What is the best AM3 CPU for gaming? It’s a question that many gamers ask themselves when they are upgrading their PC. Choosing a processor for your device, like choosing air jets for indoor hot tubs, requires a lot of care so that you can fully enjoy the process later.
There are so many options out there, and it can be difficult to find the one with the perfect balance of features. That’s why we created this list! We have compiled a list of the best AM3 processor, as well as information on how to choose your next processor. Check out our compatibility list below if you’re not sure what type of socket your motherboard supports!
Best AM3 CPU for Gaming: Review
What is the best am3 processor for gaming is a popular question. The AM series of AMD processors is an old line that has been around for many years and was used mainly in pre-built computers. Below is the latest information on the best AM chips for gaming currently available.
Phenom II X6 1100T Review
Spec:
Core: Thuban
Number of cores: 6
Frequency, MHz: 3300 (3.7 GHz TC)
Multiplier: 16.5
| Pros | Cons |
| – cheap and powerful; – will run games like Skyrim, Starcraft 2, and Civilization V like a charm with ease (if not maxing them out) for at least 3 years; – future upgrade path to the AM3+ socket. | – don’t expect to be able to play new games without heavy tweaking, but even then the games might run slow. |
Phenom II X6 1100T is one of the best AM3 CPU for gaming. It’s a 45nm six-core processor from AMD. The CPU has a base clock of 3.3Ghz and boost clocks up to 3.7GHz for a single core, making it the fastest CPU in the Phenom II lineup. It also features an unlocked multiplier which makes overclocking fairly easy on this CPU.
This CPU comes with a 125W TDP rating which makes it fairly hot. So while this CPU is good for overclocking, the stock cooler might not be able to keep the heat at bay once you overclock this processor.
If you are planning to do some overclocking on this processor, it is recommended that you get a high-quality cooler for this.
Summary
Phenom II X6 1100T is the best AM3 CPU for gaming on a tight budget who would want to play games like Skyrim, Starcraft 2, and Civilization V without any problems. A solid CPU with 6 cores, 3 years warranty support, and a future upgrade path to the AM3+ socket make this CPU a good investment for gamers.
Phenom II X6 1090T BE Review
Spec:
Core: Thuban
Number of cores: 6
Frequency, MHz: 3200 (3.6 GHz TC)
Multiplier: 16
| Pros | Cons |
| – Best AM3 processor for gaming with very high clock speed; – No integrated graphics plagues; – High stock voltage, especially when overclocked. | – No integrated GPU for use in a crossfire/SLI configuration. |
Phenom II X6 1090T BE is the best AMD AM3 processor for gaming not only a hexa core CPU, but it also has a full unlocked multiplier that means you can overclock the CPU easily with no risk of bricking it.
If you ask what is the fastest AM3 CPU? The answer is Phenom II X6 1090T BE.
The CPU has Turbo core technology. This enables intelligent monitoring of each core’s workload and allows the processor to run at its full speed when you need maximum performance in 3D games and applications like video editing or image rendering.
AMD Phenom II processors offer 6 MB of L2 and 3 MB of L3 cache for powerful dual-core performance. New Smart Prefetch Technology “learns” your applications and data, accelerating overall system responsiveness.
Summary
Phenom II X6 1090T BE has the best AM3 CPU for gaming excellent performance per dollar value and is very suitable for gamers on a budget who don’t want to spend extra money on the Intel i5/i7 line or AMD FX series. This processor will last for at least 2-3 years before being replaced by an equally powerful successor.
Phenom II X6 1065T Review
Spec:
Core: Thuban
Number of cores: 6
Frequency, MHz: 2900 (3.4 GHz TC)
Multiplier: 14.5
| Pros | Cons |
| – Faster than Phenom II X4 945 (around 15%); – Lower power consumption and usable in all AM3 boards; – Unlocked multiplier. | – lacks HyperTransport 3.0 support. |
Phenom II X6 1065T is the best gaming AMD processor AM3 with a 65 nm six-core CPU. It’s based on the Deneb-core and is one of the cheaper hexa core processors.
