My motherboard recently WENT out and i need to purchase a new one. I have a socket 939 amd athlon processor on my motherboard currently, i would like to buy a new motherboard and it says it supports the amd athlon, however it has a Socket AM2+.

I have read online that the AM2 is not compatible with the S939, but i have not read anywhere if the AM2+ is compatible or not. Would a motherboard with a AM2+ socket support a processor that was previously in a 939 socket?No.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_64_microprocessors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_939

Sad to say it, both AMD and Intel have closed the door on the concept of incremental progressive upgrade. They don't believe in evolution, they create new incompatible things that deny their ancestry.
It would be helpful if you told us exactly what CPU you have.My computer model is GATEWAY GT5220, with a AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ processor.Quote from: d-boy22 on JUNE 04, 2011, 01:53:11 PM

My computer model is GATEWAY GT5220, with a AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ processor.

Would a motherboard with a AM2+ socket support a processor that was previously in a 939 socket?

There are 2 versions of that same CPU, one is Socket 939, the other is Socket AM2.
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/TYPE-Athlon%2064%20X2.html

A socket 939 cpu will not work in either an AM2 or an AM2+ socket. Socket AM2 provides support for DDR2 memory. Socket AM2 is almost identical to socket 939 but uses a protective mechanism (a manufacturing “key”) designed to prevent any socket 939-pin CPUs (DDR1 only) from being inserted into a socket AM2 motherboard, and to prevent socket AM2 CPUs (DDR2 only) from being inserted into a socket 939-pin motherboard.

Thanks that helped, it must be the AM2 version of the cpu, since the memory in my system is DDR2.

I see on the web that Gateway GT5220 model used each type of socket at different times.

Not according to Crucial which shows only DDR2: http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=GT5220&Cat=RAM
OP has stated he has DDR2 memory.