Upgrading CPU

[The Lone Rider]

I've got an old desktop that I call the slave computer.

It is used for tasks that take time and would otherwise render a computer somewhat inoperative while doing those tasks. Things like mass video format conversions, DVD burning, rending raw video into edited sequences.

Anyway, it has a Micro-Star International Co LTD motherboard. Model MS-6390, Chipset P4M266/KM266 (VT8375), Southbridge VT8233A, CPCIO Winbond W83697HF

I don't know too much about CPUs and compatibility with motherboards.

It currently has an AMD Athlon XP Thoroughbred, Socket A (462) at 1.5ghz


I googled the board but I don't understand what I'm reading to tell what (if any) type of CPU I can upgrade to.

Help?

The best I can interpret is that it will take any 32bit AMD Atholon (version 1), Atholon XP, or Duron

[Gremlin]

Blimey that's old.

In a nutshell, yeah, you're pretty much on the money. I never really worked with socket A much, and whether you're even going to find a CPU that old is doubtful.

AMD CPUs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_microprocessors#K7_architecture_.28199 9.E2.80.932005.29 (will go direct to the area about Socket A). Reading on Duron says yes, compatible with Athlon.

More reading on Socket A: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_A

Basically, each type of socket has a specific layout with a set number of pins, so motherboard and CPU have to be the same socket. None are compatible with another type of socket.

[The Lone Rider]

Looking through listings, there are a few but they are slower.

For $30 I can get one that is 2ghz and comes with 2 dvd burners which kills 2 birds with one stone.

But good to know I was understanding what I was reading.

Might buy a slightly higher spec old computer, which will cost about the same in parts to get this one going. Then give this one to my daughter and load up some educational games.

I like old tech if it can be put to use. I even have a Theremin in my studio.

[Usarka]

If it's an old POS then slightly increasing the cpu speed won't do too much. Plenty of other bottle necks in the disk, motherboard, ram etc.....

But then again i only know jack and shit, and jack left town. So it was kind of pointless me posting this.

Cheerio, what!

[SMOKEU]

That platform has been dead for many years and there's no point spending any money on it. Throw it away and buy/build a modern quad core Intel or AMD setup.

[bogan]

I threw a 2.6gHz one of them away earlier this year. The aluminium heatsink attached to them is worth a lot more than the CPU itself!

Put the word out that you're looking for an older shitty computer, often people throw away whole PCs that would be a large upgrade on what you currently have.

[Gremlin]

If it's an old POS then slightly increasing the cpu speed won't do too much. Plenty of other bottle necks in the disk, motherboard, ram etc.....
This is also a good point. Hard drives are mechanical. Even 3 years old and you can see the performance degradation. Ie, a decade old machine, a newer CPU isn't going to do much, but yes, you can upgrade.

In business, hell, we used to cycle out machines at 3 years old, stretching to more like 4-5 now. Decade old? uh....

[The Lone Rider]

Thus the landfill pile up.

But I will always have a number of computers that work :msn-wink:

[steve_t]

I also have a "slave" computer that I use for mundane tasks and I think something like this is a much better return on your $$

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desktops/no-monitor/auction-522527937.htm

[The Lone Rider]

I also have a "slave" computer that I use for mundane tasks and I think something like this is a much better return on your $$

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desktops/no-monitor/auction-522527937.htm

Yeah.. that'll be nice to have in about 2-5 years when they sell for $30


I'm just setting up my "new" one now. Swapped out the ram, graphics card, psu, sound card, and added a pinnacle capture card.. Nearly done, then fire it up

[Suntoucher]

Looks like a Barton Athlon XP 3200+ is your fastest option:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/cpus/amd/auction-522343667.htm

However you could probably get a faster P4 MB and CPU for around the $30 mark.

Hell, I've got an Atom D525 with crappy ITX case and 300W ITX PSU I'd part with for $60 picked up in the Shore, would need an HDD and a DDR3 SODIMM to run, but would do it pretty well in comparison whilst sipping power.

Otherwise something like this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/components/motherboards/intel/auction-521980704.htm

Buuut depending on what your main box contains, you could probably dedicate those tasks to strict cores and find it's completed faster and more easily on a single box. I know I had my 2500K converting 300GB of music to a single format and putting it all nicely into folders whilst gaming and standard usage, took 18 hours.

[Brian d marge]

That platform has been dead for many years and there's no point spending any money on it. Throw it away and buy/build a modern quad core Intel or AMD setup.
sorry , but smoke u is right, aim for about a 5 year obsolecence , I use linux and get a good few morre years than that. this computer is duo core and was given to me by a friend ( mother board and chip ) , under linux its fine

sorry but this is a consumerist worldwe live in ...

Stephen

[The Lone Rider]

This thread is dead. I've already sorted it

[p.dath]

Rather than buy a new CPU for such an old machine, you'd probably be better a whole "new" machine on Trade Me. Something with less vintage on it all around would probably give you a better result.

[The Lone Rider]

Rather than buy a new CPU for such an old machine, you'd probably be better a whole "new" machine on Trade Me. Something with less vintage on it all around would probably give you a better result.

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The

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[Suntoucher]

Posting on here to make OP whinge.

You should totally buy a whole new computer.