Processor and motherboard

I was thinking of buying a new processor and motherboard. My question is how do you know that which proccessor can fit into which motherboard ? I have selected AMD3200+ with the motherboard Asus a8n SLI. Is it okey ?

The A8N supports socket 939 amd processors and the AMD 3200+ is a cocket 939 so they should work nively together.

So basically you'll have to see the socket numbers ? The motherboard's socket should match those of the processors ?

By the way, what does the number 939 indicate ?

939 pins I believe.

Yes, the AMD SKT# normaly refers to the number of pins on the relevant CPU, Seperons are SKT754 and have 754 pins, Opterons are SKT940 and have 940 pins ....

The only black sheep of the new gen AMD CPU's is the AM2 ... it has 940 pins but has been given the name SKTAM2 rather than SKT940. This is because there is already a SKT940 [ Opteron ] and this is to stop people getting confused between the two as the new SKT940 AM2 CPU's cannot be used in conjunction with older SKT940 [ Opteron ] motherboards.

Congrats on choosing the A8N-SLi series, I have the A8N-SLi Premium and it is a superb board, same applies to the deluxe model, I just like the passivly cooled north and southbridge chipsets on the Premium version.

Yeap i have heard about the a8n32 and its a wonderful motherboard, but its expensive thats why im going to buy the a8n.

The A8N is the series mate, which one in that series are you getting ?

1. A8N-SLi Deluxe
2. A8N-SLi Premium
3. A8N32-SLi

I knew a8n was a series but i thought there were 2 models ? I didnt knew there were three. I was thinking about buying tha a8n premium or deluxe because a8n32 exceeds my budget. I had seen this motherboard in a magzine, Can you give me links to the premium and deluxe motherboards so i can look at them and see which one was the one i had selected ? Thanks

Oho, Got it. Theres not much difference between premium and deluexe.

premium :

PCI Express x1: 1
PCI Express x16: 2
PCI Slots: 3

Deluexe:

PCI Express x1: 2
PCI Express x16: 2 x PCI Express X 16 (*SLI mode : x8 , x8 *Default Single VGA mode : x16, x1)
PCI Slots: 3

Now what do those numbers mean ?

I cant figure out which one's better. It looks like deluexe is better. But when i look at the price at newegg its deluexe which is cheaper ! What does PCI Express x1 and x16 mean ? And what does this mean CI Express x16: 2 x PCI Express X 16 (*SLI mode : x8 , x8 *Default Single VGA mode : x16, x1) ?

The boards might not look as if there is much difference but there are nice subtile difference's. Such as the fact the A8N-SLi has passivly cooled northbridge and southbridge chipsets [ the fan on the A8N-SLi is very load and breaks easily ].




That means that when you only have a single graphics card in your computer, the slot it is in will run at maximum speed and bandwidth [ x16 ], its also means that when you have two cards installed, the PCI-E slots will halve their speed and bandwidth [ this is because they run on the same motherboard pipe, so half is given to one card, and half is given to the other ].

This is where the A8N32-SLi differes. It has two seperate lines, one for each PCI-E slot, therefore, when two cards are connected, they both utilise their full potential.


If your looking to build a gaming machine [ and are not too worried about expansion in terms of PCI slots ] then look into stretching your budget if you can and getting the A8N32-SLi, it really will be worth it. If you dont want to stretch your budget, want expansion or are not building a mainly gaming machine, the A8N-SLi Premium is a great board. I personaly have it and love it, comes packed with goodies in the box [ cables, expansion cards etc ].


I`m looking into getting the A8N32-SLi soon though for my SLi, but thats just because I have more money than sense

Sorry, forgot about the other numbers ment in the post above.

PCI-E x1 is just an usless expansion slot, I really wouldnt worry about it too much, I think the A8N-SLi Premium has a PCI-E x4 aswell

So i should go for the premium ? I cant go for the a8n32 it was pretty expensive last time i checked. Whats its price now ? Im thinking of getting premium for now and upgrade to a8n32 later on.

Personally yes, I would go with the A8N-SLi Premium, it is definately worth it.

The A8N32-SLi is currently sitting high at £130 in the UK, not sure what that converts to in US$, probs around $230 ?

Pounds or dollars dosent matter cause im neither from UK or USA . Last time i heard it was 180 pounds. Well ill check it out.