AM3+ upgrade- worth it?

[NTMBK]

The rig I have listed in my signature is currently built around a venerable AM2 motherboard. My question is, is it worth upgrading that rig to an AM3+ board? The current board is a very limited old Gigabyte uATX board, with all of these problems:

-only 2 SATA2 ports, so I can't add any more drives
-2 DDR2 DIMM sockets, realistically limiting me to 4GB RAM as the cost of 4GB DIMMs of DDR2 is utterly extortionate
-no core unlocking- my CPU is a Thuban die, meaning it is a hexacore with two locked cores. This could potentially be a six core processor on the right mobo, if I'm lucky.
-no user-adjustable CPU voltages, meaning I effectively cannot OC my processor at all. (When I try even a minor OC, it sets the voltages insanely high automatically)
-running out of PCI slots- my graphics card takes two slots, my wifi card takes another, and I only have one left to play with, meaning I can't add both a sound card and a new SATA controller
-PCIe Gen1 - meaning that my graphics card could potentially be bandwidth bottlenecked

Do you guys reckon it's worth upgrading? I could get 8GB of much faster RAM, a bit of an overclock, potentially 2 extra cores, far more SATA ports to let me hook up more drives, and a full sized ATX board for more expansion. (Although with the new board having enough SATA ports, that shouldn't be an issue any more, really.)

My main concern is how tricky swapping over would be- would I need to reinstall Windows 7? I'm also curious about the future of the AM3+ socket, as I might be interested in an upgrade to Steamroller in the future, if that came to AM3+ and is as good as predicted.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

when you set up the sata ports in the bois, are they set to legacy? if so they will imitate IDE drives, and use a generic driver and in most cases can be put on to a new motherboard that supports Legacy mode.

As for your os, you will need to re-activate.

 

[Phishy714]

My question is, unless you need 8 cores, why not switch to the superior sandy/ivy bridge line? Honestly, that would be the ONLY sound option to do - cause the "upgrade" to AM3+ will do almost nothing for you aside from the accessories that come with it. Might as well get the accessories AND the huge bump in performance.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

he would see a boost, going from ddr2 to ddr3 memory.

However, it all depends on what type of budget he has. If he has less then 200, i would go with ddr3 board, ddr3 memory, and pick up a small ssd drive

 

[NTMBK]

My question is, unless you need 8 cores, why not switch to the superior sandy/ivy bridge line? Honestly, that would be the ONLY sound option to do - cause the "upgrade" to AM3+ will do almost nothing for you aside from the accessories that come with it. Might as well get the accessories AND the huge bump in performance.

Because that would be considerably more expensive, and I have no need to do it.

Did you actually read my post? The upgrade to AM3+ would let me get more than 4GB RAM, at much higher speeds. It would let me overclock my processor. It would let me unlock an additional two cores on my processor. That's not "almost nothing", and definitely not bad for less than the cost of an i3.

 

[Durvelle27]

Because that would be considerably more expensive, and I have no need to do it.

Did you actually read my post? The upgrade to AM3+ would let me get more than 4GB RAM, at much higher speeds. It would let me overclock my processor. It would let me unlock an additional two cores on my processor. That's not "almost nothing", and definitely not bad for less than the cost of an i3.

yes it's worth it as you will get more PCIe and PCI slots, SATA III, overclocking ability, Core Unlocker, DDR3 RAM, and if Piledriver proves worthy you can just drop one in.

 

[pauldun170]

I'm voting no - Save your money for a proper soup to nuts upgrade.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Because that would be considerably more expensive, and I have no need to do it.

Did you actually read my post? The upgrade to AM3+ would let me get more than 4GB RAM, at much higher speeds. It would let me overclock my processor. It would let me unlock an additional two cores on my processor. That's not "almost nothing", and definitely not bad for less than the cost of an i3.

I would say that it depends completely on pricing. If you can get a decent mainboard for a reasonable price, go for it. You can always use the DDR3 in a future system, both haswell and broadwell will be DDR3...

 

[sarthakyadav]

i think u should go for it...u have an hd 7770..pcie 3 gen card...it is mst probably bandwith bottlenecked(i don think there's a way outta dat)...and apart from dat..get an asus mobo..theyve got some cheap ones....best quality out there and they got some simple core unlocker button..got one for my brother....and wat not will u have...y get hooked up wid an i3 when now u can get as marginal performance(and daa'a u have six cores!) dat of an i3...get a mobo upgrade...save money...and later just shoot for top spot...i5 or i7 later on if u think this setup aint working out...and ofcourse if dats a prob...then upgrade to a new amd cpu...piledriver on d way out..

 

[Gigantopithecus]

If you can go full ATX this is a lot of board for $70. You should be able to get an 8GB (2 x 4GB) kit of DDR3 for $30.

Sell your old board and DDR2 for $40 shipped on the forums and your net out of pocket cost is $70. That would be money very well spent.

 

[sarthakyadav]

If you can go full ATX this is a lot of board for $70. You should be able to get an 8GB (2 x 4GB) kit of DDR3 for $30.

Sell your old board and DDR2 for $40 shipped on the forums and your net out of pocket cost is $70. That would be money very well spent.

cant agree more with u!!!

