Options for AMD Athlon II X2 220?

Hardware Hub Motherboards
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Question for you AMD people out there. Don't know much about AMD's line up. I have this old PC laying around and wanted to use it as just a media only PC. The AMD Athlon II X2 220 current is on a ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 . Currently it's getting check sum errors. I'm thinking it's a bad board. I've tried a few different bios chips, new in box DDR3 1066 memory, check CMOS battery contacts, and cleared CMOS. Only thing I have not tried is replacing the CMOS battery.

Anyway, my question is I need motherboard options? Do I go FM2+ or FM3? Is it even worth getting a new MB? I'm looking at spending around $50 as I don't need any other PC components. If I hit the $100 mark I might as well upgrade the MB and CPU.

Thanks in advance for any options or opinions.

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I think the tricky part here is you dont know whether it's the board or cpu which is nerfed

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Just buy an AM1 set man, the 5350 is around 30 bucks with a combo on newegg it's a 25W TDP quad core at 2ghz, the motherboards are mostly ITX boards at 30 bucks

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fQfjYJ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fQfjYJ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD 5350 2.05Ghz Quad-Core Processor ($36.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: MSI AM1I Mini ITX AM1 Motherboard ($33.99 @ SuperBiiz)

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Had similar board but mine was ddr2 w/ phenom x3. blew 20 odd bucks at bios depot, then another 60+ bucks on a new board. Found out that for 90 to a hundred I could get a new 6300/8320e with a new MB for 90 to a hundred or an 7850k w/ MB for 100 to 110. Felt like a moron:)

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What kind of check sum errors? Are they from running software like Prime95 or is it an error on boot?

If it's Prime95 then that indicates a major component issue and I would recommend Streetguru's advice as well.

If it's a check sum error on post then that indicates a dead CMOS battery. So replace it, they are like $1-4. Check ebay or your local outlets.

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Very true.

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Thanks. I'll take a look at that option.

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Yea, error on post. I' going to replace the battery just forgot to pick on up the other day. We'll see.

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They have a refurb at newegg for 90 bucks
Just another option I came across:)

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True but that hits the $100 mark. Might as well buy a new board and CPU.

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Many thanks for all the suggestions. One last try with replacing the CMOS battery. No luck. So it looks like I'll be going with the AMD AM1 option. Figured replacing the MB and CPU is what I would have to do in the first place, but though I would give it one last try. Always like to get older equipment running I have around. Specially when it doesn't need to be anything high end.

1 Like
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Well ended up with a AMD 5350 and asus AM1M. Micro center has $40 off deal on MB with purchase of CPU. So chip and board are 40 each. That's $40 total for new media pc. not to shabby.