Reddit mentions of AMD Sempron 145 Processor (SDX145HBGMBOX)

I would go with the AMD Sempron which is only $36 and can be unlocked to be made a dual-core Athlon.

You can get an AMD Sempron for ~30 bucks instead of a new mobo. Then, you could update your BIOS to support the 8350, and maybe save a bit of money. Not sure how much that would run you in the UK.

edit: if you're interested at all in building a HTPC, this would put you closer to that goal too!

AM3 CPUs are hard to come by these days. I'm was building a guest PC on the AM3 socket. I got a single core sempron unlocked to a dual core, but you might see a performance difference between a quad core and a single core/dual core. If you want to check it out anyway, here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040BPHJO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Build:

MoBo: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P

CPU: AMD Sempron 145

RAM: Kingston Hyper X Blu 4 GB

HD: Kingston Digital 60GB

GPU: 5x 750ti FTW edition

PSU: KingWin 850 Watts ATX 850

I have a feeling its the combination of a crappy PSU choice (I was aiming for different GPU's originally) and the FTW edition GPU's.

Looks solid man. You need to add a CPU to that build like this one.

If you want to mine things like Vertcoin in the future, 4GB could be a good idea.

Actually that would run games like shit. They're all on a PCI-e x1 slot (very low bandwidth), and the CPU is guaranteed to be utter shit. I built a mining rig just like this and used three R9 270s, but the CPU was an AMD Sempron 145 since it doesn't really make a difference.

I have an AM3 board that is currently running a Phenom II X6 1075t found here http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Thuban-Six-Core-Processor/dp/B0041G50LI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416513353&sr=8-1&keywords=phenom+ii+1075t I bought the motherboard and processor used off of a friend, but after some problems, I ended up RMAing both of them. At the time, I had a Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition found here http://www.amazon.com/AMD-HDZ955FBGMBOX-Phenom-Edition-3-2GHz/dp/B002TQYUAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416513737&sr=8-1&keywords=955+black+edition , and AMD sent me the 1075t as a replacement. Both of them are great CPUs from what I know of the 1075t and my friend's knowledge of the 955 BE. However, the non-Black-Edition CPUs do not have unlocked multipliers, therefore making their overclocking abilities somewhat limited and more complicated. However, if overclocking doesn't mean much to you, you can safely ignore this and just go by Core number, base clock speed, etc. If you really want something cheap and weak to get you by, you can get this http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Sempron-145-Processor-SDX145HBGMBOX/dp/B0040BPHJO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1416513613&sr=8-7&keywords=am3+processor it is labeled as a single core, but I believe it has an unlockable second core, if what I remember reading about it is correct. I've also found what seem to be really great AM3 overclocking guides on Google, but I have not found the time to mess with it much. Also note that, while you probably already know this, you cannot use AM3+ processors on AM3 boards. You can, however, use AM3 CPUs on AM3+ boards. AM3 CPUs have 941 pins, AM3+ have 942.

No. The Bios are what are on your motherboard; I suspect that the problem is that your bios are older and thus require an older CPU.

If you click on the ASUS link, then click "CPU Support" you'll be given a full list of what CPUs work with which Bios. You need to pick a CPU that will work with Bios 0204, preferably the cheapest one you can find.

After that you install the CPU, update the bios to the latest version, then put your FX-6300 back in.

I reccommend this cpu, the AMD Sempron 145. It's the least expensive CPU that I can find that will work with Bios 0204 . After you're done with it you can try to return it, or throw it in a drawer for an "In case of emergency" CPU.