Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

[DaveGTY]

Hi,

I bought a DDR2 system last year and the mobo is the GA-MA770-UD3 rev 1.0 with an Athlon X2 CPU. I'm looking to update my processor and was wondering if anyone has experience with using or if anyone could confirm if the mobo and processor in the title are compatible?

On Gigabytes website the 965 125w is under the list of supported CPU's with the F9D bios update but i've read that only the rev 2.0 of this mobo supports Phenom II processors. Even on the product page for rev 1.0 on the Gigabyte website point three says it supports Phenom and the product page for the rev 2.0 mentions support for Phenom II on point three.

I asked the company i bought my system from and they said as far as they know only the rev 2.0 would be compatible but that I would have to contact Gigabyte for a definite answer. I emailed Gigabyte a couple of days ago through their website but there are icons gining the status of the email and as of yet the email hasn't been opened so i was wondering if anyone here would know?

Thanks

[artdrivers]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

On Gigabytes website the 965 125w is under the list of supported CPU's with the F9D bios update but i've read that only the rev 2.0 of this mobo supports Phenom II processors.

Yes the (C3) stepping is supported with the F9D bios update. The F9D BIOS is not a fully functional BIOS. It is a BETA BIOS. BETA describes a new version that is reliable yet may not include all the features of the final product. I would go to the 125watt 955 C2 to be sure you have a fully functional BIOS to back up to. Or wait until they update it. You will need to set the BIOS to load optimized defaults, and reinstall your Windows OS.
Just go to the below web page and scroll down to find all the cpu's your motherboard supports. The related links for your motherboard support are on the right side. Keep in mind they make 2 different PhenomII 965 cpu's. There is a stepping difference (a C2 and a C3). GA-MA770-UD3 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - CPU Support List I hope some of this helps.

[DaveGTY]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

Thanks for the quick response and clarification artdrivers.

At the moment my hard drive has gone back to the manufacturer so it's not something i'm planning to do straight away and when the HD is back i'm going to need to reinstall Vista anyway.

I respect your opinion on getting the 125w 955 C2 but I still think i'd like to get the 965 125w as it's not a lot more expensive and i don't plan on updating the CPU again for a while. In the future I don't want to regret not getting the best option I can at the moment, especially if Gigabyte release the full bios version soon. Unless of course there's another reason against the 965 and my mobo?

On the subject of the F9D bios beta, does it include all the other bios updates they've released? Would i just need to update the bios with the one release or do i have to install the others too? Sorry, that's probably a really stupid question but i've not had to do this before.

Thanks

[artdrivers]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

Just a heads up here.
By Gigabytes CPU support list they do not have the 965 C2 on the list. They do have the 965 C3. For this reason, I don't know if the Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) will support the 965 C2.
GA-MA770-UD3 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - CPU Support List

[asdfg432]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

I just bought this motherboard and 965BE, I guess I have to find a old supported cpu as it's impossible to update bios with a 965be?

[artdrivers]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

asdfg432 Do you have a 965BE stepping C2 or a 965BE stepping C3? Also I don't see a 965BE C2 in the CPU support list at all. You can see this by going to Gigabytes CPU support list and page down to the AM3 supported CPU's. -----> GA-MA770-UD3 (rev. 1.0) - GIGABYTE - Support&Download - Motherboard - CPU Support List

[asdfg432]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

the 965BE 125w is always C3 to my understanding, atleast I know mine should be.

Maybe the motherboard might recognize it as a random amd cpu(?) and let me flash the bios to latest that supports 965BE C3?

maybe someon who has experience with AM2+ mobo and phenom II X4 knows if the mobo does let old bios be updated when a new cpu is in the mobo?

[DaveGTY]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

Sorry i don't know if the bios can be updated with the new processor in place or not. I did buy the 965 125w C3, flashed the bios with the F9D update with the old processor in place and installed the 965. They are definitely compatible. The only problem i have is that even though i have a half decent case, Antec 300 with 4 fans, 2 in and 2 out, it's running quite hot. 37c idle and up to 64-66c running prime 95, i'm going to invest in a decent aftermarket cooler hopefully that'll cool things down.

[asdfg432]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

would you consider the motherboard being one reason the cpu gets hot?

I'm considering getting this motherboard instead: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

I can get it for similar price, it also seems to be newer model.

I have no idea if the added built in gpu in any way will give me trouble as I will be using 8800GTX PCIE

[DaveGTY]

Re: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0) / Phenom II 965BE 125w

I don't know if it's the mobo that's the issue to be honest, it wasn't something I'd considered. From what I can gather the 965 125w cpu's run quite warm anyway but amd list 62c as the max temp so I'm hoping the black knight CPU cooler will bring the temp down considerably. It's not far off running at acceptable temperatures though and I'm not experiencing any issues so I hope not. I'll receive the new cooler early next week so I can let you know if it does make a difference if you can wait till then.

I really can't advise you on the other mobo though as I'm no expert I'm afraid. This forum has much more knowledgeable people than myself who I hope can answer that one for you.