Author Topic: replacing processors in a desktop? (Read 7311 times)

caymanreview · « **on:** January 31, 2004, 01:04:36 AM »

so im working with a 800mhz machine and i need more, but dont ahve the cash to buy a new pc right now

would it be possible to buy just the processor and swap them in your pc? would you have to do a full reboot of the pc, or could they just be swapped without a full OS reinstall

i have a buddy that does this stuff to his "homebrew" pc everythime something bigger and better comes out, but i wont have a chance to talk weith him for a few days

any help appreciated

Dustin

John Kelly · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:12:53 AM »

You can just pop a new one in. However, you have to make sure it's the same "kind" of processor as the one you have. i.e. if you have an 800 Mhz P3, you'd need to get another P3...

caymanreview · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:15:24 AM »

ive got a 800mhz intel celeron, what could i buy to upgrade that?

so i cant upgrade the processor speed then? if i have to replace it with the same "kind" then essentially it ouwl be the same thing???

save · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:26:47 AM »

ya u can upgrade your processor. i'm not sure how high p3 goes, but doing a quick search at pricewatch.com, you can get at least a p3 1.4 processor for $185.

caymanreview · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:31:05 AM »

i want a p4, and they can be had (used) it seems for <150 on ebay

should i just buck up and buy a new dell? im thinking maybe

caymanreview · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:47:28 AM »

could i swap it witha new intel celeron processor, that is faster?

save · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:51:53 AM »

i'm not 100% positive on this, but if you want a p4 and don't want to buy a whole new pc, you'll have to buy a new motherboard for p4 processors & a p4 processor. i'm pretty sure that's the only way you can get a p4 into your existing pc.

caymanreview · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2004, 01:59:51 AM »

sounds like this pile aint worth keeping

i was looking and found some intel celeron processors that are 2.4ghz

would i be able to swap a new intel celeron for an old 800mzx intel celeron?

jpschust · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:04:47 AM »

it all depends on the chipset- you need to go onto intel's homepage and look up the processors and make sure they are all the same chipset- if it all matches up then you are cool, if not then you are SOL.

cpclark · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:50:29 AM »

everyone gots some good info here, just to clarify a bit, you have to check the chipset number of the mother board that you have and the compatible processor speeds its supports, this will tell you what you can upgrade too, if not you have to buy a new motherboard and processor and possibly upgrade the fan in the case, as higher processing spees means more heat, i could be wrong on that point, but i think i remember reading that somewhere, hope this .02 helps, it might just be easier and more cost effective to just buy a new pc off ebay, sony vaio can be had cheap, as ive been looking to add a desktop to the pc collection i have, 2 laptops.
-chris

2speedy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:51:48 AM »

so if the chipsets were the same, he would be able to just swap the old intel celeron processor for a new high power intel celeron processor

would you need to do anything besides get int he case and swap the processors? would there be any OS upgrades/reinstalls needed? would it affect anything that was allready on your pc?

cpclark · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:58:17 AM »

as you would be replacing the chip when the computer was off, i would think nothing would be lost, there might be a diagnostic at startup, i doubt there is much setup involved, you just swap out the new chip for the old one. most of the time, the motherboard chipset will have a highest processor value, that you cant go over or it just wont work. check out what you have and look it up on the manufacturers website to see what chips you can put on the motherboard

2speedy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2004, 04:00:50 AM »

doesnt sound too bad

caymanreview · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2004, 04:22:57 AM »

Quote from: 2speedy on January 31, 2004, 04:00:50 AM

doesnt sound too bad

hopefully not

il probably wait untill tomorrow to search this info out

might talk to my computer buddy about him building me a system and just ditching this one

jpschust · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2004, 10:05:37 AM »

a suggestion- if you have a fry's electronics near you just buy the chip from them- they stock shitloads of them and they have the easiest return policy ever- if it doesnt work just bring it back- they give refunds on most anything. make sure to ask them first about the processor, sometimes theya re a touch different, but id be willing to bet they are cool about it

mirth · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2004, 12:42:26 PM »

Typically for a machine that old you would have to purchase an upgrade within the same 'generation' of chips.... Its very likely that any brand-new-still-being-made item will require at least a new motherboard, if not new RAM as well.

