How to upgrade to an X2 properly!

[fixxxer0]

I'm starting to see threads pop up which go along the lines of "I just upgraded to an X2 and put it in and now windows doesn't boot" or similar.


Most peoples solutions tends to be akin to the "Microsoft fix-it-all, format-n-reinstall" (haha I just made that up now and it rhymes aren't I clever)

Anyway, my X2 3800 (939) will be here very shortly, and I'm upgrading from a 3500+ and I just formatted this month and would not want to do it again anytime soon.



That being said, what should be done prior to the hardware installation to prep the PC? Should I remove the old processor in device manager? Install some drivers (don't know which?), the AMD dual core optimizer? isn't there some microsoft hotfix around- is it useful?... or is there no solution whatsoever except format?

 

[John]

[*]make sure mobo bios supports X2 and update if needed
[*]remove old cpu, clean HSF
[*]install new X2, apply half a green pea drop of grease to center of cpu heatspreader
[*]install hsf
[*]configure bios settings
[*]run memtest86+ for a few passes
[*]boot to windows and let OS find new cpu, reboot
[*]install AMD dual core driver, reboot
[*]install dual core optimizer, reboot

 

[fixxxer0]

where is this amd dual core driver i coudlnt find it on thier page, i found the optimizer however

 

[John]

AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Utilities & Updates

AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2

 

[videopho]

Thanks OP for asking this kind of question without me starting another redundant thread.
This gives me a head start too. I'm getting my new x2 3800+ hopefully by this Saturday from ZZF. I'm currently running single core AMD x64 3500+ Venice using ECS K1 Lite s939 mobo. My OS is x64 Pro window.
Wish me luck!

 

[crimson117]

make sure mobo bios supports X2 and update if needed

This is probably the most important part that people are missing.

 

[imported_Sincity]

John,

Thanks for posting this :thumbsup:

 

[John]

You're most welcome.

Peas come in different shapes and sizes so think of a small pea. In case someone needs a picture you can click the camera. :camera:

Arctic Silver says:

Athlon64- About the size of one and a half uncooked grains of short-grain white rice or 3/4 of a BB.

If you have doubt then do a couple of test applications to see if you are using too little or too much.

 

[videopho]

I'll be using Zalman ZM-STG1 Super Thermal Grease and Arctic Cooling ACFZP64 Freezer 64 Pro CPU to keep it cool.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: John
AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Utilities & Updates

AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2

I just bought an X2 4200+ and an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium mobo. When I try to install this driver, it tells me that I already have it installed, and I should uninstall the other driver before installing this one. I never did install it, but perhaps when I instaleld my mobo utilities it did it for me. I have installled the ASUS Probe II app that displays CPU temps, etc.

So do I need these drivers? When I look at the task manager in Windows XP, it shows two processor windows.

 

[Mucker]

Here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81429

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Mucker
Here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81429

Thank you! I performed all of these steps, though I still have one question. When I tried to install the ADM driver, it said I had one installed already. How can I tell if it is the latest version?

 

[Mucker]

Should be 1.3.2.16....... Goto add/remove programs and look for AMD driver in the list. It should show the version number.....

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Mucker
Should be 1.3.2.16....... Goto add/remove programs and look for AMD driver in the list. It should show the version number.....

Ok, I uninstalled the previous version and instaleld the 1.3.2 version (didn't see a 16). Anyway, rebooted a coupla times, etc. But now I don't see it in my Add/Remove Programs list. Did I screw up?

 

[JAG87]

Originally posted by: John
[*]make sure mobo bios supports X2 and update if needed
[*]remove old cpu, clean HSF
[*]install new X2, apply half a green pea drop of grease to center of cpu heatspreader
[*]install hsf
[*]configure bios settings
[*]run memtest86+ for a few passes
[*]boot to windows and let OS find new cpu, reboot
[*]install AMD dual core driver, reboot
[*]install dual core optimizer, reboot

I think we are soulmates. I could have not said it better myself.
This should be stickyed.

 

[Mucker]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

Originally posted by: Mucker
Should be 1.3.2.16....... Goto add/remove programs and look for AMD driver in the list. It should show the version number.....

