Are you someone who is curious about the AM3+ Socket and its match for the top-rated processor to pair with it? Do you like to make the most out of older built computers? Then you may be interested in hearing about the best AM3+ CPUs of 2024.
Busy Schedule? Here is the best AM3+ CPU for 2024. The AMD FX-8350 offers the highest processor count with little power needed to run it. Our runner up is the AMD FX-8370. This powerful AM3+ socket has a large cache and a high boost clock, making it a great competitor.
Best AM3+ CPU: Quick Comparison
BEST RATED  |
AMD FX-8350 Black Edition
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RUNNER UP  |
AMD FX-8370
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AMD FX-4350
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AMD Phenom II X4 940
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AMD FX-4300
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AMD Athlon II X4 640
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Best AM3+ 2024: Reviews
1. AMD FX-8350 Black Edition
Fastest AM3+ CPU
The FX-8350 comes from the same processor family as the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, making it a proven success with complex 3D gaming and HD video.
This AM3+ CPU has a large cache, without using a high amount of power. This means you can run what you want, when you want, without worrying about your computer heating up.
Even though it doesn’t have the highest boost clock in this list, it still holds its own in comparison to other specifications.
The AM3+ line has a better cooling system than the AM3 predecessor, so you never have to give up the potential for risk. This particular AM3+ has an optimized memory controller, letting you feed more cores simultaneously without issue.
This processor comes with AMD Turbo CORE Technology. This is performance-boosting technology that helps you raise your performance on the jobs that need it the most. Personalizing your overclocking experience is easy with the software added to this CPU.
Pros
- All around great specs
- Competitive 3D gaming potential
- Marketplace majority vote
Cons
- Lower boost clock than the AMD FX-8370
2. AMD FX-8370
Best AM3+ CPU for Gaming
The processor count is the same as the AMD FX-8350 but has better overclocking. This means you can do just as much, for less.
While the power needed to run this unit may be a lot more than its FX-8350 counterpart, it features the ability to run multi-core software better than some of its competition.
The power supply demanded by this AM3+ socket requires somewhat of a beefier build PC, making it hard to integrate into your computer if you’re not familiar with the specifications that a more heavy-duty unit requires.
This AM3+ CPU also comes with a wraith cooling system, which makes using more power issues a mere setback to its powerful potential.
The wraith cooling system generates 1/10th of the noise that its predecessors did, making it a silent edition to your PC build. This can be helpful when building this processor into a PC since you don’t have to look for a fan that can handle a power usage of this size.
Pros
- This unit has some of the best specifications in its bracket
- It is a powerful piece to have on your PC
- Comes with its over cooler, making your build less expensive by only having to buy one unit
Cons
- This CPU requires more wattage, which may make it heat up faster and use more power overall
3. AMD FX-4350
Best AM3+ CPU for Working
This Processer features the AMD Turbo Core technology, which pushes your core to the max frequencies when you need it the most. In addition, the AMD 4350 is unlocked, giving you great overclocking potential at little cost to your unit.
This AM3+ Processor has AMD PowerNow! Technology.
This helps you reduce power consumption, as well as dynamically activate or deactivate the parts of your computer you’re not using to save power consumption. This system works automatically, without needing to enable or monitor it.
A great feature of the PowerNow! Technology is that it is environmentally efficient in its design. Something that has held up since the AM3+’s original release in 2011.
Pros
- Greatly reviewed by consumers on multiple platforms
- Can handle some more demanding games
- A great price for what it can offer
- Environmentally sound design
Cons
- Out of all the AMD FX series, this one is older, and may not be the most optimal if you’re just looking for the best one
- Doesn’t have the same features as a newer model does software wise
4. AMD Phenom II X4 945
Best Choice for Mid-Level Gamers
With its AMD Virtualization, it allows you to maintain your pc specifications in a separate, emulated environment.
Another feature of the Phenom is its ability to offer you a low latency integrated memory experience.
This gives you a direct processor to memory for optimal performance.
To go along with the integrated memory, the AMD Phenom has great multi-tasking potential, with dedicated L2 and L3 caches.
A great note about this AM3+ processor is the Direct Connect Architecture. This system, included in your processor, improves overall performance by having your processors all directly connected to one another. This means faster performance, as well as saving energy and reducing heat.