 

[Ketchup]

IMO, wait until you had saved up some good money to get something that has a substantial speed improvement, like an i5 or an i7. AMD is just not in the game right now (at least where speed is concerned). If speed isn't a concern, stay with AMD. But the wanting to go up to 8 GB up RAM (highly recommended by the way) tells me things are getting a bit slow. It is also nice to know that Intel is a bit easier to track when it comes to the length of time the hand onto a core.

Think about how long you have had on your existing computer, and how much longer it would have lasted if you spent a few dollars on this or that. Maybe that thought never crossed your head. I don't know. I'm just throwing it out there.

Also, when I got my system below a few weeks ago, it activated like it did when I bought the OS in the first place. No phone calls required. It really depends on how long it's been since you activated windows with your current key. If I remember right, they stop requesting the 'call' after 6 months into your current activation.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Also, when I got my system below a few weeks ago, it activated like it did when I bought the OS in the first place. No phone calls required. It really depends on how long it's been since you activated windows with your current key. If I remember right, they stop requesting the 'call' after 6 months into your current activation.

There is usually no problems with product activation as long as you have a legit key. I still remember when I had 3(!) mainboards fail in a row. No problem if you call customer support and explain the situation...

 

[Ketchup]

I still remember when I had 3(!) mainboards fail in a row.

You're nickname isn't 'Lucky', is it.

 

[lifeblood]

I had a AM2+ motherboard which went bad and replaced it with a new AM3+ board (in preparation for BD, joke was on me). Maybe I wasn't doing anything stressful in the first place but I just didn't see a big difference in game loading times, FPS, etc.

 

[lifeblood]

Of course, you can use this opportunity to get faster and/or lower latency DDR3 RAM which will result in better performance.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

You're nickname isn't 'Lucky', is it.

:biggrin::thumbsup:

Well, they were Asrock 939Dual-SATA2's with ULi 1695 chipsets, so that goes some way to explain it...

I have not touched Asrock with a ten-foot bargepole since... (though I have heard they have gotten better...)

I -did- get a working one in the end. It still runs actually...

 

[guskline]

The rig I have listed in my signature is currently built around a venerable AM2 motherboard. My question is, is it worth upgrading that rig to an AM3+ board? The current board is a very limited old Gigabyte uATX board, with all of these problems:

-only 2 SATA2 ports, so I can't add any more drives
-2 DDR2 DIMM sockets, realistically limiting me to 4GB RAM as the cost of 4GB DIMMs of DDR2 is utterly extortionate
-no core unlocking- my CPU is a Thuban die, meaning it is a hexacore with two locked cores. This could potentially be a six core processor on the right mobo, if I'm lucky.
-no user-adjustable CPU voltages, meaning I effectively cannot OC my processor at all. (When I try even a minor OC, it sets the voltages insanely high automatically)
-running out of PCI slots- my graphics card takes two slots, my wifi card takes another, and I only have one left to play with, meaning I can't add both a sound card and a new SATA controller
-PCIe Gen1 - meaning that my graphics card could potentially be bandwidth bottlenecked

Do you guys reckon it's worth upgrading? I could get 8GB of much faster RAM, a bit of an overclock, potentially 2 extra cores, far more SATA ports to let me hook up more drives, and a full sized ATX board for more expansion. (Although with the new board having enough SATA ports, that shouldn't be an issue any more, really.)

My main concern is how tricky swapping over would be- would I need to reinstall Windows 7? I'm also curious about the future of the AM3+ socket, as I might be interested in an upgrade to Steamroller in the future, if that came to AM3+ and is as good as predicted.

You can see my sig below. Lets be blunt. No. You need a new MB and if so buy a z77 and an Intel Ivy bridge chip.

 

[jacktesterson]

Yes.

For roughly $60-70 after selling your old board and Ram (The Cost of a game), pretty much all your issues are gone, and you will get a 5th or 6th core most likely.


Not everyone needs to buy Z77 and Ivy.

 

[tweakboy]

Because that would be considerably more expensive, and I have no need to do it.

Did you actually read my post? The upgrade to AM3+ would let me get more than 4GB RAM, at much higher speeds. It would let me overclock my processor. It would let me unlock an additional two cores on my processor. That's not "almost nothing", and definitely not bad for less than the cost of an i3.

In that case do it, it will be well worth it. BTW 4GB RAM is now 16 dollars avg price. so grab a 8GB kit for 32 dollars. gl

 

[chucky2]

OP you could also just wait for Haswell end of 1st Q/start to mid 2nd Q next year. I'd have done that myself with my AM2 right except the board was getting way too quirky. Really the new AM3+ does nothing for me over the AM2 except it's stable and unlocks the dual core to a quad core.

If you can't wait then I agree with the others that have said get the AM3+ board and sell off the AM2 board to cost justify it.

Chuck

 

[techpun]

I am kinda in the same situation but at this point I am coming from a 939 socket instead of AM2. I think even an AM2 would be a solid upgrade.

 

[guskline]

Yes.

For roughly $60-70 after selling your old board and Ram (The Cost of a game), pretty much all your issues are gone, and you will get a 5th or 6th core most likely.


Not everyone needs to buy Z77 and Ivy.

How much do you really think the op will get for his old mb and ram. CMON! be serious.

 

[Ketchup]

How much do you really think the op will get for his old mb and ram. CMON! be serious.

He just doesn't want to make him mad. From your posts NTMBK, it sounds like you want to go AM3+. Nothing wrong with that. Go for it!

 

[VirtualLarry]

I would go for it. A new mobo could breathe some new life into your system.