n00b CPU question

**Bandalero** · 23-05-2012, 13:48

Not totally tech savvy so hoping I can get an answer for this:

My PC is an AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200 series - it can run Diablo 3, however the minimum requirements for the game says I should have a 4400 series. My question is: Is this a simple chipset replacement or would have I have to replace the entire motherboard (i.e. buy a new computer?). Can I plug something like this: AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX into my motherboard to change my PC to a x4?

Thanks in advance

**Felix** · 23-05-2012, 19:23

No you can't do that. Your motherboard will take cpus with the designated 939 socket. The new AMD cpus fit a socalled AM3+ socket. The best cpu you can get and fit in, as far as I can tell would be a Athlon 64-FX60.

Sale is deactivated on Newegg, and if you find one, it might be very expensive.

**Bandalero** · 24-05-2012, 02:10

Originally Posted by Felix

No you can't do that. Your motherboard will take cpus with the designated 939 socket. The new AMD cpus fit a socalled AM3+ socket. The best cpu you can get and fit in, as far as I can tell would be a Athlon 64-FX60.

Sale is deactivated on Newegg, and if you find one, it might be very expensive.

Thanks for the tip! I read my motherboard's manual and I actually have a AM2 socket, which makes it cheaper. Would you happen to know what is the best AM2 socketed CPU for an Athlon 64 x2?

**Tilitoon** · 24-05-2012, 03:14

I would need a second opinion on this because I haven't build many PC with socket AM2 motherboards, but wouldn't the AMD Phenom II X2 560BE work with this ? Its TDP is only 80watts. I'm aware that not every motherboard would support it though, and you will need to update the BIOS to the latest version. If you have a custom built PC with a good motherboard I'm pretty sure it'll work, but if it's a Dell or an HP I don't think it will.

Otherwise if you haven't updated a BIOS before and you don't feel like taking any chances, your best option is to buy a brand new mobo with a new CPU (and possibly new RAM).

**Felix** · 24-05-2012, 14:03

If you have a socket AM2, my advice wasn't correct. Tilitoon is completely correct that you can in theory use a cpu that belongs to an AM2+ socket. But you can only do this if your mb manufactor has supported with a new BIOS. You will have to look into this before you go ahead.If such support exists you can step up to a Phenom cpu.

If you want to stick with AM2, then you can see a list of AM2 processors on wiki. Make note that the Kuma line of cpus belong to AM2+. There is also a shift of die, I am not sure how this play in. So on the safe side, the best would be a big Windsor cpu, like Athlon x2 6400+, as far as I can tell.

I would advice you though, to go on a more techsavy forum than this, and get confirmation.

**Penncrow** · 30-05-2012, 19:58

If you are going to replace the CPU, you might as well upgrade that mobo to AM3.

**nurman** · 02-06-2012, 04:40

Originally Posted by Penncrow

If you are going to replace the CPU, you might as well upgrade that mobo to AM3.

This, oh so, so much.

If you're considering the Zambezi CPU you just linked, I think throwing ~50-75 bucks for a new motherboard AM3+ motherboard that is required for it shouldn't be too much.