>Bulldozer Ready Checklist
>No one truly knows when the Bulldozer is coming, but it’ll be beastly when it hits. Want to know if you prepared correctly for release? AMD has released a checklist of stuff you need to run the chip.
First, have a 9-series chipset. (View the 970, 990FX and 990X on newegg) These are relatively new, so if you built an AMD rig in 2010 or 2009, you may be in the market for a new mobo as well. I am in this boat, disappointingly.
It must have an AM3+ socket. This was known for some time, but now its confirmed, although the AM3+ chipsets are backwards compatible with AM3 chips. This means you can buy the motherboard now and put your old chip in it, so the expense doesn’t hit all at once.
Next, make sure whatever 9-series motherboard you do have, update the BIOS before getting your chip. This will ensure it works when you get it.
AMD, in its own interests recommend you have a graphics card from them, and that it is a 6850 or higher. Obviously this isn’t true. What we can take from this is you will get the best performance from cards that benchmark at the level of a 6850 or higher, whether they be AMD or Nvidia offerings.
So there you have it. Bulldozer in a Nutshell. I would say you are looking at anywhere from 300-500 dollar upgrade if you need a new motherboard. Not that bad for a pretty massive jump.
nipnops
DanI put the OO in Swagoo. One of the founders of KBMOD. I stream on Twitch as well as writing and editing for the website.
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