Upgrading to Athlon 64 X2 - need advice!

[ultflood]

Hello!

I'm running a modified Compaq Presario SR1750NX, stock Asus A8AE-LE mobo, which comes with an Athlon 64 3500 CPU. I'm looking to upgrade the CPU, but am not sure of the compatibility of current-generation models.

The Compaq info site (below) indicates that this socket 939 mobo is compatible with Athlon 64 X2 4800. The closest and cheapest I can find on Newegg is 5400 (below), and all models are socket AM2 - which seem to be incompatible with 939? I'm not sure how to understand which of these models are supposed to be compatible with the mobo.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you!

Mobo specs: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=1815877

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16819103242R

 

[Jovec]

No, they won't work together.

Socket 939 (and AM2) are pretty much dead sockets. You'll have to shop the used market for a CPU upgrade, and it will likely be very expensive. My stupid self tossed a 939 x2 4800 is the trash when it's Nforce motherboard died...

For the current AMD CPU line, socket AM2+ (for DDR2 RAM) is still around and kicking, and any current Athlon II or Phenom II will fit it. Socket AM3 (with DDR3 RAM) is the current AMD socket, and everything except the original Phenom II 920 and 940 will work.

You can currently find Newegg combo deals between $200-$220 for as Athlon II 240, 4 GB DDR3, and basic mobo. If you need onboard video, then get a 785g or 790gx board, not the 770. If you want to try your hand at core/cache unlocking (not that the 240 will do either), then make sure you get a 710 or 750 southbridge too.

 

[ultflood]

Thanks for the advice - I think I'm going to stick with the mobo and try to find a 939 X2. They are expensive - any ideas on where to find one would be appreciated!

 

[ramj70]

You could try posting a WTB in the FS/FT thread and see what happens. I'm sure there are people who have them that would be willing to sell.

 

[veri745]

Socket 939 CPUs are extremely expensive for what you will get. In most cases, you'll be better off buying a CPU+mobo combo for what you will spend on a decent S939 CPU, but your best bet will be the FS/FT forum and eBay.

 

[21stHermit]

I have an s939 A64 X2, with only a few hours on it. Let me know if interested and I'll did up the details. It was an OEM from Newegg. I'll sell it for 80% of the current eBay going price + $5 for S&H via Priority Mail.

 

[HarryLui]

Unless you do a lot of encoding or use program that can take advantage of the dual core, just upgrade your single core for another single core.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/cpu/article.php/3261_3514901__1

 

[ultflood]

I'd definitely be down to just grab a new mobo, but because it's a Compaq case, I'm not sure if the Asus mobo was made specifically designed to fit in this case - I know manufacturers have done that in the past. Any thoughts?

21st hermit - mind sending me the details?

Thank you!

 

[21stHermit]

It's one of these:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 89W Dual-Core Processor - OEM

PM me an offer if you're interested.

 

[ther00kie16]

Measure the dimensions of the board and the spacing of the offsets and compare to some boards on newegg.
I was going to recommend new mobo but looking on ebay there are x2 3800 939 for $60 buy it now. add bing and ebates and you've got 10% cashback. Can't do much better than that especially considering ram prices as you'd have to switch from ddr to ddr2.
Other option is to get a intel e3200 + msi g31 combo for $30 after rebate or whatever other combos they have from fry's. That would smoke any x2, especially if you overclock it (most are capable of near 4ghz).

 

[ultflood]

Great, thanks!

 

[spdfreak]

There are a bunch of 939 X2's on ebay pretty cheap. I have one listed (cpu and HSF) and it will probably sell for about 50.00 judging from past sales. It should be a quick and easy upgrade for you. I would make sure you have the latest bios from compaq before you do it though...

 

[faxon]

If you live near frys we have CPU/mobo combos every week for less than the cost of the CPU, and we almost always have something for $40-60. You could do that, a $25 case, and 2gb of used ddr2 for the cost of getting most 939 CPUs now lol.

 

[ultflood]

Great, thank you. Any advice on the bios update? I haven't done it before.

 

[formulav8]

Come on people stop telling him to by new mobo's, ram, and whatnot when he said more than once that he wants to keep his current hardware and just upgrade the cpu.

