I'm looking to upgrade my processor from the old 4200+ dual-core I have now to a quad-core CPU. ASUS's site says the fastest I can install is the Phenom X4 9950 -- the problem is that part seems to be hard to get nowadays.
Does anyone have this board and know of an easily available quad-core CPU I can install and, if so, if I ought to expect any problems if I upgrade the BIOS now in preparation?

I've been using the same board for many years now, gone through three CPU upgrades, currently with four core Phenom 9850BE. Upgraded to 9850 over a year ago, it was a big improvement over two core, the CPU still holds well now - Skyrim runs good with reasonable settings. BIOS upgrade was needed but it's a painless process.
However, I'm now finding myself limited in terms of upgrade options. If i'd want any sort of speed increase only a full mobo,cpu, memory combo will do - dead end in the proverbial upgrade path. Maybe you'll need to weight up if it's really worth spending money on a CPU for obsolete AM2 socket.

I know this board, and in fact the first generation Phenoms (which are really don't worth the money, in my opinion) are the only quad cores that run on that board. Also, keep in mind that you have to update the BIOS for those old Phenoms, too, in most cases.

Actually, the asus site has faster CPUs than the old Phenom X4 9950 listed on the M2N-SLI page. Heres the quad-core CPU that will work in that board that you can still get now-

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2/M2NSLI/#CPUS

The Phenom IIs are going to be faster than the athlon IIs in some situations, thanks to 6MB of L3 cache (athlon II has no L3 cache at all).

You would probably want to be very careful to get the exact model number for the CPUs. If in doubt, ask asus before you buy it.

BTW, a quick check at newegg shows me that you should have no problems with getting a Athlon II X4 640-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103874

Model number matches perfectly (ADX640WFK42GM)

Its possibel that the Phenom II X4 925 would work as well-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103940

The model number is a bit out, HDX925WFK4DGM, where asus says it should be HDX925WFK4DGI. But the HDX945WFK4DGM makes me think it should run a 'GI' or 'GM' stepping pheonom II X4. I'd ask asus before you buy that one.

BTW, if it can run a 'GM' stepping version, they are slightly better- newer, and they use less vcore (voltage to the CPU).

All the newer quad-cores need BIOS version 5001 or 1103. *sarcasm* Thanks, asus, for making your BIOS version numbers make sense (1103 is newer than 5001).

The 5001 has a nasty warning-

That could possibly make the system more unstable.

There is no similar warning on the 1103 BIOS. I would hope that it is not a beta BIOS (or if it is, CrashFree is supported).

Aside from that, and the general BIOS updating risks, you shouldnt have any problems with updating your BIOS now.

*edit- TobiSGD might know something I dont, I havent used a M2N-SLI for a while, or tried one with an AM3 CPU.

Nope, actually I know that board because we had a lot of problems with that crappy thing. I didn't know that they really added support for those newer CPUs.

Thanks for the replies, gives me lots to look at.
I know where you're coming from wondering if it's worth upgrading an old board, but I think a quad core would give me a better experience with VMs and general multi-tasking and this is really just an expensive stop-gap before upgrading the PC completely which I cannot afford in the next 12 months.

If an AM3 CPU runs in that board, it makes the upgrade path easier.

You could get an AM3 CPU now, upgrade the motherboard and RAM to AM3/AM3+ + DDR3 (I'd go for AM3+), drop the X4 AM3 CPU into the AM3/AM3+ board, and upgrade the CPU later to a Phenom II X6 or Bulldozer when you can afford it.

That was my expereince with the M2N-SLI as well. I actaully checked the page fo the M2N-SLI not that long ago, I migth be getting my hands on the one that drove me insane. The person who owned might be giving it to my house mate (its my housemates sister).

It could be interesting to see if it runs any better with linux, with windows is used to BSOD like crazy. I wasnt allowed to try linux, even as a test when the problems were happening, "linux sucks, I want to game". In the end, I told her that I couldnt be bothered trying to sort out the problems, it ended up being returned and replaced under warranty 3 times.....and still didnt run right with windows.

Not had any problems with the board so far and I've had it ages. That said now it'll probably blow up on me...
I'm not actually that bothered about taking the new CPU to a new board -- more bothered about getting 4 cores in the next 12 months rather than staying with this system until I can afford to build something faster. Then again -- to discount the idea completely would be silly. I suppose it depends on the prices of the CPUs though.
Oh, I should have said I'm in the UK so that might be why I'm finding it harder to find the parts.

I really feel bad for people in the UK as far as buying computers and parts go. I dont think I've seen one good computer parts website in the UK...

You might find this site could help sometimes-

http://www.staticice.co.uk/

You could always import as well, if the local retailers dont have what you want or you cant find it if they do.

I've taken to importing clothes...sure, the shipping time sucks, and paying for postage isnt that much fun either, but at least that way I can get what I want. Mind you, even with shipping included I get stuff a lot cheaper from importing than I could locally, provided that I get it from the right country (eg, british post is expensive, deutsche post is much cheaper. Danke, you efficient germans!)

Now you've said that you're fine. Wait a sec...now I've said that about you saying that, thats that.

I've only ever imported one thing from the US and that was a couple of dozen spark plugs. Even with tax and shipping they cost half the amount of the cheapest UK retailer.
I may have to look at importing but on occasion it seems they don't like doing that and obviously different laws apply.
Now my Motherboard is beginning to resemble the theoretical feline of Mr Schroedinger...

www.overclockers.co.uk is a good place to get hardware, got few things from there, couldn't fault them.

Thanks, I'll have a search, the ones mentioned above aren't there but I'll keep pasting in numbers....

OK, did more digging, looks like there is only one stepping version of the X4 640. So you should be able to get any old X4 640 and run it in your board (with a BIOS update of course)-

http://dealforu.co.uk/epages/eshop33.../ADX640WFGMBOX

That ought to do it, its the cheapest one I could find on staticice-

http://www.staticice.co.uk/cgi-bin/s...wadres=1&pos=2

The Phenom II X4s are going to be harder to find, they are older chips. Newer Phenom IIs tend to be X4 965- X4 980s, or X6s..none of which will run in your system.

LOL

Thanks cascade9, now I have to start saving :-).
I just hope I'm not back here soon after a BIOS upgrade gone wrong.

Always use the ASUS EZ flash (or equivalent on other boards) or a DOS boot disk, never upgrade the BIOS from Window$.