Currently, for a Motherboard, I have the Asus M2N-E which doesn't support quad-core CPU's. I'm looking at upgrading my CPU to quad-core, but obviously need to upgrade my motherboard as well. I'm rather out of my element when it comes to PC hardware. Can someone tell me what my best options are? What sort of motherboard should I replace the M2N-E with? Do my other system specs make any difference, or will just ANY quad-core-cpu-supporting Mobo do?

ETA: I've been asking around and have learned RAM could also be an issue - I was told I'd probably need DDR3 RAM. I've got, right now, 4GB of DDR2...

ETA2: What happened to callistra? Is she okay?

Last edited by coltraz : 10th Nov 2011 at 12:10 AM.

There is too Quad Core CPUs for the AM2+ socket, what you want is the Phenom X4 line. http://bit.ly/sNbVDM
Which is listed in the CPU support list, with a BIOS update (if yours is not that version, that is). http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2/M2NE/#CPUS
There's also some Quad-Core AM3+ sockets CPUs in that list, if you noticed. Also needing a BIOS update first, if yours is not at that version.

And yes DDR2 RAM is still needed if you're sticking with the motherboard; which has 4-lane RAM slots for a maximum of 8GB RAM. So, depending on your current RAM configuration, you still need to get a 2x4GB or a 4x2GB, and sell the current ones. As some boards have issues with mixed RAM sticks.

What's the budget for this upgrade?
The parts won't be readily available as newer components are, of course. So, it might be a tad more expensive, comparing clock-for-clock with newer sockets, for example. http://bit.ly/upzVF4
Or go for 2nd-hand pieces (cheaper but with possibly no warranty at this time).
Same goes for RAM.
And if switching motherboards, and you still have IDE Harddrives, you would need IDE-to-Sata cables, or look for mobos with IDE ports for the HDD and DVD drives.

If you're willing to wait awhile longer and save more, than go for the full upgrade, and donate/sell/give away the current PC. That may be another option to consider.

Hmm, that is interesting. Thank you for the info! Prepare for some stupid questions - like I say, my knowledge of PC hardware is pretty sad.


That would work for my current mobo? I guess so, since that is a list specific to my mobo, right? I thought i needed to look for AM2+ only. From that list, I would have guessed that the "Phenom X4 9950 (HD995ZXAJ4BGH),2.6GHz,125W,rev.B3,SocketAM2 ,Quad-Core" was my best choice, but it looks to be a discontinued product and difficult to buy. What would you say is my best option on the list, then?

How come I would have to sell the current RAM I have installed, if it is already DDR2?

As for budget, I hadn't really thought much about it because I wasn't sure the extent of my upgrade. I don't really WANT to do a big upgrade right now, and would rather stick with the mobo I have, if I can. The link you provided has the highest priced CPU there at $169.99 . . . that's no problem. Also in that list, it looks like this CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16819103727 would be a good choice, based on the reviews. But I want the best I can get...

I'm sure I'll have to do a full upgrade soonish. I would just sort of like to prolong the life of what I've got now a little longer.

The link you provided for the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb is not included in the CPU list for that mobo, though. See more comments on the thermal design below.

What's the current graphics card you have? No point going overboard if the GPU is gonna bottle-neck the processor.
And PSU?
And cooling device? Do you have an aftermarket CPU cooler? Or, do AMD processors have coolers that are interchangeable and fit any CPU model?

Some of the options I saw on newegg does not come with a cooler (OEM), reason why it's cheaper other than the fact that its "recertified" whatever that means. AMD Phenom II X4 830 Deneb 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - @ $94.99

I think if I didn't make mistakes, this is the full list of all Quad-Core from AMD CPU list, in the Quotes.
Presuming the list has not been updated in a while as most of the model numbers are either out of stock or has (*unlisted) models on the list ie 635 vs 631, these processors might still work. But read the reviews and search non-newegg sites too for comments/reviews/issues, etc.

AMD > Series : Athlon II X4


The newer models 955-980 all list 125W Thermal Design, vs the 95W for the models here. But the earlier Phenom X4 98xx & 99xx listed at the end also have 125W so I think these newer models would work. But again, research! Do searches with "Asus M2N-E" and "Phenom II X4" as the search terms, for example and see what comes up.
AMD > Series : Phenom II X4


All of this generation socket AM2+ Phenom X4 is no longer listed at newegg


As I keep having to open multiple tabs with above info, I might as well compile the list for my own benefit as well so I can answer your questions without having to reopen them.