Pros
- This unit has great software and hardware capability, all made to work seamlessly together
- It has been tested and proven to run faster and cooler than some of it’s competitors
Cons
- Because it is not an AMD Black Edition, it doesn’t have the same overclocking potential as other AMD units on this list do
5. AMD FX-4300
Best Starter AM3+ CPU
If you pair this with the Turbo Core Technology (included) then your average performance on the demanding applications will be high.
AMD processors have a great reputation and have been known to power world-class products like Microsoft, Sony, Hp, and more. With this knowledge, you never have to worry about purchasing an AM3+ socket CPU.
The AMD 4300 is at a great price point, making it an amazing competitor in the AM3+ line.
This unit has exactly what you need for a first-time build, with overclocking potential, dedicated memory, AMD Wide Floating Point Accelerator, and many more features.
This CPU should set you up for a great opening into the tech world, letting you figure out what you like and don’t like about your build.
Pros
- As an AMD unit, it has a great reputation behind it
- The extra software added to make it a top of the line option give you the freedom to choose what you want to use your PC for
Cons
- Being an older version on the AMD Black Edition AM3+ processor line, this unit doesn’t offer anything special that some of the other products may
6. AMD Athlon II X4 640
Best Choice for Budget Building
It is also noted that energy efficiency is important to AMD, so they have designed this processor with the thought of a quiet experience in mind.
This AM3+ socket processor has energy-efficient power consumption, using most of its power to actively give you a better experience.
This processor comes with Hypertransport 3.0 Technology, which is a low-latency point-to-point link made to improve communications between your circuits. This product increases bus speeds, which in turn makes your telecommunications faster.
This is one of the lowest cost quad-core CPUs around. At this price point, it has decent performance and is super stable so you don’t have to worry about upgrading for a long time.
Pros
- A great price for its hardware and software
- As all AMDs, it is a solid unit, with a good reputation online
Cons
- If you have the money to spend a bit more, it may be worth it to buy one of the newer AM3+ socket processors
Best Socket AM3+ CPU FAQ
What is the Most Powerful AM3+ CPU?
The most powerful AM3+ CPU is the AMD FX-8350. This unit has a high speed, with the best boost clock pairing and low power usage. With its 8 core build, it is the top competitor in this line of products.
Even though the AM3+ socket is an older model for PC building, it was revolutionary for its time then, and still manages to hold its own in a competitive market. It is a good choice for those who are looking for great potential in their computers and are not involved in the smoke and lights of the most up-to-date technology.
Will Ryzen Fit in AM3+?
The AM3+ Socket is made with one extra pin for the AMD Bulldozer tech. As well as this feature, Ryzen is made for the AM4 socket, which does not fit the AM3+ (or the AM3 for that matter).
Which AMD Processors Use AM3+?
All of the Black Edition AMD processors use the AM3+ socket. More commonly, the AM3+ socket processors are code-named “Vishera” to better differentiate between the different AMD processors. This means that all AMD editions from the AMD FX-4100 to the AMD FX-9590 are compatible with the AM3+ socket as well as backward compatible with the AM3 socket.
What is the Fastest AM3+ CPU?
The fastest AM3+ CPU is the AMD FX-8370. With its 4.3GHz overall, it has the best speed with overclocking potential to add to its speed. Pairing this with the other great specifications, it truly is the right choice for gaming.
Another option, if you’re okay with spending more for a better speed, is the AM3+ FX-9590. It is harder to find a boxed version of this, as a note. While it runs at a crisp 5.0GHz, it doesn’t offer the same specifications as the 8350 or the 8370, making it not the best overall, but perhaps a good competitor for the category of fastest.
Final Words About the Best AM3+ CPU on the Market
As a whole, the AM3+ socket was specially made to incorporate the AMD Bulldozer Technology. It has an extra pin in it, a unique feature of the Bulldozer-based processor. It was made to be backward compatible with the AM3 processors as well, giving you more options in your PC build.
After reviewing and comparing the top names for the top-rated processors to pair with the AM3+, the best two AM3+ CPUs are the AMD FX-8350 Black Edition, and the AMD FX-8370.
Both of these processors have a good cache, as well as a high boost clock that comes with the AMD processors. While the 8370 has a higher boost, the 8350 uses less power, making them both equally matched competition.
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