[Anchoret]

I picked up a CPU/MB sale combo at Frys last night, a retail-box AMD Phenom X3 8650 and Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 motherboard, which says it supports AM2+ CPUs..

Upon looking at the motherboard site, I notice this

"Note:
"* If you install AMD AM2+ CPU on AM2 motherbord,[sic] the system bus speed will downgrade from HT3.0(5200MHz) to HT1.0(2000 MT/s) spec; however, the frequency of AM2+ CPU will not be impacted. "

What does this really mean?

Is anything crippled? Is any performance affected? Is this a poor board choice, and if so, for what reason? Should I take this back?

Thanks for any clear help; I'm totally confused.

[frankjohn]

If you want a cpu to run at the higher # iwould take it back & exehange it

[crjdriver]

It supports that cpu and should not have a problem as long as you use bios F2 or later [that is needed for your cpu]

Next you do understand that you have selected a board with onboard video correct?

If you are going to install a real video card, I would look at one of the 770 or 790 chipset boards. They will cost more however IMO you will get better performance.
If you want onboard video, then I would go with a 780 chipset board.

[Anchoret]

I still don't understand what's happening here.

The CPU is supposedly unaffected, but what is affected?

Is this an improper motherboard for the CPU? Right dead-center on the front of the box is a big blurb, "AM2+ CPU SUPPORT!"...but does it really?

[crjdriver]

Read my post above. The board supports that cpu IF you have the bios I posted or later.

Is it a "bad" mb? Again read the post. You would be better off with a more modern chipset.

[Anchoret]

Originally Posted by crjdriver

It supports that cpu and should not have a problem as long as you use bios F2 or later [that is needed for your cpu]

It does, according to the list, but it's really kosher?

I'm going to be doing only audio recording on this box (always a challenge) and don't need additional mysterious grief from a bad kludge.

Next you do understand that you have selected a board with onboard video correct?

If you are going to install a real video card, I would look at one of the 770 or 790 chipset boards. They will cost more however IMO you will get better performance.
If you want onboard video, then I would go with a 780 chipset board.

Video is going to be a non-issue (I hope!) as I'm going to use this system purely for sound recording with the only video being dual-monitor editing screens. I have a couple of dual-monitor cards that should work. It's about the most minimal video I can imagine.

[crjdriver]

OK, you are going to use a video card. Read the above; you will get better performance by going with either a 770 or 790 chipset board.

If it were me, I would NOT be going with an outdated chipset ie 740g. I have two systems here that are running amds; one is a 770 biostar board running a 6400+ and the other is a 790fx foxconn board running a 9950BE. Both are absolutely rock stable. I would really look into a quality board running either of those two chipsets.

[Anchoret]

Originally Posted by crjdriver

OK, you are going to use a video card. Read the above; you will get better performance by going with either a 770 or 790 chipset board.

OK, but I don't understand your point.

You're referring to video, and I'm going to be doing virtually no video, just 16-bit-color static sound editing screens.

Are you saying that there are other issues besides video that are a concern?

Would this affect audio recording?

If it were me, I would NOT be going with an outdated chipset ie 740g. I have two systems here that are running amds; one is a 770 biostar board running a 6400+ and the other is a 790fx foxconn board running a 9950BE. Both are absolutely rock stable. I would really look into a quality board running either of those two chipsets.

I've unfortunately already installed this thing before these issues (or non-issues, or whatever they are) came up, but if it looks as though I can get out from under this with an exchange, I will.

I'm still not clear on the points addressed in my original question, though, i.e. what difference that HT3 v. HT1 business makes.

[crjdriver]

HT is hyper transport. Each type of cpu has a different HT speed. I really cannot make it any more clear than that.

Next as whether it will work well for you, you need to understand that you purchased a low end board. It is not going to give you the same performance or stability that a top of the line board is going to give you.

Since you have already installed the board, see how it works for you.

[frankjohn]

If you bought the board @ Frys they will take it back within i thing 15 days of purchace.Tell them the board is NG,

[chrome57]

It is not that hard, AM2 was the first version of great boards and CPUs, they were improved and AM2+ was born. If you use a version one board or CPU in combo with a version two, the specifications will be the lower. IE. no 1066 ddr2 or HT3.0. Yes you need to get a AM2+ capable board to get the upper specs. The site ad is not clear that the board isn't AM2+. More research shows that the REV2.0 version GA-MA74GM-S2H (rev. 2.0) supports both 1066 DDR2 and H/T3.0

[Anchoret]

Originally Posted by chrome57

The site ad is not clear that the board isn't AM2+.

It's worse than that: They've been intentionally deceptive, and I'm ticked.

[chrome57]

I will look around that F2, bios upgrade may be the only difference. Other than that you need the REV2.0 board

[chrome57]

No luck sorry I can find no referance to upgradeing that board. All AM2+ references refer to the REV 2.0 version. Get it swapped as not able to do the job.

[Anchoret]

No, it will work with BIOS upgrade 2 in the v.1.0 board, just not the way I expected -- with proper CPU support.

I had the system built, up and running earlier today, but now it's all back in the boxes headed back to Fry's tomorrow.