Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Can any one tell me if it's ok for me to replace an AMD Sempron processor with an AMD Athalon processor?
And how do I find out what is the maximum Ram my mother board is capable of handling? ...Is there such a thing?

I will now wait for RGD to give a ration of S#@t as to why a crusty old cowboy like me is fiddle farting around with this "Nerdly Computer Stuff" ??:fu
Your answer Ron is that I can't afford a new one, So I'm gonna have to pump new life into this old puppy myself :al

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Sempron is a Socket 939 and the Athlon is a Socket 462 (A)... What is your Motherboard Model Number? :ss

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Oh great, And I would find this out How?

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Usually right on it between the card slots or near the processor... :ss

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Looks like it says K8S-LA ...

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

I was wrong in my first post... Here's the details on your board.

* Socket 754
* Supports the following processors:
o AMD Athlon 64 3700+ processor (Clawhammer, 2.4 GHz)
o AMD Athlon 64 3400+ processor (Newcastle, 2.4 GHz)
o AMD Sempron

Memory type PC 2700 or PC 3200 DDR
Memory sockets 2 x 184-pin DDR DIMM
Maximum Memory 2.0 GB

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

My head hurts from reading this post,,,wish I understood computers!

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Woooooowa ... First off THANK YOU! :tu
Second, Maaaan that is scarey ... How did you know all of that?
BTW, I am impresed

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Here's a RAM upgrade to max out your PC - NewEgg

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Also, Which prossor do you recomend

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Welcome! Google is your friend! :tu

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Fastest one you can find for your price point... :tu

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Too bad the processor upgrades are not available at retail for the most part... On eBay, check item 150333588184 or 270360803269. :ss

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Google is your friend.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...&printable=yes

/AGP huh? Been a while since I ran one of those.

What sempron do you have? How much memory do you have? What OS are you using?

Finding a processor for a MOBO that old might not be simple unless you look at the bay.

Personally, I wouldn't spend more than 30 bucks for a processor for that MOBO.

And in all honesty, I doubt much performance difference between a Sempron and Athlon for that MOBO. You'd be better off maxing the memory in most cases. XP is a dog on less than 512 and only opens up on a gig or more. Linux (most modern distros) would probably run great on that box even if you only have 256MB ram.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-Athlon-64-34...3%3A1|294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-ATHLON-64-34...3%3A1|294%3A50

And let me look around tomorrow at what I have .. I may have an Athlon x64 3XXX sitting around in a box collecting dust that I'd be happy to send you if it will work on your MOBO. Memory would be there too, likely 2 x 512MB.

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Ok, Now I need a Drink :al ... I'm a saddle Maker guys,... I used to herd cattle for a living ...
Here's what I know so far ...

Processor #1 : AMD Athlon 64/Opteron / 573B2C87
Platform : (Auto)
Vendor String : AuthenticAMD
CPU Type : Original OEM Processor (0)
Family : 15 (15)
Model : 12 (12)
Stepping ID : 0 (0)
Brand ID : 0 (2183)
APIC : 0
HT Log.CPU Cnt : ----
Name String : AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3100+

Internal Clock : 1808.39 MHz
System Bus : 200.93 MHz
System Clock : 200.93 MHz
Multiplier : 9.0

L1 I-Cache : 64K Byte
L1 D-Cache : 64K Byte
L1 T-Cache : ----
L1 Cache : ----
L2 Cache : 256K Byte
L2 Speed : 1808.39 MHz (Full)

MMX Unit : Supported
SSE Unit : Supported
SSE2 Unit : Supported
SSE3 Unit : Not Supported
MMX2 Unit : Supported
3DNow! Unit : Supported
3DNow!+ Unit : Supported

Host Bridge : 1039:0760.02 [SiS 760]
IDE Controller : 1039:5513.01 [SiS 5513]
VGA Device : 10DE:0326.A1 [NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500]
Memory Size : 512M Byte
Memory Clock : ----

OS Version : Windows XP Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
And right now I have 512mb of Ram.
Thanks you guys .... Now I'm gonna go have that Drink!

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Seeing as you only have 512MB of RAM, you would see a good boost buying the upgrade above... :ss

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

I have two Crucial DDR 333 512MB chips that I can send you, they look compatible with your board and should give you a bit of a boost over 512MB.

My processor is an Athlon X64 3200+, but it is the 90nmm Venice core. Your MOBO spec sheet lists only 130mm chips (Clawhammer and Newcastle). So I'm unsure if the chip that I have will work in your box. You're welcome to try it though. AMD has made chips with different processes (nm) but used the same names. Normally, MOBO manufacturers update the BIOS to take advantage of newer processors, but companies like HP that make their own BIOS for the MOBOs they bought (from ASUS for example) do not always, as they don't expect users to upgrade their equipment, they prefer a fresh sale.

Perhaps you can download and run CPUID, which will tell us the process on that Sempron chip you have in there. If it is 90nm, the MOBO will likely support other 90nm chips.

http://www.cpuid.com/

Also, I have found that the biggest thing you can do to speed up older computers running XP is to reinstall everything. A bit of a PITA if you don't have the original disk(s) from HP as you would have to find and save the drivers then install them. In lieu of that, a thorough antivirus scan and use of spybot search and destroy tools can do wonders.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/SpyBot-Sea...ols_d2471.html

You can also use msconfig or Spybot to look at and remove any un-needed startup programs that may be hogging resources. You can google the names of all the startup processes and see what they are there for. Many are unneeded.

If you have any questions shoot me a PM and we can chat at leisure. I love talking about and fixing up old computers.

