Upgrading from A64 single core to A64 Dual core...Reinstall Win XP?

[Fike]

I am considering upgrading from A64 3700 to A64 x2 4400. Will I need to reinstall my OS or is the new processor largely plug-and-play. I know there are some drivers that are needed to optimize performance, but do I realllllly need to reinstall the OS?

 

[aka1nas]

It's usually a drop-in replacement and XP will install the correct HAL. If it doesn't, then you may need to reinstall.

 

[stogez]

That shouldn't be a problem. If it was a different mobo, thats another story 🙂

 

[SlowSpyder]

When I went from a 3000+ to an Opty 165 it found the new hardware and all I had to do was reboot. Both cores show up in device manager and in task manager.

 

[BillClo]

You'll hear many stories of drop in and go. I had to reinstall to get rid of some gremlins.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: BillClo
You'll hear many stories of drop in and go. I had to reinstall to get rid of some gremlins.

Yeah me too too many problems and corruptions so I had to clean install windows xp it is become very super fast less problems. no more corruptions.

 

[zephyrprime]

I had to reinstall as well. Windows only recognized 1P on my system. It was a P4D though, not an A64. And what's more, I had to manually select the right HAL during windows install because windows just didn't understand my system or something.

 

[Brunnis]

I went from a 3500+ to an X2 3800+ with absolutely zero problems. Didn't even have to install any drivers.

 

[dennilfloss]

I went from an XP 2500+ to a A64 X2 4200+, changed the motherboard and RAM also and Windows XP handled this flawlessly.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: BillClo
You'll hear many stories of drop in and go. I had to reinstall to get rid of some gremlins.

As do most people, including the ones who swore (at first) that it was a drop in replacement. The next time they reinstall, they always say "I wish I had just done that to begin with. It got rid of all of the problems I had been having."

Originally posted by: Brunnis
I went from a 3500+ to an X2 3800+ with absolutely zero problems. Didn't even have to install any drivers.

No wonder you haven't had any problems, you're still running on one core. Windows doesn't know you have two cores until you install the dual-core driver.

 

[gOJDO]

You don't have to reinstall anything. Just replace the CPU and be cool. BTW, congratulations for your upgrade 🙂

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Brunnis
I went from a 3500+ to an X2 3800+ with absolutely zero problems. Didn't even have to install any drivers.

No wonder you haven't had any problems, you're still running on one core. Windows doesn't know you have two cores until you install the dual-core driver.

I didn't install dual core drivers in my system and it sees both cores, that depends on the right HAL being installed in Windows. To make sure it reinstalls the HAL when you boot up with the dual core, go into Device Manager and uninstall the "Computer" device (ACPI Uniprocessor PC is what it's called IIRC) and it'll install the Multiprocessor HAL when you boot up the next time. Just make sure to have the latest BIOS installed and there shouldn't be any problems.

 

[BillClo]

Originally posted by: MDE

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Brunnis
I went from a 3500+ to an X2 3800+ with absolutely zero problems. Didn't even have to install any drivers.

No wonder you haven't had any problems, you're still running on one core. Windows doesn't know you have two cores until you install the dual-core driver.

I didn't install dual core drivers in my system and it sees both cores, that depends on the right HAL being installed in Windows. To make sure it reinstalls the HAL when you boot up with the dual core, go into Device Manager and uninstall the "Computer" device (ACPI Uniprocessor PC is what it's called IIRC) and it'll install the Multiprocessor HAL when you boot up the next time. Just make sure to have the latest BIOS installed and there shouldn't be any problems.

I followed this procedure, after reading about it on the forums and it left me with various gremlins in the system. I don't know why it didn't work for me, but there it is.

 

[Munky]

I only had to install the AMD dual core driver and optimiser, and only because some games would stutter witout them. Windows and most of my other apps work fine after just switching the cpu. Only PowerDvd refused to work even after a reinstall of the app, but I have since replaced it with a better alternative.

 

[MJGlo]

I switched to 2x core with zero problems, no drivers or optimisers either.

Mike

 

[Makaveli]

yep drop in replacement about a month ago, reboot and system was fine. from a single core opteron to dual core.

Did install Dual core driver and stuff after tho. Cause some gamers were acting up. Now running Flawlessly.