Motherboard for Phenom Quad 9550 CPU?

I have a Phenom X4 Quad 9550 CPU (?AM2 socket?). I am looking for a
suggestion as to the best motherboard to buy for it.
It is currently on a ridiculous M2N78-LA motherboard that I want to
replace with one that has a IDE (PATA) capability as well as SATA. It
needs to accept XP or Windows 7 (not VISTA!), and I'd like to use the
four DDR2 SDRAMS (total 5GB) that I currently have on the M2N78-LA
board.

I have found two, but they are out of stock.

Help?

Thanks

Duke

On 2/2/2011 4:10 PM, wrote:
I have a Phenom X4 Quad 9550 CPU (?AM2 socket?). I am looking for a
suggestion as to the best motherboard to buy for it.
It is currently on a ridiculous M2N78-LA motherboard that I want to
replace with one that has a IDE (PATA) capability as well as SATA. It
needs to accept XP or Windows 7 (not VISTA!), and I'd like to use the
four DDR2 SDRAMS (total 5GB) that I currently have on the M2N78-LA
board.

I have found two, but they are out of stock.

Help?

Thanks

Duke

You do realize that the board is AM3 and uses DDR3 memory?
Also what do you plan to use it for? Gaming, if so what or
some other purpose.

On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:52:23 -0500, Pen wrote:


You do realize that the board is AM3 and uses DDR3 memory?
Also what do you plan to use it for? Gaming, if so what or
some other purpose.


I missed that. AM3 it is. Then I guess I need a board with AM3.

As for DDR3, I have specs for the M2N78-LA board that state it is
DDR2. I haven't pulled an SDRAM to inspect it. So I don't know on
that one.

Gaming? Probably not. I just thought it would be worth repairing the
machine involved which seemed quite capable with its 5GB SDRAM, 750GB
HDD, DVD burner, video card, and more. The price was right (free).
All I think it needs is a working motherboard. Am I wrong?

Duke

On 2/2/2011 5:14 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:52:23 -0500, Pen wrote:


You do realize that the board is AM3 and uses DDR3 memory?
Also what do you plan to use it for? Gaming, if so what or
some other purpose.


I missed that. AM3 it is. Then I guess I need a board with AM3.

As for DDR3, I have specs for the M2N78-LA board that state it is
DDR2. I haven't pulled an SDRAM to inspect it. So I don't know on
that one.

Gaming? Probably not. I just thought it would be worth repairing the
machine involved which seemed quite capable with its 5GB SDRAM, 750GB
HDD, DVD burner, video card, and more. The price was right (free).
All I think it needs is a working motherboard. Am I wrong?

Duke

You're correct, but the HP site you listed says DDR3 in more
than one place. So head over to Newegg and have a look at
the reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...e=Motherboards

On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:32:30 -0500, Pen wrote:


You're correct, but the HP site you listed says DDR3 in more
than one place. So head over to Newegg and have a look at
the reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...e=Motherboards

Thanks - I'll have to pick one.

Duke

?Everything I found on that mobo says DDR2.....
and most if not all of the "newer" AM3 mobo use DDR3
I would suggest you pull the RAM and have a good look

peter



If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)
wrote in message ...

On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:52:23 -0500, Pen wrote:


You do realize that the board is AM3 and uses DDR3 memory?
Also what do you plan to use it for? Gaming, if so what or
some other purpose.


I missed that. AM3 it is. Then I guess I need a board with AM3.

As for DDR3, I have specs for the M2N78-LA board that state it is
DDR2. I haven't pulled an SDRAM to inspect it. So I don't know on
that one.

Gaming? Probably not. I just thought it would be worth repairing the
machine involved which seemed quite capable with its 5GB SDRAM, 750GB
HDD, DVD burner, video card, and more. The price was right (free).
All I think it needs is a working motherboard. Am I wrong?

Duke

?http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130265

peter



If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate
or disruptive,please ignore it.
If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain
to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-)
"Pen" wrote in message ...

On 2/2/2011 5:14 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:52:23 -0500, Pen wrote:


You do realize that the board is AM3 and uses DDR3 memory?
Also what do you plan to use it for? Gaming, if so what or
some other purpose.