The CPU features 6 x86 cores of the K10.5-generation of AMD CPUs, an integrated chipset northbridge, and APU graphics based on the TeraScale 2 architecture. The 6 cores are split into two modules of three, each with its dedicated Level 3 Cache (512KB L2 per core) and power management unit. This makes him one of the best AM3 CPU for gaming.
Phenom II X6 1065T supports turbo core overclocking. This means that it tries to automatically overclock itself to provide the maximum speed possible in all conditions.
The integrated graphics chip called ‘RS780D’ features 400 Stream processors (10 SIMD) clocked at 500 MHz and has a single-channel DDR3 memory controller. This is enough for medium-type graphics performance.
Summary
Phenom II X6 1065T is a very good budget choice for anyone willing to overclock their CPU up to 4GHz. The only problem here (like in the case of all Phenom II X6 CPUs) is the availability. Currently, you can only find such CPUs as used, but they definitely make great overclocking CPUs and do not die easily.
Phenom II X4 980 Review
Spec:
Core: Deneb (C3)
Number of cores: 4
Frequency, MHz: 3700
Multiplier: 18.5
| Pros | Cons |
| – Great for overclocking (easy to reach 4GHz or higher); – Always an unlocked multiplier; – It consumes less power compared to its Intel competitors. | – Compared to the 970 variant, the 980 variant features a lower clock speed and lesser L3 cache size. It also supports DDR3 memory as opposed to DDR3L of its 970 variant. |
Phenom II X4 980 is one of the best AM3 processor gaming which is part of the Phenom II X4 series. It was released in Q1 2008 and has a clock frequency of 3.7 GHz with 4 physical cores enabled. The power consumption at load is 125W and it has an unlocked multiplier, which makes overclocking very easy.
This CPU has an integrated memory controller (2 channels, DDR3-1333) and a PCIe controller with 16 lanes. In comparison to all other CPUs, the integrated memory controller supports much faster DDR3 memories.
The performance of this CPU is roughly on par with a Core 2 Quad Q9550 or a Core i5-760. Therefore, Phenom II X4 980 is a CPU with sufficient computing power for games and everyday tasks.
Summary
Phenom II X4 980 is one of the lower-end quad-core CPUs by AMD. It may be a good choice, especially for those who are planning to go mainstream with their GPU or graphics card purchase. Bear in mind that this CPU is only capable of supporting less demanding games and applications compared to other high-end processors today. To conclude, Phenom II X4 980 is a good choice for entry-level users.
Phenom II X4 945 Review
Spec:
Core: Deneb (C2/C3)
Number of cores: 4
Frequency, MHz: 3000
Multiplier: 15.0
| Pros | Cons |
| – Affordable price; – SLI/CFX capable motherboard with overclocking options available; -Can overclock to x8 speeds on dual graphics cards for improved performance. | -Not as energy-efficient as APUs; -The stock cooler isn’t very good. Not enough cooling headroom to overclock on air, and too much noise for most people. |
Phenom II X4 945 is the entry-level quad-core processor of the Phenom II series. This socket AM3 processor is based on AMD K10 microarchitecture and manufactured by TSMC with 45nm SOI process technology. The TDP of the whole CPU is 125W. It’s the best processor for gaming AM3 socket for novice players.
The base frequency of Phenom II X4 945 is 3100MHz, which can be overclocked to 3400MHz.
The default video card provided with Phenom II X4 945 is Radeon HD 6670 which uses DDR3 memory and a 128-bit interface. In general, this video card won’t be used for 3D rendering, but rather for faster Windows navigation.
While overclocking Phenom II X4 945 to 3400MHz, it was found that the default cooler keeps the CPU temperature around 65°C. The maximum temperature of Phenom II X4 945 reached 76°C, which is still considered very low.
Summary
Phenom II X4 945 is a good AMD AM3 processor for gaming. It’s a strong CPU choice for gamers on a budget. The major drawback is the lack of hyperthreading, but this can be overcome by overclocking and turning up graphics settings in PC games. If you are looking for an entry-level CPU to do some light gaming, the X4 945 is a great option. If you’re running multiple cards with PhysX turned on most games, this is your best choice as well. A Phenom II X4 will run any game at 1080p resolution with no problems.
