CPU Upgrade

[Chris Randal]

Running an old computer with an MS6390 motherboard, 1248MB Ram and a 1.3G AMD Duron processor.

Probably unsurprisingly the system is a little slow.

For a real dummy - would upgrading the CPU to 1.8 or better speed things up?

Replacing the system is not an option - the computer is for the kids and we don't have the cash to upgrade.

It looks like there are AMD socket 462 processors around on trade me - I guess I'm not going to get a new one.

The board supports:
"Supports Socket A (Socket-462) for AMD® Athlon™/Athlon™ XP /Duron™
processor
Supports 1GHz to 2000+MHz and higher processor"

Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome - just don't say replace the system - but remember that my technical knowledge is extremely limited!

Many thanks

Chris

[Sweep]

I don't believe you would see much increase in speed.

Probably the first thing I would do is reformat the PC and reload the O/S and Programs.

It's bound to have picked up a lot of stuff into the registry over time.

I'd go to a 2 gig CPU or better if you do want to replace the current one.

[Chris Randal]

Sorry Sweep - forgot to say that the reformat and reload was done.

I am using MSSE and I've tried the fix above - it appears to have made a small difference.

[SolMiester]

WOW, socket A and still going!...I was going to say add RAM, but you already have over a gig!....You might get it to 1.5 by clocking but not really worth the work, single core, crippled L2 cache, low IPC.....
I'm with sweep, fresh install of the O/S would help, but not much point spending any money on it...

[Sweep]

Sorry Sweep - forgot to say that the reformat and reload was done.

I am using MSSE and I've tried the fix above - it appears to have made a small difference.

So get the fastest CPU the board will take then will be the way to go. I'd update to the latest BIOS on the board before you swap out the current CPU.

[pctek]

would upgrading the CPU to 1.8 or better speed things up?

Yes, so long as it isn't another Duron. Make sure its a proper full AMD CPU. It won't accomplish miracles but it will help.

Also I'd format it and do a complete fresh reinstall - that accomplishes wonders after a while.

[Chris Randal]

Thanks Sweep

I guess that I'm not going to find a new processor - it'll have to be a trade me job?

[Chris Randal]

Yes, so long as it isn't another Duron. Make sure its a proper full AMD CPU. It won't accomplish miracles but it will help.

Also I'd format it and do a complete fresh reinstall - that accomplishes wonders after a while.

So try and find a AMD XP processor?

I did try CCleaner - that got rid of an awful lot of rubbish left over from the clean install and made a tiny difference.

[Sweep]

AMD Athlon or Athlon XP and first identify the revision of Motherboard you have. There seems to be two models. Then update the BIOS before upgrading CPU.

[Terry Porritt]

Because your front side bus is 266MHz, an AMD 2100+ at 1.7MHz is the fastest cpu your board will take. An AMD XP 2400+ for example which can run 333MHz FSB will just revert back to the equivalent of an XP 2100+.

AFAIK that is.