to ASUS claims.

[Olivon]

Maybe JF knows nothing about desktop