AM3 CPU For Gaming Compatibility List
AM3 CPU for gaming upgrade is a good idea if you want to get the best performance for your money.
Below we have introduced the AM3 CPU for gaming compatible motherboard:
| AMD AM3 gaming processor | Compatible with which games socket AM3 gaming processor |
| Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013), DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: ProFIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013), DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid, Lord of the Rings Online. |
| Phenom II X6 1090T BE | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013), DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid, Lord of the Rings Online. |
| Phenom II X IV 980 BE | DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid, Lord of the Rings Online. Phenom II X IV 970 Black Edition Compatible with which games: DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid, Lord of the Rings Online. |
| Phenom II X IV 950 Black Edition | DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid, Lord of the Rings Online. |
| Phenom II X6 1065T | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013), DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid. |
| Phenom II X4 980 | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013), DiRT (including 2011 and 2012). |
| Phenom II X4 945 | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013). Phenom II X IV 920 Compatible with which games: FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13. |
| Phenom II X III 960 Black Edition | DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid. |
| AMD Phenom II XIII 950 | DiRT (including 2011 and 2012), FEAR II: Project Origin, Grid. |
| Athlon X IV 840 | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013), DiRT (including 2011 and 2012). |
| Athlon X II 260 | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13, Far Cry (all versions including 2013). |
| Athlon X II 250 | FIFA 11 / FIFA 12 / Fifa 13. |
AM3 Motherboard Processor Compatibility
When looking to buy the best AM3 CPU for gaming the first thing you need to decide is if your motherboard supports AMD CPUs. If it does not, then you will need an upgraded board to use this socket type and may be better off going with Intel instead since they offer more support for their CPUs.
The following chart provides a quick reference on which AM3 CPU for gaming on AM3 motherboard is suitable:
Motherboard
Model: GA-MA790X-UD4P
PCB: 1.0
Table: Part-A
| Vendor | AMD AM3 processor for gaming | Frequency | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | Core Name | Process |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1100T | 3300MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1090T | 3200MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1075T | 3000MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1065T | 2900MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1055T | 2800MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1055T | 2800MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1045T | 2700MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1035T | 2600MHz | 512KBx6 | 6MB | Thuban | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X4 975 | 3600MHz | 512KBx4 | 6MB | Deneb | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X4 970 | 3500MHz | 512KBx4 | 6MB | Deneb | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X4 900e | 2400MHz | 512KBx4 | 6MB | Deneb | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 560 | 3300MHz | 512KBx2 | 6MB | Callisto | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 555 | 3200MHz | 512KBx2 | 6MB | Callisto | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 550 | 3100MHz | 512KBx2 | 6MB | Callisto | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 550 | 3100MHz | 512KBx2 | 6MB | Callisto | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 545 | 3000MHz | 512KBx2 | 6MB | Callisto | 45nm |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 545 | 3000MHz | 512KBx2 | 6MB | Callisto | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 655 | 3300MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 650 | 3200MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 640 | 3000MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 640 | 3000MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 635 | 2900MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 635 | 2900MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 630 | 2800MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 630 | 2800MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 620 | 2600MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 620e | 2600MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 615e | 2500MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 610e | 2400MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 605e | 2300MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 605e | 2300MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 600e | 2200MHz | 512KBx4 | N/A | Propus | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 460 | 3400MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 455 | 3300MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 450 | 3200MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 445 | 3100MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 440 | 3000MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 440 | 3000MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 435 | 2900MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 435 | 2900MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 425 | 2700MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 425e | 2700MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 420e | 2600MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 415e | 2500MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 405e | 2300MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 405e | 2300MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 400e | 2200MHz | 512KBx3 | N/A | Rena | 45nm |
Table: Part-B