I'd find out who makes your motherboard & its model then go to their site. You should be able to find out how fast a CPU it will support.

cpclark · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2004, 02:57:05 PM »

Quote from: mirth on January 31, 2004, 12:42:26 PM

Typically for a machine that old you would have to purchase an upgrade within the same 'generation' of chips.... Its very likely that any brand-new-still-being-made item will require at least a new motherboard, if not new RAM as well.

I'd find out who makes your motherboard & its model then go to their site. You should be able to find out how fast a CPU it will support.

good advice mirth, +T

Cooker · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:16:24 PM »

what matters most is the socket type - there are celerons that run the gamut of different types - socket 370, socket 7, etc. etc.

it is most likely a socket 370 chip - and then it depends on what the maximum speed chip for your motherboard is... but my guess is the fastest you can get is a PIII 866. you probably have 100 mHz front side bus with PC100 ram - so if you were to upgrade the motherboard with the processor you would probably have to get faster ram....

nic · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:48:12 PM »

with a celeron 800 the only processors you will be able to use is a socket 370 based celeron or p3.....maxing out at 1.4ghz.
all p4's and newer celerons(from the past year or so) are based on socket 478 which is pin NON-compatable with the the socket 370

Simp-Dawg · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2004, 05:17:40 PM »

you may also have to adjust some dip switches on your motherboard to get the processor to run at full speed if you do upgrade...at least a while ago when i upgraded my old amd k6-2 350mhz to a 500 mhz chip, i had to up the voltage from the motherboard to the cpu to handle it, and even then i could only push it to 450 mhz.

caymanreview · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2004, 10:01:07 PM »

Quote from: luvean on January 31, 2004, 03:48:12 PM

with a celeron 800 the only processors you will be able to use is a socket 370 based celeron or p3.....maxing out at 1.4ghz.
all p4's and newer celerons(from the past year or so) are based on socket 478 which is pin NON-compatable with the the socket 370

wow great advice. thanks for the techy info. im currently looking at new parts to build a new setup (with the help of my buddy)

anyone have a good site to shop around at for good prices on motherboard, processors, and ram, possibly like a 100+ gig HD

Thanks everyone, +Ts all around, unless ive allready do0ne it, then the 12 hour thing comes into play and il get you again then

mirth · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2004, 12:38:36 AM »

pricewatch.com

Newegg is held in good respect as well, but pricewatch will give you prices from many vendors.

Diggin · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2004, 12:42:18 AM »

if you want some cheap quality computers check out, they are almost full systems just missing a monitor.
http://www.cyberpowerinc.com/home.htm
http://www.ibuypower.com

I know people who have gotten computers from them and haven't had any problems
there is also dell for some cheap computers

caymanreview · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2004, 01:16:33 AM »

thanks guys!

jpschust · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2004, 03:31:12 PM »

also www.compgeeks.com

Nick in Edinboro · « **Reply #25 on:** February 02, 2004, 10:02:30 AM »

All good information.

Socket is the easiest way to match what processor your board will run, also ensure that your MB can handle the FSB speed of the new processor.

Be sure that your current processor fan will fit the new processor if not, pick up a new fan.

Get some white lithium thermal paste for attaching the fan/heatsink to the processor.

Be very careful not to bend the pins when you seat the chip.

Past that, a few changes in your BIOS might be required but I'd think it'll probably handle that itself.

Not a hard job really, just takes some confidence with some semi-fragile parts.

Author Topic: replacing processors in a desktop? (Read 7311 times)

jpschust

cpclark

cpclark

jpschust

cpclark

jpschust