Looking for advice on CPU upgrading.

[dennysh]

Hello everyone.
I have been researching processors for my motherboard for a while now, but Ive still got some questions, hopefully i can get the answered here.
My Computer Specs, which can be found here, are as follow:
HP Pavilion p6216f Desktop PC
Base processor: Athlon ll X2 215 (R) 2.7 GHz (65W)
Chipset: GeForce 9100
Motherboard:
Motherboard Name: M2N78-LA
HP/Compaq motherboard name: Violet-GL8E
Power supply: 250W
Memory Installed: 8 GB

I wanted to upgrade my processor but i don't know what factors in what processors are compatible with my motherboard.

Motherboard specs can be found here

Can my motherboard support all AM3 Socket type processors?

And if possible, what is the best processor supported by my motherboard?

[Tetrium]

If you decide to upgrade your CPU, I'd recommend getting a more powerful PSU, especially if getting a CPU which is more power hungry

[dennysh]

Do power supplies have comparability issues or do they all fit?

[gshv]

HP claims that it's a socket AM3 motherboard, but it looks like a socket AM2+ to me. Supported processors are listed in "Processor upgrade information", the fastest one from the listed CPUs is Athlon 64 X2 6000+ or Phenom X4 9850. It doesn't show 6400+ model so it's possible that the board doesn't support processors with 125W or higher TDP. Since it supports Athlon II X2 215, I would think it may support other Athlon IIs with C2 core revision.

Gennadiy

[dennysh]

Would it support the AMD Phenom II X4 945?
Its Wattage is 95, Less than the 125W TDP.
Its Socket Type is AM3.
The Stepping is C2.
http://shop.amd.com/US/_layouts/shop/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=HDX945FBK4DGI&region=us-en&tabID=1

[gshv]

That page is incorrect as the HDX945FBK4DGI has 125Watt TDP. Correct part number is HDX945WFK4DGI / HDX945WFGIBOX. I found the page below that shows that HP used Phenom II X4 925 in a motherboard with the same name like your motherboard:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01756862&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&lang=en&product=3984274

This one shows Phenom II X4 945:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01817975&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

I don't know if there are any differences between your board and the boards in other computers. It's possible that the processors will work in your motherboard if you upgrade to the latest version of BIOS.

Gennadiy

[dennyshh]

Well there are different revisions of the same proccessor, i doubt that Amd would put wrong information on its own processor. Only difference i see between these computers and my own, other than the processor, is the power supply.