upgrading my computer's cpu

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mg89

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Mar 11, 2006
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I have a amd athlon 1700 that runs at 1.4ghz. My computer is around 5 years old and I want to upgrade the microprocessor. I'm looking towards a amd athlon 64 3200+ with 2.0ghz.

I don't know much about computers, so can I switch my current cpu with a newer one, or would I have to get a newer motherboard aswell? If I could just switch the cpu, how would I do that?

thanks (sorry if some of these questions are answerable with common sense)
 

kmccune

2-Strokes forever
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Jul 3, 1999
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Check the manufacture web sight for you specific model ( not CPU the one on the box) you may need the serial number as well.
The website should have the cpus and bus speeds that the motherboard will support.
 

IndyMX

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Jul 18, 2006
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Most likely to go to an Athlon 64 you will need to change out the motherboard also.

You should be able to find a good package deal on newegg.com
 
J

JohnRaven.exe

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Jun 5, 2006
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I'm pretty sure your current Motherboard is a Socket A board. If you want that 3200+ AMD, you'll probably need a socket 754 Motherboard. Also, it might be a good time to just rebuild your computer... RAM, Video Card, Hard Drive (if needed) and of course, a new Processor.
 
C

Chili

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Apr 9, 2002
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I have the same cpu in one of my older pc's and like JohnRaven said it will be a Socket A. If you could possibly find one Socket A cpu's did go up to the Athlon XP 3300+ but since it is a discontinued architechure the odds of finding one new are pretty much nil. You may find a used one out there but i'm pretty leary of buying used cpu's as you never know how the previous owner treated them (overclocking, etc).
 
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ComradeMikhail

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May 2, 2005
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Yes, in order to go Athlon 64, you'll need to get either a socket 754 or socket 939 motherboard (depending on which processor you get).
 
Last edited:
M

mg89

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Mar 11, 2006
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what kind of ram and video card do I need? how would I know if I need a new hard drive?
 
Z

Zenith

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Jan 11, 2001
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ASUS make excellent motherboards, I'd definitely recommend one. You'd be better off getting a new motherboard, CPU and RAM. There have been a number of faster speed RAM releases since your 1700 came out, you may as well have this added speed benefit and not make the RAM a bottle neck in the system. Also selling your MB, CPU and RAM on E-Bay will be much easier as a combo.

It's hard to know with the harddrive. If you've got five years out of it you've done quite well, these days they don't tend to last like the used to. Also, many of the PCs that come into our place for repair because they're slow end up having harddrives that are on their way out. So if I were you I'd get a new one. If you don't need much space consider getting something like a 10000RPM 72Gb SATA2 drive which will be a good bit faster then the usual 7200RPM 200/300Gb drives out there.
 

Tennessee Thumper

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Jan 23, 2000
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mg89 said:
I have 512mb of RAM. Do I really need more? like a 1gb
Click to expand...

512mb of ram is ok,but if you can afford to get 1 gig it will run much better,and if you plan on upgrading to Windows Vista you'll really need 2 gigs for it to run at a good speed......Im running Vista RC2 on my Mactel, and its a ram hog!

Does that motherboard have a PCI express slot(s)? If you plan on doing much gaming you'll probably want to put one in down the road.
 
G

Green Horn

aka Chip Carbone
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Jun 20, 1999
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Just curious why you want the new CPU? You did state that you don't know much about computers, so it'd be wise that you're buying it for the right reasons.
 
B

bsmith

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I did this with an old Compaq a few years ago. I did the CPU, new Mother Board, and more memory.

One thing that was never mentioned to me was power. The new equipment used more power then the old and over heated the power supply. I think I spent about $300 at TigerDirect, and then had to go buy a new tower to put it all in, but if you have the software it was very inexpensive way to upgrade.
 
M

mg89

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Mar 11, 2006
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Green Horn said:
Just curious why you want the new CPU? You did state that you don't know much about computers, so it'd be wise that you're buying it for the right reasons.
Click to expand...


