upgrading CPU on Compaq Presario 5301?

[duuuma]

I was wondering if it'd be safe for me to upgrade my girlfriend's Compaq Presario 5301 (AMD K6 333mhz, SiS chipset I think) to an AMD K6-2 500mhz or 550mhz. I saw a guy on ebay sell an upgrade Presario 5301 with a K6-2 550mhz, but I wanted to see if any here knew about it.

If I do upgrade the CPU, it should just be a matter of sticking it in just like memory right? Thanks.

 

[Buz2b]

<< If I do upgrade the CPU, it should just be a matter of sticking it in just like memory right? Thanks. >>

Yes and No. I'd recommend you go to the Compaq site and check to make sure that the board will indeed take this upgrade. If so, there may be some adjustments and/dipswitches that will need to be set when doing this upgrade. You also need to consider the HSF and if it will be able to handle the increase in temps. Are you familiar with removing and/or replacing a HSF? Just because someone was selling one with an upgrade doesn't tell the story of what they did to achieve it. Also, this upgrade, if possible, would not yield big increases. You could probably get more of a noticable boost from upgrading the RAM and video card. That might be a more prudent way to go. At lease then you could use those items on a new system later down the line. Sorry, but that would be my best recommendation for you at this point.

 

[Poof]

I upgraded my Presario 5070 (K6-2/350) with a K6-2 500 with no probs. The mobo has a clearly marked table of jumper settings for FSB and multipliers fortunately. The original 350 didn't have any HS/fan (the CPU had that metal "heat spreader") but the 500 I purchased (this was almost 2.5 years ago) had a good-sized HS.

The 333s normally run with a 66MHz FSB. You would just need to change the jumper for a 100 FSB and change the multiplier to 5.

[EDIT: BTW Buz2b... a 500Mhz CPU is no laughing matter... For typical apps like word processing, web browsers and gaming (I use this machine as a dedicated game server) 500Mhz with a RAM upgrade to 128MB, is rather nice. ]

 

[Buz2b]

<< BTW Buz2b... a 500Mhz CPU is no laughing matter >>

Never meant to say it was. However, when comparing the "noticable difference" ratio of going from a 333 to a 500 MHz versus maybe doubleing the RAM and upgrading to a better video card, my money is on the RAM/Video upgrade. Much more "punch" would be felt doing that. Ideally, doing all three would be the way to go.

 

[duuuma]

She's got 128mb of RAM in there already (even though it only registers as 120MB), and RAM costs too much now for me to be buying.

The K6-2 533mhz can be had for $50 Retail w/ HSF or a K6-2 550mhz for $38 but OEM. I doubt a HSF will be very expensive and I've got artic silver I can squirt on there.

I've got a Stealth III 32MB AGP video card I could stick in there too. It probably beats the onboard video, but I'm afraid there'll be compatibility problems there also??

Total for upgrade up to 550mhz and a 32mb video card would only be around $40 and I think it'd probably kick up her performance quite a bit. I'd like to upgrade to win2k too, but I don't know if her board will like it or not.

 

[duuuma]

I just found out the 5301 comes with a K6-2 350mhz with a 3.5 multiplier. How does that affect what kind of cpu it'll support?

This page shows the jumper settings but I'm not very familiar with jumpers.

http://www.compaq.com/athome/support/msgs/5304/ty10jmpr.html

 

[Buz2b]

128 MB of PC100 SDRAM from Crucial would be $46.74. Add in the video card (you already have) and you're done. Of course you would need to make sure that you have an additional slot open for the RAM. I"m not sure what you mean about compatibility issues with the vid card. Does the system have an AGP slot? If so all you would do is go into the BIOS and disable the onboard video, install the new card with the drivers and you're done. With some Compaq's you may not have the option to disable the onboard video in the BIOS and instead would just use Device Manager and under properties (of the onboard video adapter) just choose to "Disable" it. Adding the RAM is also a simpler procedure than CPU replacement.
As to the CPU replacement you will need to add a Heatsink w/fan (HSF) to match with the model you use. You won't find one any cheaper than the additional $12.00 you mention for the Retail w/hsf vs the OEM. I could really get long-winded about HSF's etc, but suffice to say that there is more to it than just "squirting some Arctic Silver in there". As far as the jumpers go, you will need to set them for the new CPU (if you go that route). Probably to 5 or 5.5 but you'll need that info before beginning. Also need to make sure the voltage is the same (without looking it up I would guess that it will be).