HP Motherboard/Phenom 960T compatabilty

[gcgivler]

I have a HP P7 1054, H-Alvorix RS880-uATX motherboard, rated at 95W max (oops on buying a Phenom 965BE).  The motherboard is '9xx' compatible, and the Phenom 4x 3.0 ghz 960T is rated for 95W.  Will this motherboard support unlocking this CPU to run as a 6-core, it's forte?  I've heard some motherboards do, some don't.  Also, does the fact that this CPU has 3.4ghz 'turbo' (T) affect it's compatibility, as it's not technically simply a 9xx, it is a 9xxT.  I'm being very literal, it has to work if I buy it. Adding the Phenom's L3 cache vs my stock Anthlon 3.1 ghz 4x 645 is primary, without giving up clock speed.  Seems like a good 95W alternate to the 965BE, also 3.4ghz but 125W

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

In theory these AMD processors will work in the AM3 socket rated for 95 watts.

Know what the return policy is before you buy.

HP uses a locked bios so don't expect to use the bios to OC your processor.

Look over these benchmarks.

[gcgivler]

I noticed the Phenom II 960T wasn't listed.  I'm not exactly sure was the deal was/is as far as that processor being fully or continually available retail  by AMD, I read there were some marketing issues about having a 4x that could run as a more expensive 6x, so they waffled on availability.  but it's definately rated at 95W.  So it may not have been considered fully released to make the list. 

The overclocking is probably dead then because of the bios, but the L3 for Solidworks is what I'm really after.  Is it safe to assume it running at 3.4Ghzturbo is of course part of the 95W rating?  And then, its a different core than the other Phenoms so is it a Phenom 9xx, really?  Inquiring minds need to know.  So, I'm not quite clear yet, and I'll have to check on returns, I doubt it unless faulty/exchange.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

If you research the 960 you might find out that it is actually a different model that has 2 processors disabled. The short of it is that others have tried and failed.  Who knows, you may get lucky.

[gcgivler]

I am aware that it has two cores disabled, that some people posted that they got 6x, some 5x, some could only get 4x.  ( I can live with just the added L3 cache without the 5x/6x or overclocking ) The board is also rated for 10xx, the 6x, @95W, not just 9xx.  But is it a 10xx either?  Seems possible it's neither, an orphan, and might need a change to the unchangable bios.  I would think AMD or HP would know a definitive answer, they're in bed together on CPU's for HP computers.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

You might be right but good luck!

[gcgivler · Accepted solution]

I've decided to just give up on the 970T illegitimate child and get a Phenom X6 1045T, which I know works, 95W, has the 6 cores obviously, has the L3 I want, 50% more L2 than my X4, and will run at 3.2Ghz on turbo when 3 or more cores are shut down. For $99 at my local Microcenter, it's worth it over my Athlon X4 645 3.1 Ghz.  No risk, HP even builds desktops with this CPU on my exact board.  The computer is way faster than me using Solidworks anyways.  Now if I can just sell my 125W Phenom X4 965BE with zero minutes on it....

Thanks for steering me away from what surely would have been a dead end...