The Official X2 Mobo Support Thread

[terror_adagio]

Since there has been many questions as which mobo has support for the new X2 line of AMD64 Athlons, I have compiled this list of OFFICIAL mobos that currently 100 percent support the new X2 line.

Please note: Most 939 motherboards SHOULD be able to support the X2 line. Just because your 939 mobo may not be listed does not mean it will not work, nor that it won't be supported later. The following chipsets are confirmed compatible: nForce3/Ultra, nForce4/Ultra/SLI, VIA K8T800Pro.

If I install an X2 CPU in a socket 939 without a official dual-core BIOS update. Will my computer boot?

This will vary. I've tested two socket 939 nForce3 Ultra motherboards, the Neo2 Platinum and the similar Gigabyte model and both booted fine and loaded Windows XP SP2. However, the BIOS and Windows only reported the X2 as a single processor. You should be able to boot and load Windows with the latest unofficial X2 BIOS, but do not expect proper dual-core support until your respected motherboard manufacturer releases a new X2-ready BIOS.

__________________________________________________

Confirmed X2 Support

The following are known to officially support the X2 line:

Abit

AV8 *BIOS 2005/05/17+
AV8-3rd Eye *BIOS 2005/05/17+
Fatal1ty AN8 SLI *BIOS 2005/04/25+
Fatal1ty AN8 *BIOS 2005/06/01+
AN8 *BIOS 2005/05/07+
AN8 Ultra *BIOS 2005/04/25+
AX8 *BIOS 2005/06/07+

ASUS

A8N-E *BIOS 05/30/2005+
A8N-SLI Deluxe *BIOS 05/26/2005+
A8V *BIOS 06/02/2005+
A8V Deluxe *BIOS 06/02/2005+

Chaintech

VNF4 / VNF4 Ultra *BIOS 2005/06/03+

DFI

LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-D *BIOS 2005/03/10+
LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D *BIOS 2005/03/10+
LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR *BIOS 2005/03/10+
LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR *BIOS 2005/03/10+
LANPARTY UT nF3 ULTRA-D *Official BIOS+

ECS

KN1 *BIOS 05/30/2005+

EPoX

EP-9NDA3+ *BIOS 04/01/2005+
EP-9NPAJ *BIOS 03/22/2005+
EP-9NPA+ULTRA *BIOS 03/22/2005+

Gigabyte

GA-K8NXP-9 *BIOS 05/27/2005+
GA-K8NXP-SLI *BIOS 05/26/2005+

MSI

K8N Diamond *BIOS 05/27/2005+
K8N SLI Platinum *BIOS 2005/5/10+
K8N Neo4 Platinum *BIOS 05/27/2005+
RS480M2 *BIOS 06/02/2005+

WinFast

NF4K8MC *BIOS 05/19/2005+

Confirmed X2 Support Under Testing

These motherboards are confirmed supported and official updated BIOSs are on their way.

K8T Neo2
K8N Neo2 Platinum

Unconfirmed X2 Support

The following are known in development X2 support:

Gigabyte

GA-K8NS Pro-939
GA-K8NSNXP-939
GA-K8NS-939
GA-K8NS Ultra-939

I'll keep this thread updated for any changes!

Latest AMD CPU Driver (with X2 support):
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...1_9706,00.html

[lv_88]

nice to know all this now

now, I've just bought a dfi lanparty ultra d, will I be able to even startup the system with a x2 the first time?

[terror_adagio]

nice to know all this now

now, I've just bought a dfi lanparty ultra d, will I be able to even startup the system with a x2 the first time?

Yep! Just make sure you update to the latest BIOS.

[s7e9h3n]

Don't forget to make sure that you're running multi-proc pc under device manager. One wierd thing seems to happen, though, if you decide to switch out your x2 to a single core cpu. In both my OS (win2003) and with OPB (xpsp2) windows failed to switch the driver to uni-processor pc when we changed our cpu's back to single cores. The result will be very high cpu temps and the only way around it seems to be a reconfigure or re-install....BTW, the DFI's will work fine with the x2's :

[z-design]

What about some microatx 939 motherboards? I know the MSI is up there, but what about the ECS version?