I don't really know, it was initially to just be able to load a whole bunch of games I was given, then my cousin (tech at BestBuy) said I needed to upgrade my computer anyways since it's 5 years old and pretty slow, it has a amd athlon xp 1700+ that runs at 1.4 ghz and 512mb of ram. The computer I have was put together by my dad.

It's a pretty good computer for school work, but I want to play some games and edit some videos. And plus, it keeps freezing all the time.
 
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ComradeMikhail

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I have 768mb of ram and Vista runs just fine with the Aero glass interface on my computer. I have an Athlon 64 3200+, 768mb ram, and a Radeon X800 in this thing and I notice no slow downs with Vista. However, I do agree, get a gig if you can afford it (and it's not that expensive anymore).
 

kmccune

2-Strokes forever
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Jul 3, 1999
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1.4 is not bad, yes other have faster but it shouldn't be locking up with normal use. How much hard drive space do you have left? You could install more memory, a different video card or a second hard drive.
What is is doing when it locks up?
I almost forgot, what version of windows does this computer have?
 
G

Green Horn

aka Chip Carbone
N. Texas SP
Jun 20, 1999
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mg89 said:
I don't really know...
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I was guessing. ;) Your 1400 should be good enough for alot of games out there. Might want to checkout other stuff like video cards, memory, etc... as others have mentioned. I don't want to talk too much tech stuff because that's not my strength. Just playing "devils-advocate" to see if/ why you really need this new stuff. And replacing it just because it's 5 yrs old is crap. Ever think your cousin just wants to score a sale? Best case is that he now considers himself Bill Gates Jr. now that he's a "tech" at Best Buy. LOL The only people that use the "your system is too old" excuse are ones that just have money to blow on whatever. If you're one of these types, then disregard everything I've posted. Hell, go for a new system with all of the neon lights and pretty colors all over it. Drop $3k like it ain't no thang. :laugh:

Sounds to me like what you really need is a good hard drive wiping and maybe a couple of software updates. Possibly a bigger hard drive and more memory but that would be about it. IMO Again though, I'm not the computer guy around here.

At any rate if you do really think you need new stuff, have you also priced new systems altogether? Hell, if you're gonna replace the processor, mother board, video/ sound cards, memory etc... you've pretty much covered 90% of a computer. Ever thought of having a custom one built by Dell or someone???
 

dales298

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Nov 25, 2003
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Like kmccune said 1.4 with 512ram isn't all that slow. Chat room and instant messaging programs will self start and reserve a lot of ram for themselves and could be contributing to freezing problems if you use them. If your computer is slow to start some of these could be the problem.

Dale
 
M

mg89

Member
Mar 11, 2006
295
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Whoah man, no bagging on my cousin. He's a tech not a sales associate. And besides, nobody there makes commision. He's just trying to help me update my stuff. He gets a pretty good discount on most items at BestBuy, so he told me if I need anything he'll just buy it for me, and I can pay him back whenever.

I rather buy all the parts I want and put the computer together myself, than to buy a custom made computer built by dell. In that way I can actually learn something.
 
M

mg89

Member
Mar 11, 2006
295
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I don't have any instant messaging program, i used to but then my computer ran really slow.
 
G

Green Horn

aka Chip Carbone
N. Texas SP
Jun 20, 1999
2,563
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mg89 said:
Whoah man, no bagging on my cousin. He's a tech not a sales associate.
Click to expand...
then my cousin (tech at BestBuy) said I needed to upgrade my computer anyways since it's 5 years old and pretty slow
Click to expand...

Whoa, sorry to confuse the two. I shall stand down from now on when it comes to a certified Best Buy tech. :think: Stick with your cousins advice since I'm sure NONE of us on here could hang with him in the knowledge dept.
 
B

bsmith

Wise master of the mistic
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Whoa GH, maybe some needs a hug :whoa:
 
G

Green Horn

aka Chip Carbone
N. Texas SP
Jun 20, 1999
2,563
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Hugs are just a waste of time...put out or get out. ;)
 
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