| Vendor | AMD AM3 processor for gaming | Stepping | Wattage | System Bus(MT/s) | Since BIOS Version |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1100T | E0 | 125W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1090T | E0 | 125W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1075T | E0 | 125W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1065T | E0 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1055T | E0 | 125W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1055T | E0 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1045T | E0 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X6 1035T | E0 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X4 975 | C3 | 125W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X4 970 | C3 | 125W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X4 900e | C2 | 65W | 4000 | F4 |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 560 | C3 | 80W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 555 | C3 | 80W | 4000 | F8 |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 550 | C3 | 80W | 4000 | F8 |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 550 | C2 | 80W | 4000 | F4 |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 545 | C3 | 80W | 4000 | F8 |
| AMD | Phenom II X2 545 | C2 | 80W | 4000 | F4 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 655 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 650 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 640 | E0 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 640 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 635 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 635 | C2 | 95W | 4000 | F7 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 630 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 630 | C2 | 95W | 4000 | F7 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 620 | C2 | 95W | 4000 | F7 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 620e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 615e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 610e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 605e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 605e | C2 | 45W | 4000 | F4 |
| AMD | Athlon II X4 600e | C2 | 45W | 4000 | F4 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 460 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 455 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 450 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 445 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 440 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 440 | C2 | 95W | 4000 | F7 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 435 | C3 | 95W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 435 | C2 | 95W | 4000 | F7 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 425 | C2 | 95W | 4000 | F7 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 425e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 420e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F10C |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 415e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 405e | C3 | 45W | 4000 | F9 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 405e | C2 | 45W | 4000 | F4 |
| AMD | Athlon II X3 400e | C2 | 45W | 4000 | F4 |
AM3 CPU For Gaming vs AM3+
AM3 CPU for gaming is the processor that is compatible with the AM or AMX sockets. The current types of this socket include Socket-AM, Socket-AMS, and Socket-AM X (Socket type C32).
The best AM3 CPU for gaming is Phenom II X6 1100T, Phenom II X6 1090T BE, Phenom II X6 1065. Also, the best socket AM3 processor gaming includes the Athlon II X4 series.
AM3+ CPU for gaming is the processor made for Socket-AM+ or AM++ sockets. This type of socket is a modified version of AM design and includes additional pins as compared to its counterpart, AMX.
The best AM3+ CPU for gaming is FX 8320 Vishera, Phenom II Xsix 1100T BE, Athlon II X four.
The difference between AM3 and AM3+ CPUs is the socket. AMX has fewer pins and more power-efficient which makes it a better choice for gaming. AM boards are cheaper than their counterparts because they’re older and lack advanced integrated components like USB ports built into them; however, many people still prefer to use these over newer models for their great overclocking potential.
Pros AM3 CPU:
- For gamers who are looking for an inexpensive solution to upgrade their gaming rigs.
- Can be used with an AMX motherboard, but not all of them will work without any problems; some can’t even boot up at all when plugged into an incompatible board.
Cons AM3 CPU:
- Slower than both its predecessor and the newer AMX sockets.
- Cannot be plugged into a motherboard that supports AMX sockets.
Pros AM3+ CPU:
- More pins than AMX sockets.
- Lower power consumption.
- AM+ boards are more reliable when used with an AM+ CPU.
Cons AM3+ CPU:
- More expensive than its counterpart.
- Can be plugged into a motherboard that supports the AMX socket, but some problems may still occur while using an incompatible board due to the lack of pins on this version’s socket.
AM3 CPU For Gaming On AM3+
AM3 CPU socket for gaming on AM3+ is a little bit more complicated than a simple compatibility list. There are different sockets, which is the physical connection between the motherboard and CPU itself. You need to make sure that you have got compatible AM+ for your graphics card as well.
Playing games on the AM3 CPU on AM3+ motherboards is usually the cheapest option. Considering that recent games are much more demanding, you might not want to give up on playing them just yet. It’s still possible to run games like Battlefield or Call of Duty even with an AM+ CPU and motherboard combo for your gaming PC rig.
Your best choice would be to get a lower-end AM+ CPU, but you should also consider the motherboard.
The first thing to do is look at the socket type on your current AM+ Motherboard. There are two types of sockets: FM and AM+. The best one for gaming purposes would be an AM+, so if your board has an FM – it’s time to get a new rig.
The next thing to check is what kind of graphics card you have. If you are using an old model, it might not be compatible with AM+.
If everything else fails – you can always use a professional for help in choosing the best components that fit your needs when building your PC gaming rig. Just make sure they know their stuff before you hire them.