[NickK]

What happens in this scenario:
1. No single core A64 is available to update motherboard BIOS - only have an X2 at hand.
2. Motherboard arrives (ie DFI with 3 series BIOS as shipped - with no X2 support).

Q: Will the BIOS work well enough (or act stable enough) to flash to the newer 5.10 BIOS with X2 support or will there be concurrency issues within the BIOS?

Currently I believe that DFI are currently moving the 5 series BIOS into production from beta so the motherboards will start shipping with it - but it will take a few weeks to filter through.

[terror_adagio]

What about some microatx 939 motherboards? I know the MSI is up there, but what about the ECS version?

No word yet.

[split]

What Nvidia say.

Consumers who already own an NVIDIA nForce4 or NVIDIA nForce3-based motherboard or PC and wish to harness the power of the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor need to contact their respective motherboard or PC manufacturer about specific support and BIOS updates.

[M1nDH4cK]

How about the EPoX Boards ?

[terror_adagio]

How about the EPoX Boards ?

Check first post.

[M1nDH4cK]

Check first post.

I may be a lot of things, but beeing blind isn't one of them. At the time of my post there was no info on the epox boards.

Thank you for the information.

[terror_adagio]

I may be a lot of things, but beeing blind isn't one of them. At the time of my post there was no info on the epox boards.

Thank you for the information.

I forgot EPox, it wasn't your fault.

[Mr. Tinker]

Where did you find info that X2 was supported by those Epox Boards? I can't find anything on their site.

[terror_adagio]

Been in contact with their BIOS tech team.

[terror_adagio]

First post updated.

[metro.cl]

any eta and pricing on this cpu?? i might pass the venice rush and save some money to get one of this cpus

[Hans.Gruber]

What Nvidia say.

Consumers who already own an NVIDIA nForce4 or NVIDIA nForce3-based motherboard or PC and wish to harness the power of the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor need to contact their respective motherboard or PC manufacturer about specific support and BIOS updates.

I wonder how my SK8N will do since it's a socket-940 board ?
I hate to buy new MB just to get DC, since increase in HT speed have very little advantages.

I wonder could i have my money back ?
This should support dual core Opterons if it's made by the specs..

btw. via's 890 owners should demand their money back.

[drunkenmaster]

so far across 4 years of cpu's, most cpu's and boards available there has only been one time a new cpu would not work in a board without first needing a flash, that was the an abit board not playing nice with winchesters. every single other cpu thats "unsupported" in bios always boots and is easy to sort out.

Unsupported, by manufacturers more often than not means just the cpu won't be recognised correctly by name, but will still work fine.

For it to be used as a dual core cpu though, i can't quite remember as not used a p4 with HT in ages now, you need to do a fresh install for windows to use two threads?

[Hans.Gruber]

Im going to try, but at the end of the summer. If it doesn't work i'll get my money back

btw. why my edit button is a picture of a cat ??

[ReelMonza]

Chaintech VNF4/VNF4 Ultra has a NEW BIOS for X2

[LBJGH]

I can confirm that the EPoX EP-9NDA3+ DOES NOT support the X2 with bios 04/01/05. I have an X2 4200 and it is recognized as a venice core "unknown processor" and only works as a single core CPU.

I'm currently looking for a replace mobo that supports the X2 and has an AGP slot.

[Hans.Gruber]

If motherboard is made based on specifications released by AMD, then dual core should work, at least with bios update.

IF you MB refuses to cooperate with dual core CPU's, you can ask your money back from motherboard manufacturer, or a replacement MB.

After all you did buy Socket-xxx MB, and it should support all specs that is required for it to be "MB for socket-xxx" (remember that there is different TDP specs).

if anyone tries to get a replacement MB. (i will after the summer)

[fine]

All Epox NF4 motherboards are confirmed supported with a official updated BIOS.

Epox 9nda3+ and 9nda3J does not support the X2 with bios 04/01/05. Epox say they are testing.

[d1c1ple]

I loaded the drivers and utils to check em out.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...1_9706,00.html

Pretty kewl if you want to leverage the power advantages. Screens attached of no load, then under load.

[ReelMonza]

Nice bike.