am3 works with am2+ M2N68-LA (Narra3)
am3 works with am2+ M2N68-LA (Narra3)
Consider using a Phenom II X4 with an M2N68-LA motherboard. Check compatibility guidelines—some AM3 CPUs like the 95W models may not fit or perform well. The 920 and 940 use 125W CPUs on AM2+ boards, so verify if your specific Phenom II X4 supports that configuration.
From the way it sounds and standard PC building rules, various socket types don't fit together, right? But that's what I'm thinking, if I recall right—AM3 and AM3+ should work in AM3+ power supplies, though I'm not entirely sure. For more certainty, check the official AMD website, they do a great job explaining product requirements and specs.
Socket AM3 causes issues with AM2/AM2+ because of a minor adjustment in pin positioning. The AM3 connector holds 941 pins in a unique arrangement, whereas AM2+ models use 940 pins. Upgrading such an older system isn't necessary since AM3 chips also work with DDR2. Many brands like Asus and Gigabyte mark their AM2/AM2+ boards as "AM3 Ready," meaning BIOS updates are enough to enable compatibility.
Phenom II 920 is compatible only with AM2+ boards, it won't work with AM3 or AM3+ systems. The main issues are: 1. Many AM2+ boards can handle AM3 processors without problems, but because the board is stacked, you need a BIOS that supports it. 2. The 125W power consumption is quite demanding for maintenance, most budget AM2+ boards have only 3VRM, while higher-end builds with big manufacturers support 140W and above using chipsets like 790/890/770/870/970/990. A safer choice would be to opt for processors with 95W TDP, such as Athlon X4 or X3 lines.
The best approach seems to be reducing expenses by using a Ryzen or at least an AM4 System. He didn’t mention his circumstances, location, or financial limits for upgrades.
My Narra 3 Board is installed on an HP Pavilion A6355.uk. It should work smoothly with an AMD Phenom II X4 945, and likely also with a Phenom II 955 if it's the 95W model rather than the higher watt Black Edition. I have a 945 in my Narra 3 and it functions properly; Windows identifies the CPU, but BIOS labels it as AMD unknown.