Your next "assignment" is to compare the benchmarks as compiled at
- http://cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
- http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...ing,3052-5.html
to see what level of performance you're willing to settle for at what price.
Since you're projecting a full upgrade "soonish", this CPU upgrade should be able to tide you over until then.

Sorry for the LONGGG delay here. I've just being trying to research this on my own (and mostly failing to understand). I had also intended to do the upgrade before Skyrim came out, figuring I'd need to beef up my system to use the Ultra settings, but I found it runs find with my current build, so the priority to do this got somewhat lower.


I've got NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 460.



Corsair tx650w



This stuff I'm not sure about. I mean, there's a big fan attached to the CPU chip... it looks like it would be interchangeable, if the CPU is the same physical size. But I don't know for sure...Is there a way to find out what specifically the cooling device “is”, via some program?

I know it probably sounds really stupid, but when you say to research by searching "Asus M2N-E" and "Phenom II X4"...I just do not know what I'm looking for. Similarly, the benchmark sites you linked me to are bewilderingly confusing to me and I don’t see what I’m meant to be looking at there. Sorry. I mean, I looked at the lists. “Phenom II X4 Black Edition 980, 975” is at the top of one…does that mean it’s the best? I try searching for it at newegg and no results appear…so I’m just lost.

Maybe with knowledge of my GPU you can more specifically advise me on what would make a good choice? If I understand the lists, I’d say the AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3.7GHz%20Socket ) is the best one I can get…most expensive, too, but you get what you pay for…no?

*sigh*…Upgrade time always makes me feel so stupid. Normally I need to coax these answers and hand-holdings from my uncle, but he’s the one who told me I’d not be able to upgrade to dual-core with this mobo… and that I’d need DDR3 RAM… so, I guess I’m not that confident taking his word this time ‘round.

When swapping components, you only ever need to worry about cooling if the replacement part is classified as "recertified/refurbished/re-something" and doesn't come in a sealed box.
ie Cooling Device: Cooling device not included - Processor Only (the 830)
vs Cooling Device Heatsink and Fan included (the 980)

Most of the time, the highest priced CPU is for Overclockers. If you don't ever plan to overclock, you're paying for features that you'd never use and wasting money. But if you have the cash to spare, that's your prerogative. As long as you're happy and can play games the way you want, right?

The danger in the these OC-capable parts is that they have settings that trip up regular users when they tweak something unintentionally. My rule of thumb is - "If you're the kinda person who has to touch wet paint when you read "Caution! Wet Paint" than perhaps you should not get OC-capable parts".

That GPU would work well with any of the CPUs listed above.

The RAM is always tied to the motherboard socket, and you'd need DDR2 and can go a maximum of 8GB on that mobo. But a few scattered reports from the 'net on folks with issues using mixed RAM sticks of different brands, models, speeds, etc. Again, a bit overboard for just gaming (no render farm, folding or video encoding work), but up to you, it's your dough.

http://bit.ly/uVu1tK <-- read through the first page at least to know before you commit what sort of issues you may expect (I sometimes use a mixed bag or terms like "issues", "problems", etc). If the swap is problem-free, than no harm no foul. At least you were prepared for any eventuality and the knowledge can be used for research on your next PC purchase, right?

If the tech stickies haven't been updating since I went mia they are waaaaaaay out of date and need a major overhaul.. I'll work on it when I have the time if nobody beats me to it.

This is the list of CPUs your motherboard supports: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2/M2NE/#CPUS The 925 or 945 95w would be nice CPUs for you.. no idea on availability anymore but those are the two best quad core CPUs for that board.. unless I'm missing something I'm not seeing anything stronger or newer for that matter that's supported for the board, but really it isn't necessary anyway assuming you can still find the CPUs.

ETA: Checked Newegg and looks like both the 925 and 945 are still available but the 925 would require you to also purchase a cooler for it since it is OEM.

Understood about the overclocking thing. Thanks, I hadn't thought about that. Yeah, I don't want to spend money on features I'm not going to use. I'd like to spend as little money as possible, I just don't want to cheap out, either.

I looked into the 945 95W CPU ...on NewEgg no results show aside from this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...om%20IIX4%20945 ...and that link says the item is out of stock.

The other one (925) has a buyable result: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...om%20IIX4%20925 ...So this might be the one for me. But what sort of "cooler" would I need to buy with it?

I don't know if that motherboard would take a standard cooler or not. It probably will.. but you will definitely need a lower profile one because the case is so small. Sometimes motherboards are made so that they can only take a special cooler designed by the manufacturer but I don't -think- that is the case here. It may also require a BIOS update.

Would it be too much to ask for a link to an appropriate "cooler" that would work for me?