Removing a CPU and reinstalling the heatsink is simple but sometimes a bit of a pain, especially if you haven't done it before. We're here to help though !!

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Now would I do that . . . :r

Seriously though - if SeanGar does not have a processor laying around, I might have an AMD in the box somewhere. I'm an Intel person myself but do have some parts laying around.

Best thing for you though is to max out your memory. You will see the difference there than in the chip. Also a clean up of XP (get rid of files and crap you don't need), defrag and or reformat may be in order esp on older machines. Let me know if there is anything I can help with - call me if you need to.


Ron

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Bout time you showed up! :D
Left myself open for the thrashing I had coming to me and you didn't even do it ....What a guy!

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

It's a lot simpler than people realize... I assure you.

I think the most frightening thing of a computer is the power supply and it's infinite quantity of cords. That itself isn't that complicated either as only one head style is going to fit a slot style. Make sure it's the correct one, and make sure each device has power running to it... and you're good. Take away the 20 wires from that and the computer looks a little more tame inside.

Then you h ave either small thin cables which are usually red called SATA cables or big fat thin ones called PATA cables or IDE. Most new computers don't even include a floppy drive anymore, so that's not even worth discussing.

A device like a DVD drive will either take a SATA or IDE cord. That cord gets plugged into the appropriate (fitting) slot on the motherboard. Done.

From there... you have a motherboard with a socket size that only fits certain processors. DDR slots that will only fit certain memory sizes (DDR, DDR2, or DDR3... or if it's older then SDRAM or RDRAM)...

Just think of it as low voltage legos ;)

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

If all you can upgrade to is 2 GB RAM, I would go for a new board/processor with at least 4 GB RAM.

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

As an FYI, the computers I own range in memory from 48 MB to 4 GB. Most are maxed out, but even in my good desktop (that can handle 16), I only have 4 because I'm running a 32 bit OS. XP32 will only see and use 2-3GB for your apps.

In my opinion, there is no need for more than 1 GB memory running XP32 unless you typically have a bunch of programs open at once or do things like video/music editing or rendering animation (or perhaps hard core gaming).

Certainly, the difference between 2 and 4 GB is very small since you only can only use 2 GB of the memory with 32bit XP, unless you use the /3GB switch in the boot.ini, and even then you can only use 3GB virtual address space.

I noticed no speed increase when I upgraded the memory from 2-4GB in 2 laptops and 2 desktops (using the /3GB switch). When I look to see how much memory is being used, it is rare that I even break 512MB. Then again, I don't game or do video editing.

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

OK folks that KNOW, i have an issue. I have a MICRO-ATX mainboard I just installed.
INITIALLY I also bought an ATX 600w power supply to mount into the new case.
Through my ignorance, I saw a power connector with only 20 pins that had to go into a 24 pin power plug.
I NOW KNOW why I was stupid to go back to TigerDirect and buy a SECOND power supply that was actually
listed as a MICRO-ATX power supply. The only one they sold was a 300w power supply and I bought it.

Plain and simple, if you know what you are doing, you place TWO jacks side by side to make 24 pins and bammo,
you move on. I always just had the one jack to plug into the motherboard. That was new for me.

But the damage was done, I ordered a MICRO ATX 300w supply and got it in today and IT ALSO has only the 20 pin
connector. This led me to the moment of doofus discovery that told me, DERH, you place the two connectors together
and it works.... I could have saved the trouble and just installed the 600w ATX supply on Monday night and been done
HAD I KNOWN all that.

Here is the question. Is that Micro ATX motherboard topped out at 300w for a reason? I have it in the case now,
powering the mother board with no problems.

IF I WAS TO INSTALL that 600w power supply like I intend to, will I damage the board in some way?
I am going to be running Sony Vegas Video editing software on it and that will work the machine pretty
hard during rendering and playback of video. But in the end, all I am plugging into the board is a 500G
Hard Drive and a DVD burner. I am not POWERING all that much at all. It seems the 300w supply is fine
and technically, is sold as a MICRO ATX power supply. Do I want to install the 600watt unit or is that a bad idea?

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

"microATX was explicitly designed to be backward-compatible with ATX. The mounting points of microATX motherboards are a subset of those used on full-size ATX boards, and the I/O panel is identical. Thus, microATX motherboards can be used in full-size ATX cases. Furthermore, most microATX motherboards generally use the same power connectors as ATX motherboards,[6] thus permitting the use of full-size ATX power supplies with microATX boards."

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroATX

The wattage should indicate max draw, but I haven't thought about this stuff in years.

You may want to call the manufacturer of the board (microATX is a standard, not a brand). They should have a customer support number.

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

You are fine running either. Unless you are running multiple video cards, hard drives, and media drives, the 300w should easily handle the job. :tu

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

Thanks, that is basically why I just ordered the heavier duty power supply. i have always felt that
the computer will use what it wants, and you should always have more than you need.

but "when it didn't FIT" I thought, oh crap. like I said, I figured it out once the SECOND power supply
arrived and I got ready to plug it up. But when the webstore listed a specific MICRO ATX power supply,
I got nervous, especially since the only one they had listed as MICRO ATX was 300w, which I consider
to be "weak". I figured though, that if that's all that board needs, 300w, then that's all I will give it.
If I notice any trouble, I guess I will use the 600w unit and move on.

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

The Asylum might be full of crazy people, but some of them are smart. Thanks to all who played.

Re: Question for you Computer Guru's out there
 

x86 XP is 3 OS's old at this point. It's about making a hardware configuration they'll get some forward years out vs. what is good on an outdated OS as of today.