The most important thing to remember is that not all AM+ CPUs are created equal, so don’t go for a cheap option if you know it won’t work with your motherboard and graphics card. Price doesn’t always mean quality when building an AM+ rig for gaming purposes.
AM3 CPU For Gaming vs AM4
The AM4 processor for gaming is the latest and greatest AMD has to offer. It’s even better than the best AM3 socket processor for gaming.
It is a replacement for the AM and FM CPU architectures. It features an all-new chipset, socket design with different pins, and a compatible hardware compatibility list that has been tailored for optimal performance on Ryzen processors.
AM4 CPU for gaming has been available since 2017. It is the go-to CPU if you are building a new PC and want to ensure optimal performance with Ryzen CPUs.
The AM4 CPU for gaming is an upgrade to the FM architecture. It features a modified pin design and new chipset compatibility list with support for DDR memory up to 2400MHz, PCI Express gen. 16 graphics cards, USB revision III (more than twice as fast), SATA Revision III drives that are six times faster than previous SATA revisions, and NVMe drives that offer up to four times the performance of SATA III SSDs.
How To Choose The Best CPU For An AM3 Socket?
Here is the buying guide of best CPU for an AM3 socket:
- You need to know what gaming AMD processor with AM3 socket version of the motherboard you have.
- You will want a processor with the same number of pins as your motherboard’s socket (ex: 1366).
- Do not worry about how many cores it has or it is unlocked, just look at the pin layout and make sure they match up. The only exception to this rule is if you are using a Ryzen CPU on an AMX motherboard. Here the smaller number of pins will be fine.
- If you’re unsure if your motherboard is AMX or not, you can check the product page of your motherboard. Sometimes it will say there in small print, otherwise, it’s best to head over to forums and ask someone who has the same system as you do.
- Some CPUs come with a fan, some don’t. You can tell by looking at where there is or isn’t an arrow to show airflow direction. If it has one then it comes with a fan, if not then you will need to buy a fan separately.
Conclusion
When choosing the best gaming AM3 processor for your gaming PC it is important to know the compatibility list of parts. It’s also necessary to understand how all these pieces fit together to make the best choice. AMD has made some improvements with its Ryzen line but there are still many older processors out there that will still be performing well.
This article has given you a detailed explanation of what to look for in your best processor for gaming with AM3 socket and how they fit together with the other parts making up the PC. Armed with this knowledge it is now possible to make an informed choice on which CPU would work best in your gaming computer and meet all requirements while not overspending.
FAQ
Ryzen is incompatible with AM3. Its a need to upgrade your motherboard for Ryzen compatibility. Or you can use MSI 970 gaming motherboard am3 processor.
There are many processors compatible with AM3. It is important to know the model number of your CPU first. You can find a compatibility list in our article. The best gaming processor am3 socket is Phenom II X6 1100T.
No, AM and AMX sockets are different. AM CPU will not fit in the new socket type.
The Ryzen 3700x is an AM-series chip meaning it can only be used in motherboards with AMD’s new X570 chipset. If you are looking to upgrade your PC, make sure that the motherboard has an AM 370 socket or better before buying this processor.
No, the Wraith cooler is specific for AM series Ryzen. You can use any regular heatsink with an AM compatible socket on it though.
An AM3 series socket motherboard is a type of computer hardware interface. Socket motherboards are designed so that other types of CPUs and chips can be inserted into the system to create different functionalities.
Yes, you can! AM and AM+ sockets are very similar in design. The only difference between the two is that the pins on one side of the socket have been moved over by one pin. This means all AM CPUs will work with an older motherboard as long as it has a matching socket type (AM or AM+) and vice versa.
The Ryzen CPU uses the AM-3400 socket.
The short answer is yes, but there are a few caveats. AM and FM sockets do not have the same pin configuration, so it isn’t possible to plug an AM CPU into an FM motherboard or vice versa without causing permanent damage to one of both devices.
Socket 1150 is the socket that is used in most Intel Haswell and Broadwell processors. Most of them like the Core I series, Xeon E-series, Pentium, and Celeron use lga1150 sockets with chipsets such as H81 or Z97.