Ok, I uninstalled the previous version and instaleld the 1.3.2 version (didn't see a 16). Anyway, rebooted a coupla times, etc. But now I don't see it in my Add/Remove Programs list. Did I screw up?

Sorry, I should have been more specific. In add/remove programs it will show up as 1.3.2.0. AMD shows the update as 1.3.2.16 on their website, however, if you right click on the downloaded file and goto properties, and then click on the version tab. Under item name, clicking on File version shows 1.3.2.0016. Pretty confusing huh?

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Mucker

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

Originally posted by: Mucker
Should be 1.3.2.16....... Goto add/remove programs and look for AMD driver in the list. It should show the version number.....

Ok, I uninstalled the previous version and instaleld the 1.3.2 version (didn't see a 16). Anyway, rebooted a coupla times, etc. But now I don't see it in my Add/Remove Programs list. Did I screw up?

Sorry, I should have been more specific. In add/remove programs it will show up as 1.3.2.0. AMD shows the update as 1.3.2.16 on their website, however, if you right click on the downloaded file and goto properties, and then click on the version tab. Under item name, clicking on File version shows 1.3.2.0016. Pretty confusing huh?

But how come I don't see it in my Add/Remove Programs now?

It installed the new drivers, but I don't see it anywhere.

 

[Mucker]

Goto your device manager and click on processors in the list. You should see 2 cpu's. Right click on one of them and click properties. Under the driver tab you'll see 1.3.2.0.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Mucker
Goto your device manager and click on processors in the list. You should see 2 cpu's. Right click on one of them and click properties. Under the driver tab you'll see 1.3.2.0.

Yes, I see that...but should I see anything in my Add?Remove Programs about it?

 

[John]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

Originally posted by: Mucker
Goto your device manager and click on processors in the list. You should see 2 cpu's. Right click on one of them and click properties. Under the driver tab you'll see 1.3.2.0.

Yes, I see that...but should I see anything in my Add?Remove Programs about it?

Scroll to the bottom and look for the AMD symbol and "Windows driver pkg."

 

[5t3v0]

John, your step-by-step guide makes no mention of previously installed drivers. I presume I should uninstall the "Athlon 64 Processor Driver" before taking the single core cpu out? The driver version is 1.2.2.2 which quite old by the looks of it.

 

[John]

I never knew AMD had a single core driver. The 1.2.2.2 looks like an old dual core driver, and I'm not sure why you would have installed it to begin with.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

Originally posted by: Mucker
Goto your device manager and click on processors in the list. You should see 2 cpu's. Right click on one of them and click properties. Under the driver tab you'll see 1.3.2.0.

Yes, I see that...but should I see anything in my Add?Remove Programs about it?

Scroll to the bottom and look for the AMD symbol and "Windows driver pkg."

Yeah babeeee! YTM! Thanks!

 

[5t3v0]

Originally posted by: John
I never knew AMD had a single core driver. The 1.2.2.2 looks like an old dual core driver, and I'm not sure why you would have installed it to begin with.

It was required to enable Cool and Quiet. I think the driver is the same for dual or single core. The same driver file can also be downloaded from this page AMD Athlon? 64/FX Processor Utilities and Updates although you will notice that this version is older than the X2 version (1.3.2.14 as opposed to 1.3.2.16) and the filename is spelled differently (single core installer is called "amdcpusetup.exe" whereas the dual core installer is "amdcupsetup.exe", which I presume is a typo). Perhaps they are different drivers but they do the same job.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: 5t3v0

Originally posted by: John
I never knew AMD had a single core driver. The 1.2.2.2 looks like an old dual core driver, and I'm not sure why you would have installed it to begin with.

It was required to enable Cool and Quiet. I think the driver is the same for dual or single core. The same driver file can also be downloaded from this page AMD Athlon? 64/FX Processor Utilities and Updates although you will notice that this version is older than the X2 version (1.3.2.14 as opposed to 1.3.2.16) and the filename is spelled differently (single core installer is called "amdcpusetup.exe" whereas the dual core installer is "amdcupsetup.exe", which I presume is a typo). Perhaps they are different drivers but they do the same job.

Yup, I had this too. Like I said, I instaleld all of the necessary drivers from my mobo CD, and that's what I had when all was said and done.