Processor upgrade compatability with motherboard

[DHolmes1]

Ok im running windows 7 home premium 64 bit.

Curretnly i have the following:

Processor - AMD athlon (tm) II X4 620

Motherboard - (HP says) Pegatron M2N78-LA (Violet)

now according to HP's motherboard compatability (found here)

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-p6200-Desktop-PC-series/3999459/model/4041201/docume...

this motherboard only supports AM2 socket processors, which my current processor that is installed is not even listed as compatible and it came with the computer...

Also they have another mother board listed on the HP website Pegatron M2N78-LA (Violet6)

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01925562

This motherboard has a completly different list of compatible hardware... including processors with AM3 sockets...

So im stumped which one do i actually have???

I looked up my current processor and it is listed as 95w AM3 socket...

Also i am running DDR2 ram, which is compatible with the (violet) motherboard but not the (violet6) motherboad, so its like im running parts that only work with one or the other but i have them all combined??? can anyone help so i know what type of processor I can actually upgrade to on this motherboard???

[Grzwacz]

Hello

I will try to help you.

I look at your specific model and see it is the Violet motherboard.

The  AMD athlon (tm) II X4 620 installed works in an AM2+ or AM3 socket and has 95 watt TDP. I guess it also works in AM2 socket with 95 TDP.

The Violet supports DDR2. The Violet6 support DDR3.

To be safe, I would use Violet CPU upgrade path for CPU. Both have similar, but one support DDR2 and other support DDR3, Northbridge chipset so maybe it is possible to use processor on Violet6 upgrade path but the Violet6 only supports AM3 CPU.

Grzy

[beatgr · Accepted solution]

Answer can be found on the HP Pavilion p6211f Desktop PC Product Page

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-p6000-Desktop-PC-series/3999459/model/4041201/produc...

HP p6211f (AU913AA) Product Specifications

Released September 23, 2009 (Canada market)

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-p6000-Desktop-PC-series/3999459/model/4041201/docume...

This computer uses the Pegatron M2N78-LA (Violet) motherboard which has the

CPU socket type: AM2
http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-p6000-Desktop-PC-series/3999459/model/4041201/docume...

The Pegatron M2N78-LA (Violet) motherboard supports the following processor upgrades:
AMD Athlon X2 (Bt)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 up to 6000+ (W)
AMD Phenom Triple-Core up to 8xxx (AM2+) (Toliman)
AMD Phenom Quad-Core 9xxx series (AM2+) up to 9850 (Agena)

Socket AM3 processors are able to run on Socket AM2 and AM2+ motherboards with appropriate BIOS updates, BUT not vice versa.

AM3 processors have a new memory controller supporting both DDR2 and DDR3 SDRAM, allowing backwards compatibility with AM2 and AM2+ motherboards. Since AM2 and AM2+ processors lack the new memory controller, they will not work on AM3 motherboards.

Market Opinion: CPU-World

http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket%20AM2.html

Education:  AMD AM2 Socket (Wikipedia)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM2