SPCR

http://www.silentpcreview.com/news-2011-03-01.htm

* MSI Afterburner v2.1.0 (2011-02-15) released
* Intel 510 SSDs released March 1st 2011 (Marvell Controller like C300/C400)
* Intel 320 SSDs coming in mid April 2011 (Intel G3 controller?)
* WSGF updates 3x1 and 5x1 Eyefinity Benchmarks. Tests AMD HD 6800/6900 cards.
* 2010 Engadget Awards -- Editors' Choice
* AMD to Showcase Bulldozer Microprocessors at CeBIT Trade-Show this week.
* Hardware-Infos: AMD Bulldozer CPUs compatible with AM3 (in German)
* Intel rumored to add cache logic to future chipsets to allow a SSD to work in hybrid mode with a traditional hard drive.

I wonder how much the Intel G3 600GB size will sell for. Probably over my budget.

Seems like the Bulldozer/AM3 report was a miscommunication or something. Here's a thread confirming (?) that Bulldozer will run on AM3+ only (not AM3): http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1589613

Hazelrah wrote:Seems like the Bulldozer/AM3 report was a miscommunication or something. Here's a thread confirming (?) that Bulldozer will run on AM3+ only (not AM3): http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1589613

It would be easy for a manufacturer to ship socket AM3+ and people to put AM3 chips in it without realizing they have a AM3 socket. Maybe the point of the quote is there are at least two boards in the retail supply that already have AM3+ sockets and just need a BIOS upgrade to support Bulldozer?

FWIW I'm using a X3 720 in a M2A-VM. When the M2A-VM first came out they called it socket AM2 but later updated the BIOS to support AM2+ and AM3 chips. Physically and BIOS wise the board I'm using will accept and run normally with a AM2, AM2+, or AM3 CPU.

Presumably the AM3+ boards will support AM3, AM3+, and something coming later. AMD is just taking turns adding and subtracting pins and they are doing it in a fashion that allows you to reuse parts for a while but eventually the reset has to come. Can't do that forever.

If Bulldozer CPUs do work in AM3+ boards that will be excellent. AMD are producing some really good value kit - the 6x00 GPUs are amazing and cheap, AM3 mobos are fairly cheap and there is a good selection, AM3 CPUs are cheap... They are robust as well, particularly their chipsets and on-board graphics options.

Maybe Intel CPUs edge out in performance but over time you are better off getting a good AMD CPU and then upgrading it later (without changing mobo or RAM, or re-installing the OS) rather than getting a more expensive Intel system and hanging on to it.

If Bulldozer CPUs do work in AM3+ boards that will be excellent.

You mean AM3 (not plus)