Want to upgrade cpu but not sure if it'll work

Trashman

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2000
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Hey, I'm working on a friends system an HP computer it currently has an AMD processor.
listed as so on HP's website:

Athlon 64 X2 (W) 4000+ 2.1 GHz
2000 MT/s (mega transfers/second)
Socket AM2

I assume the (W) means thats its a Windsor, would a Brisbane processor be ok, since they are cheaper.

System does not work as of right now, either cpu or board is bad, would like to pick up the cheapest cpu for testing, it has to work right out the box, bios updates do me no good.
Newegg has this cpu listed and this one HERE

any advice would be great,
Thanx
 

nyker96

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
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the bios might need to be updated before newer versions will work with this cpu. Speak of cheap cpus, newegg does have the X2 2400 BE oem for $25 or $30. Might be useful as a test chip even without BIOS update. But not sure how you can test your system without another board or chip.
 

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
9,291
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CPU's rarely, if ever, go bad in OEM (pre-built) computers. I'm willing to bet it's either his motherboard, his PSU (power supply), or both. Bad PSU's kill more motherboards every year than pretty much all other causes combined, and unfortunately for your friend, HP seems to buy nearly bottom of the barrel PSU's.
 

Trashman

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2000
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I've tried using my PSU, still nothing.
I think its the board as well, but finding oem board might be near impossible, but still looking.
Just sux having no spare parts to test, if was an Intel setup i'd be good to go. Unless I try to find cheap used AM2 board to test CPU, I guess i can look into that route.
 

o1die

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
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Check the backplate (to see if it's removable) and the motherboard form factor. It's probably micro-atx. I tried a new micro atx asrock board in my compaq pc, and it fit fine. Even the case connectors worked. If in doubt, check some photos from newegg. Notice the position of the ports on the board. On my compaq, the ports were on the far right side of the board when they faced the other way, just like you would mount it in the case.
 

21stHermit

Senior member
Dec 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: Trashman
if was an Intel setup i'd be good to go. Unless I try to find cheap used AM2 board to test CPU, I guess i can look into that route.
I bought a new Compaq last year, it had an OEM ECS mATX MB. I replaced it with another ECS mATX MB. Slipped right in. If you have a spare Intel mATX MB and CPU, I bet it'll slip right into that case. One gotcha, XP or Vista won't boot, they're keyed to the MB BIOS.



 

Trashman

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2000
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Originally posted by: o1die
Check the backplate (to see if it's removable) and the motherboard form factor. It's probably micro-atx. I tried a new micro atx asrock board in my compaq pc, and it fit fine. Even the case connectors worked. If in doubt, check some photos from newegg. Notice the position of the ports on the board. On my compaq, the ports were on the far right side of the board when they faced the other way, just like you would mount it in the case.

Backplate is removeable, will look into that option, worse case scenerio is that the front panel 9-in-1 (4 slot) + 1 USB port will be gone.
thanx for suggestions