The AM+ socket is an upgrade to the AMD’s previous generation processors. There is some changes in pin layout, power supply requirement, and so on but they still use the same heatsink or cooling solutions.
Both companies are very competitive in the market, but AMD is generally considered to be better for gaming. Even though Intel chips are more powerful on paper they lack many of the features that make AMD CPUs excellent for gamers.
Zen, is a new architecture from AMD. Zen is made of individual cores called zen x86_64 microarchitecture and it will be the basis for future CPUs on AM series sockets such as amg32 and amg12+.
They both have pros and cons, but the average gamer will not be disappointed by either of them.
Best AM/FM /AMX CPU for gaming: *AMD FX-8320 and the overclocking edition is an excellent choice. It performs around 85% of Intel’s i-core at a fraction of cost while offering a decent upgrade path without buying a new motherboard or adding more RAM.
AMD FX-8350 is a code name for Vishera CPU, which was released on 22nd September 2012.
FX6300 is AM3+ which has 942 pins.
Intel motherboards are not backward compatible with AMD or AM series processors. That means you cannot use an Intel motherboard for your old Athlon X64 3800+ CPU. But Asus 970 pro gaming/aura atx ddr3 AM3 motherboard processor compatibility is excellent. Answering the question what is the best running processor for Asus am3 gaming aura is AMD Phenom II x4 965.
No. Ryzen is better at multi-core tasks and professional applications like video editing, but I series CPUs are generally the best gaming processors.
No. Ryzen 3700X only has 16 PCIe lanes that are not enough for a high-end GPU to work at maximum performance. You can run the CPU with GTX 1080 Ti but it will bottleneck and affect your gaming experience because you won’t be able to take advantage of all features such as SLI or Crossfire configurations, overclocking.
Ryzen is a new brand of CPUs from AMD. Wherever there’s an option to buy Ryzen or another AM series, we recommend going with Ryzen because it has a better price/performance ratio and more cores on average. That said if you’re considering the best possible gaming performance right now – get an Intel CPU with the highest core count you can afford.
AMD Phenom II X series processors are 64-bit. They can handle both 32 and 64 bit operating systems. It’s the best AM3 CPU for gaming.
The AMD Phenom II X CPU is a good option for gaming. The processor that can compete with it is AMD fd6300wmhkbox fx-6300 6-core processor black edition MSI 970 gaming am3 motherboard.
AMD Phenom CPUs are designed for the socket AM3.
The best RAM for Ryzen 3600 is anything overclocked to 3466MHz. The Best DDR ram thread provides more information on the current state of memory compatibility and speeds with AMD’s latest CPUs.
3.60 GHz is not bad, but it is not good either. It depends on the game. Most likely 3.60 GHz will do just fine for most games provided there are no major bottlenecks elsewhere in the system.
Ryzen is a new brand and there are very few tests. It seems that Ryzen can be as good as an Intel i-series for gaming, but take this with a grain of salt because it’s still early days for the AM Ryzen CPUs.
The AM series of AMD CPUs are backward compatible with the older motherboards with an AM chipset. However, you will not receive all the available features when using a CPU without an “AM” in its name on your motherboard. This means if you have an AM-125 socket type motherboard and use any other generation CPU it is likely that some functions or features of your motherboard would not work or be available.
No. While the motherboard sockets are backward compatible, meaning you can install an AMX CPU in a newer generation AMx socket board and vice versa, but processors themselves are not backward-compatible.
Zen processors are backward compatible with AM, but not all motherboards support them. Check the motherboard compatibility list to see if your board supports it before buying Zen CPUs.
906 pins are the LGA2011 socket.
AMD AMX CPUs are more commonly found among game and hobbyist markets, as they are typically cheaper to purchase. They also have a great compatibility list of components that work with them along with high performance.
No. 115x sockets for Intel CPUs are incompatible with 1150, 115X, or even 20xx sockets from AMD. The two most common are the LGA1151 and AM31 sockets but they do not fit each other despite looking very similar at first glance.
If you’re looking for a budget build and don’t plan to upgrade your CPU soon, then, by all means, go ahead and buy an 1150 socket.
No. Ryzen processors are not backward compatible with AM series motherboards.
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