I missed that. AM3 it is. Then I guess I need a board with AM3.

As for DDR3, I have specs for the M2N78-LA board that state it is
DDR2. I haven't pulled an SDRAM to inspect it. So I don't know on
that one.

Gaming? Probably not. I just thought it would be worth repairing the
machine involved which seemed quite capable with its 5GB SDRAM, 750GB
HDD, DVD burner, video card, and more. The price was right (free).
All I think it needs is a working motherboard. Am I wrong?

Duke

You're correct, but the HP site you listed says DDR3 in more
than one place. So head over to Newegg and have a look at
the reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...e=Motherboards

Pen wrote:
On 2/2/2011 5:14 PM, wrote:
On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:52:23 -0500, Pen wrote:


You do realize that the board is AM3 and uses DDR3 memory?
Also what do you plan to use it for? Gaming, if so what or
some other purpose.

I missed that. AM3 it is. Then I guess I need a board with AM3.

As for DDR3, I have specs for the M2N78-LA board that state it is
DDR2. I haven't pulled an SDRAM to inspect it. So I don't know on
that one.

Gaming? Probably not. I just thought it would be worth repairing the
machine involved which seemed quite capable with its 5GB SDRAM, 750GB
HDD, DVD burner, video card, and more. The price was right (free).
All I think it needs is a working motherboard. Am I wrong?

Duke

You're correct, but the HP site you listed says DDR3 in more
than one place. So head over to Newegg and have a look at
the reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...e=Motherboards

I think it's DDR2.

HP Pavilion Media Center m8530f
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...R1002_USEN#N79

M2N78-LA

Processor socket: AM2+
Memory sockets: 4 x DDR2

We can also look up the processor (Phenom X4 9550).
That's the fixed version of the 9500 without the TLB bug.

http://products.amd.com/pages/Deskto...il.aspx?id=400

Socket AM2+

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AM...0WCGHBOX).html

On-chip peripherals

Integrated dual-channel 144-bit DDR2 SDRAM Memory controller

So an AM2+ motherboard would be a good start.

*******

By comparison, if we look at a recent high end AMD, an AM3, this
is what it lists for the memory controller.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K10/AM...ZFBGRBOX).html

On-chip peripherals

Integrated DDR2/DDR3 Memory Controller

So an AM3 supports DDR2 or DDR3 (the motherboard design picks the type).
An AM2+ has a DDR2 controller on it, with the memory type fixed at DDR2.

*******

To find a motherboard quickly, you can use the Asus search engine, entering
the 9550 as the processor type. This is the CPU Support chart page.

http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusuppor...Language=en-us

