Topic: replacing processors in a desktop?

[caymanreview]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[save]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

doesnt sound too bad

[caymanreview]

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]

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