Best sollution for upgrading my Processor on a GA-MA78GM-S2H

[RemotePCRX]

Beow I am posting some of my specs. What I would like to do is simply update my Bios and Install a Phenom II X4 (AM3) if possible or, install the best processor that will still allow me to expand my motherboard in the future. Any suggestions would be appreciated. As far as I can tell my best option right now is Phenom II X4 940 ....maybe 955 BE. Please help. Thanks !
 


Operating System new – server roles         
System Model
Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2 (build 6002)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 6/18/2011 12:19:44 AM         


Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a         Main Circuit Board b
2.50 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
256 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded         Board: RS780-SB700
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz

BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. F3 03/03/2008
new USB Storage Use in past 30 Days (mouse over last used for details)         
new Hosted Virtual Machines (mouse over name for details)
None discovered         None discovered
Drives new – drive encryption         Memory Modules c,d
160.04 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
78.63 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

ASUS DRW-1814BLT ATA Device [Optical drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

ST3160023A [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 3JS29A53, rev 3.06,
SMART Status: Healthy         1790 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'A0' is Empty
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Slot 'A2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A3' has 1024 MB
     Local Drive Volumes new – volume encryption
     
            
c: (NTFS on drive 0) *    104.86 GB    25.96 GB free       
d: (NTFS on drive 0)    55.18 GB    52.68 GB free       

* Operating System is installed on c:
     Network Drives
     None discovered
Users (mouse over user name for details)         Printers
local user accounts   last logon
 RemotePCRX    10/10/2011 9:10:16 AM    (admin)
local system accounts
 Administrator    1/20/2008 8:48:01 PM    (admin)
 Guest    never    

DISABLED Marks a disabled account;   LOCKED OUT Marks a locked account


        
Microsoft XPS Document Writer    on XPSPort:
Controllers         Display
Standard floppy disk controller
IDE Channel [Controller] (4x)
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller (2x)         


ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics [Display adapter]


Westinghouse LCM-22w3 [Monitor] (22.0"vis, March 2007)
Bus Adapters         Multimedia
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator

Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller (2x)
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller (5x)         
High Definition Audio Device (2x)

[absic]

Hi there,

thanks for the detailed post but sadly, you don't say which revision your motherboard is. Could you post back with this (you can find it printed on the lower left corner of the motherboard) as it will make it easier to offer good advice?

[RemotePCRX]

Rev. 1.1 does this help ?

[absic]

Yes, thanks! 

Here is the list of supported CPU's for your motherboard: http://uk.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=2814

You will need to update to the latest version of BIOS before changing your CPU. N/A in the list shows that the CPU isn't supported and be careful as some CPU's are only supported if they are the 95 Watt version.

The best Phenomii X4 that is suported is the 960 but there is also support for a couple of the 95Watt x6 processors too.

[RemotePCRX]

My fault it's rev. 1.0.

Feel free to remove the repost, thanks. I'm sure I will
still have more questions

[absic]

No problem. Here's the CPU support list for the Rev 1.0: http://uk.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=2758 which seems to be the same as the rev 1.1.  

Edit: removed your other post to keep things tidy!

[RemotePCRX]

Would it be safe to sat a        AMD   Phenom II X4 955 BE    3200MHz   512KBx4   6MB   Deneb   
                                               45nm   C3   95W   4000   F11

without having to do anything but update Bios ?
I'm trying to prevent buying new memory and such .


ITEM IN QUESTION

    AMD Black Edition Deneb Phenom™ II X4 Processor 955
    Heat sink/fan
    Owner's manual

Product Features

    From our expanded online assortment; not available in all Best Buy stores
    AMD Black Edition Deneb Phenom™ II X4 processor 955
    Features a 3.2GHz processor speed.
    4 processing cores
    To run multiple demanding applications simultaneously without hesitation.
    64-bit platform
    With Hyper-Transport Technology and Virtualization Technology support.
    4 x 512KB L2 cache and 6MB L3 cache
    For efficient processing.
    Socket AM3 compatible
    For an easy connection.
    AMD, AMD Arrow logo, AMD Phenom, QuantiSpeed, AMD PowerNow! and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

    thanks ! 

[absic]

Hi there,

yes, the 95 Watt Phenom ii X4 955 is fine with the F11 BIOS and there should be no problem running it with your existing RAM. As I said earlier, just make sure you update the BIOS before dropping in the new CPU.

[RemotePCRX]

So i installed the Phenom II X6 1035T to this board. I first updated the BIOS to F12B. I also created a boot flash drive with this BIOS just incase I needed it. I have a laptop as well so I'm not completely disabled with I upgrade. SO, it did'nt take very well. The OS never loads and the computer keeps rebooting after verification. First screen I get is " defau;t drives blah blah blah push del for BIOS press end for Q-flash .... ect.. so I do nothing and jsut wait for it to boot as usual. Nothing ever happens, the screen blaxcks out and the whole senario starts over again. WTF is going on. Any hwlp please . I have one whole day off right now abd would like to resolve in the next 24hrs. Thanks all !

[Dark Mantis]

When you ran the BIOS upodate did you disable the "Keep DMI Data" on the QFlash homepage ?

If not try clearing the CMOS by following these instructions.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least 30 minutes before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Optimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self like disabling the floppy drive, disabling the full screen logo and making the HDD the primary boot device and then press F10 to save and exit.

[RemotePCRX]

I'm doing so know, see what happens. So dissapointed when I installed, knew it could'nt have been as easy as it sounded.
Hopefully it works out. Thanks Again !

[Dark Mantis]

It's not difficult but as with anything you must follow accepted procedures. You should be alright now as far as this goes anyway. If you still have a problem post back.

[RemotePCRX]

So that did not work, If I go into Q-flash I can see that DMI Data is Enabled but, It will not let me alter the setting.
Now i'm back to the previous issue. I get the SATA loading screen and then the Verification screen and then it blacks out.
And repeats it over and over. I can get to BIOS and Optimized defaults but it did'nt do anything different.
Now what ?  This sucks....Help me and thanks

[RemotePCRX]

I'm going to shoot a GoPro video and load it on Youtube so you can see what's happening .... I will put the link up as soon as I get it done.

[Dark Mantis]

I have never known a scenario where you couldn't disable the Keep DMI Data in QFlash. I can only assume from that and the trouble that you are now having that you have a BIOS problem. I think you should try booting from the Backup BIOS instead and see if that gets you anywhere.

You can kick in the backup BIOS by shutting down the PSU from the wall, then hold down your case power button in and then turn on the power supply button, a few seconds later the board will start, shut off the power supply then.   Then you can turn on the power supply again and power up the board normally and DualBIOS will kick in.

It might take a few tries to get it to work as it is a timing thing.