As some others has said, a dualcore upgrade from your 3500+ will have a very nice performance increase in many area's and is well worth the $40-$60 price.

If you've confirmed compatibility you may want to get the latest bios flash just to be more sure of a seamless upgrade.


Jason

 

[spdfreak]

Great, thank you. Any advice on the bios update? I haven't done it before.

Check compaq's website for details on how to do it. It might be current, but you should check.

 

[Munky]

Unless you do a lot of encoding or use program that can take advantage of the dual core, just upgrade your single core for another single core.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/cpu/article.php/3261_3514901__1

Way to link to a review from 2005. File compression, games, movie encoding, photo editing, general multi-tasking... these are all multi-threaded with modern software. Getting a faster single-core is the exact opposite of what the OP should be doing.

 

[ultflood]

So, looking through these options, I definitely see some good prices on Ebay for the x2's. Benchmarks seem to put them way ahead of the single-cores, but how do you think they compare to current-generation cpu's? Are programs taking advantage of the new architecture yet?

Also, looking at mobo's, the one installed is 9.6 in x 8.2 in, which seems to be specific to this case. I'm a little wary of getting a new mobo, case, etc. since I haven't done it before and am unsure about it, especially as relates to bios and windows compatibility - any advice?

Thank you!

 

[ReefaMadness]

I'm a little wary of getting a new mobo, case, etc. since I haven't done it before and am unsure about it, especially as relates to bios and windows compatibility - any advice?

Careful what you ask for...years ago I ran across the site linked below...and I still have a seriously bad case of the "Madness".

All kidding aside, if you read thru this site I've linked, you'll find that the process of building (or upgrading your current rig) is not nearly as difficult as it might first appear.

I would suggest that if you decide to build new that you consider other hardware options besides the ones listed by the author of the site, but the "build" process should still be applicable, even if it is for just the upgrade.

http://www.mysuperpc.com/

 

[ultflood]

Great. Thanks!

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I have the SAME EXACT Compaq. Same 939 board and same CPU. Well, had.

I upgraded to an AMD 64 X2 4200+ 2.2ghz. It was on a factory restore and didn't need a bios update. I also added 4GB of PC3200 and an HD 3850. It's my brothers server comp but surely it still delivers better than expected performance in modern games.

 

[alkemyst]

Unless you do a lot of encoding or use program that can take advantage of the dual core, just upgrade your single core for another single core.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/cpu/article.php/3261_3514901__1

That's a 2005 article, in the last HALF DECADE...many basic programs are taking advantage of dual cores and quads are becoming even more utilized each day.

OP, the Opteron 165 was a nice addition to my 939 board, I have since gone to Phenon II x3 720. Prior to the Opt. I had a San Diego 4000+...noticed big differences each upgrade.

 

[ultflood]

Great, thank you for your help!

 

[Dadofamunky]

What a riot. A 3500+ sure seems quaint now! Nonetheless, getting a 939 X2 3800+ is the best cheap upgrade you can make (without, of course, doing a new build). They're very good OCers too, though I doubt you'll be able to do much with that old Compaq. I cobbled together a machine for my wife with an Asus A8n-SLI Nforce2 board and a 3800+ X2 OCed to 2.5 GHz. The sucker is rock stable - I mean ROCK stable. Does everything my wife needs without a hiccup. I don't think that thing has crashed since I brought it home a year ago.

 

[PM650]

What a riot. A 3500+ sure seems quaint now! Nonetheless, getting a 939 X2 3800+ is the best cheap upgrade you can make (without, of course, doing a new build). They're very good OCers too, though I doubt you'll be able to do much with that old Compaq. I cobbled together a machine for my wife with an Asus A8n-SLI Nforce2 board and a 3800+ X2 OCed to 2.5 GHz. The sucker is rock stable - I mean ROCK stable. Does everything my wife needs without a hiccup. I don't think that thing has crashed since I brought it home a year ago.

Sell that thing on ebay before it dies
http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.ht...SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_rdc=1
Seriously, the NF4 is prone to failure, and you can basically buy a new am3 mobo + athlon quad for the price of your x2 and a8n-sli
I kept everything that came with my a8n-sli premium back in 05, only a matter of time before I put it on ebay...

All things considered though, upgrading to an x2 is a good option if it's not in the budget for new mobo+ram.