What can I upgrade this Athlon CPU to?

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Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
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I believe yours is an x2 3800+, and swapping the CPU would would probably not even be noticeable. Do you still use the original hard drive? An upgrade to a cheap SSD would make it feel like a brand new machine again. How about RAM?

EDITED : CPU info was wrong
 
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dbx88

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2015
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I'm putting 4gb of ram + WD Blue 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 7200rpm Internal Hard Drive.

What CPU do you recommend I should go for?
 
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coolpurplefan

Golden Member
Mar 2, 2006
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I'm not sure what you're trying to do here. Maybe you absolutely want to keep using the operating system due to software that isn't compatible with a newer OS. But, I find this idea of upgrading an older machine like almost unreal. Buying a machine with an Intel i5-4570 and 8GB of RAM would run circles around your machine and feel a lot smoother.

For what it's worth, when I had a machine built by HP, I contacted them and they told me which CPU and RAM were compatible with my machine. However, if you want to upgrade a machine that old, you may want to consider a new reliable power supply. That's if Acer doesn't use proprietary power supplies. A HD with 64MB cache might help too.

In the end, the only thing I added to that HP machine was RAM and a video card. It died after 7 years if I remember correctly.
 
Leyawiin

Leyawiin

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2008
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Its hard to know what CPU would be compatible with that OEM motherboard. It may not support 125w X2 processors (like the 6000+). Your best bet would be to contact Acer support and see if they can tell you the max CPU that would work.
 
Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
141
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I've seen this machine linked in other threads, and it seems to be just about what OP needs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Thin...683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46348111eb

Just add a hard drive.

Moving to a modern platform gets you:

-Decreased power usage, saving you $ every month
-Very likely much reduced noise
-Greatly improved performance, 2-3x as opposed to ~20%
-USB 3.0, HDMI, gigabit LAN, SPDIF
-Probably better onboard sound
-Improved reliability, as you're not using a 10 year old motherboard and power supply

4GB of DDR1 is probably going to cost more than it's worth. Better to invest in something more recent. You can likely part your current machine out and partially make back what you spend, or pass it along to a relative.
 
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dbx88

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2015
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Well I'm upgrading this for a friend, and I recommended they get another computer, but they 100% insisted to upgrade this one as much as possible, so therefore, I have to look for a cpu that will work.
 
Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
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I wouldn't replace the CPU. Get them a solid state hard drive and some more RAM and call it a day. It'll be dramatically faster.
 
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dbx88

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2015
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I tried explaining that to them. My recommendation was to get a new computer with 4-8gb of ram, and have a ssd 256gb for the os.

They prefer keeping this computer, and upgrading the ram (which i did), and bigger hd (1tb). And they want a faster cpu.

So I'm guessing I should go with:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Brisbane Dual-Core 2.9GHz Socket AM2 65W Processor

or

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 6000+ 3.0 GHz Processor
 
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dbx88

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2015
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If you had no choice but to upgrade the cpu to the highest you could get it (not affected the psu too much), you would go with the:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 6000+ 3.0 GHz Processor?
 
Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
141
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Right, I originally misidentified your friend's system as socket 939, when it is in fact AM2. Check here for a list of CPUs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlon_64_X2

The AM2 version of the 3800+ is a dual core at 2.4ghz, 90nm, "Windsor". Any other 90nm "Windsor" CPU will probably be a drop-in replacement. 65nm CPUs will fit the socket but may or may not boot, depending on if the bios supports them. You'd probably have to call Acer.

The fastest 90nm Windsor CPU is the 6400+. If you'd like to try a 65nm Brisbane CPU, which would have much lower power consumption, the 6000+ is the highest-end Brisbane CPU.
 
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SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
17,305
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dbx88 said:
If you had no choice but to upgrade the cpu to the highest you could get it (not affected the psu too much), you would go with the:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 6000+ 3.0 GHz Processor?
Click to expand...

I'd contact Acer. The problem is that computer has a smallish 250 watt power supply that is now a few years old, not to mention bios support for faster dual cores / 65nm CPU's (it looks like that 3800+ is the older single core version). There are C2D Q9550 powered machines (no HDD) on Ebay for ~$120, just swap the harddrive over.
 
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dbx88

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2015
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So the 6000+ is a good choice too? I saw the 6400+ was a bit out of their budget.
 
Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
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SlowSpyder said:
I'd contact Acer. The problem is that computer has a smallish 250 watt power supply that is now a few years old, not to mention bios support for faster dual cores / 65nm CPU's (it looks like that 3800+ is the older single core version). There are C2D Q9550 powered machines (no HDD) on Ebay for ~$120, just swap the harddrive over.
Click to expand...

CNet claims it's an X2 3800+:

http://www.cnet.com/products/acer-a...on-64-x2-3800-plus-2-4-ghz-1-gb-160-gb/specs/

It's a fair point that the extra power draw of a higher end CPU may kill the power supply, but in this case I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

:colbert:

OP, if you get a 6000+, make sure it's a 90nm "Windsor" to maximize its chance of it booting in that system.
 
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SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
17,305
1,002
126
Yuriman said:
CNet claims it's an X2 3800+:

http://www.cnet.com/products/acer-a...on-64-x2-3800-plus-2-4-ghz-1-gb-160-gb/specs/

It's a fair point that the extra power draw of a higher end CPU may kill the power supply, but in this case I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

:colbert:

OP, if you get a 6000+, make sure it's a 90nm "Windsor" to maximize its chance of it booting in that system.
Click to expand...


If it's a dual care 1.8GHz, that probably will help with compatibility. I have a quad core 1.4 - 1.65GHz Llano (Stars core, similar to PhII) with a SSD and it is fairly clunky. I can't imagine any but the highest clocked A64's x2's being a fun experience for even basic tasks these days.
 
Yuriman

Yuriman

Diamond Member
Jun 25, 2004
5,530
141
106
Yeah, give it a try. If its description is correct, it's a 90nm CPU because the 65nm 6000+ should be 3.1ghz.
 
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dbx88

Junior Member
Mar 18, 2015
11
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Ok so go for this one:

ADX6000IAA6CZ

Looks like I need a heatsink fan as well.

Can you refer me to a 6000+ model + fan for around $40-55? I'm seeing the cpu $85.
 
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pitz

Senior member
Feb 11, 2010
461
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0
Another vote for the SSD. At least if the SSD doesn't satisfy the user, its a part that's re-usable. While a rotating hard drive, RAM upgrades, or an upgraded CPU is effectively throw-away if you don't end up needing it and have to go with the SSD and new mobo anyways.
 
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