Crosshair ALL 1103
Crosshair II Formula ALL 0502
G-SURF365 ALL 0602
M2A74-AM 1.01G 0204
M2A74-AM SE ALL 0301
M2A-VM ALL 1705
M2A-VM HDMI ALL 1705
M2N32 WS Professional ALL 1903
M2N32-SLI Deluxe ALL 1802
M2N32-SLI Premium VISTA ALL 1101
M2N68 2.01G 0310
M2N68 PLUS 2.00G 0203
M2N68 SE 1.00G 0301
M2N68-AM 2.00G 0301
M2N68-AM PLUS 2.00G 0204
M2N68-AM SE 1.00G 0203
M2N68-AM SE2 2.00G 0206
M2N68-CM 2.01G 0319
M2N68-VM 2.01G 0405
M2N-E ALL 1401
M2N-L 1.02G 0137
M2N-LR 1.04G 0515
M2N-LR/SATA 1.04G 0515
M2N-SLI ALL 0802
M2N-SLI Deluxe ALL 1502
M2N-XE ALL 0202
M3A ALL 0805
M3A32-MVP DELUXE ALL 1002
M3A32-MVP DELUXE/WIFI-AP ALL 1002
M3A76-CM 1.00G 0302
M3A78 ALL 0703
M3A78 Pro ALL 0105
M3A78-CM ALL 0405
M3A78-EM ALL 0407
M3A78-VM 1.00G 0306
M3A79-T Deluxe 1.01G 0302
M3A-H/HDMI ALL 0306
M3N WS ALL 0304
M3N72-D ALL 0102
M3N78 Pro ALL 0203
M3N78 SE 1.01G 0302
M3N78-AM 2.00G 0302
M3N78-CM ALL 0301
M3N78-EM ALL 0202
M3N78-VM ALL 0202
M3N-HD HDMI ALL 0901
M3N-HT DELUXE ALL 0702
M4A77 2.00G 0301
M4A77D ALL 0402
M4A78 1.02G 0205
M4A78 PLUS 1.00G 0204
M4A78 Pro 1.00G 0217
M4A785D-M PRO ALL 0303
M4A785G HTPC ALL 0401
M4A785G HTPC/RC ALL 0401
M4A785-M 1.00G 0304
M4A78-AM 2.01G 0209
M4A78-E ALL 0505
M4A78-E SE ALL 0203
M4A78-EM 1.01G 0312
M4A78-EM/1394 ALL 0309
M4A78-HTPC ALL 0302
M4A78-HTPC/RC ALL 0302
M4A78L-M 1.00G 0213
M4A78L-M LE 1.00G 0301
M4A78-VM 1.01G 0208
M4A79 Deluxe ALL 0901
M4N72-E ALL 0205
M4N78 1.01G 0206
M4N78 Pro 1.01G 0603
M4N78 SE 1.01G 0207
M4N78-AM 1.02G 0211
M4N78-AM V2 ALL 0211
M4N78-VM 1.00G 0203
M4N82 Deluxe ALL 0207

Not all of those are MicroATX sized. Some are full sized. In
any case, none are for sale on Newegg.

So far, I ended up on Amazon.com , and this is the
first one that comes close. I'm not a big fan of Biostar,
due to their habit of connecting ATX12V to the 12V wire on
the main power connector.

http://www.amazon.com/Biostar-MATX-A...6691435&sr=1-1

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/...t.php?S_ID=344

Chipset AMD 780G / SB700

STORAGE

6 x SATA2 3Gb/s Connector
1 x IDE Connector

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_700_chipset_series

SB700

Support up to 6 SATA 3.0 Gbit/s hard disk drives

1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and
up to 2 IDE devices

There is *no* floppy connector.

The add-in slot mix is different than your current motherboard.
The Biostar has a couple PCI slots, instead of your previous
PCI Express x1 slots. Whether this is important or not,
will depend on what add-in cards (TV tuner etc) you have
in the PC.

This is the rear I/O area.

http://www.biostar.com.tw/upload/Mot...d/20080122.jpg

There is at least some risk, that the PANEL header pinout,
will be different than your "Viola" motherboard. Check the
manual. (This is a self extracting RAR with PDF inside.)
The PANEL wiring is on page 14. The SPKR is a 1x4. Your
PC doesn't have a beeper speaker. With the new motherboard,
there will be "nothing to beep", as your "Viola" had the
speaker onboard. The PWR LED connector can span two or three pins,
and in the three pin case, the wires would be on pins 1 and 3.
Your "Viola" motherboard, looks to be a 2x4+1 header, so probably
up to four 1x2 connectors.

http://www.biostar.com.tw/upload/Man...T_080115_B.exe

Now, the weirdest part, is the 9550 isn't in the CPU Support chart!
How did they miss that ? There is one 125W processor in the chart,
which means the motherboard can handle up to a 125W processor.
The 9550 is 95W, so it's not bumping its head on a power limit.

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/...t.php?S_ID=344

The funny thing is, Tigerdirect was bundling the 9550 processor,
with that motherboard. So it can't be that non-compatible.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...949&CatId=3586

Anyway, good luck in your hunt. The pickings are pretty thin.

Paul

On Wed, 2 Feb 2011 17:18:19 -0700, "peter" wrote:

?http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130265

peter

Darned if this one doesn't seem like a good fit.

Thanks

Duke

On Wed, 2 Feb 2011 17:10:24 -0700, "peter" wrote:

?Everything I found on that mobo says DDR2.....
and most if not all of the "newer" AM3 mobo use DDR3
I would suggest you pull the RAM and have a good look

peter

Will do

Duke