Simple & Easy with Great Results!
Jan 05 '01
So you want to have a bit more speed a bit more performance from your machine, but how the heck do you do it. Well one way is to upgrade your processor. So lets start...
Firstly before you do anything, you must know your computer. Get the motherboard book out, usually A5 sized and full of jargon. Take a good look at the book and find the specifications page. Now look for the type of connection there is on the board, it is either a slot or socket.
Once found it will say a name for the type of connection like the following: (socket 7 & Super socket 7 are the same type, but the super means it has extra speed.)
Sockets-
Socket 7 (Intel-Pentium processors-1,2. AMD K6 processors-2,3. Cyrix processor)
Super Socket 7
Socket A (AMD-Athlon & Duron only)
Socket 370 (Intel-Celeron & Pentium 3 only)
Slots-
Slot 1 (Intel Pentium 3 only)
Slot A (AMD Athlon Thunderbird only)
Now you know what type of connection is on the board you can decide which processor (in brackets) you have. The only exception is the socket 7, which is used by both Intel and AMD by their processors. The Super Socket 7 is just for the AMD K6-2 and K6-3 as they reach speeds of 550Mhz.
Now take a look in the manual again and this time look for the multiplier selections, or the maximum speed of a processor your motherboard can handle. A higher speed processor can run on a slower speced board, just at a slower rate.
NOTE: The Pentium 3 is available in two forms:
Slot 1 and Socket 370. So if you have the 370 socket decide between the P3 and Celeron. But with Slot 1 the P3 is only available.
The Socket A can have either the AMD Athlon or Duron. The Duron is over £100 cheaper than the Athlon but the speed differs very much though.
Processor Speed round up: (note: subject to change)
Athlon 700Mhz-1.2Ghz
Duron 600Mhz-800Mhz
Celeron 300Mhz-700Mhz
Pentium 3 700Mhz-1.1Ghz
You must first be aware of a few things:
This could void any warranty
You need to be aware of the problems such as extra cooling: If it is a leap from a Duron to Athlon some more cooling could help.
On older board and even some quite new boards the Multipliers have to be set manually with little jumpers on the board itself. On some boards there are none so you will be able to set the multiplier in the BIOS.
A little about the changes needed.
MULTIPLIERS
These may have to be set on the board on in the BIOS. Check manual on how to do it.
The multipliers are required to multiply the speed of the processors factory setting, sometimes 100Mhz (they alternate with processors and brands) the 100Mhz can be multiplied by a number to give its working speed. e.g. a multiplier set at 5x would give a 100Mhz factory setting a speed of 500Mhz. A 6x setting would give a 100Mhz factory setting (like the Duron) a working speed of 600Mhz.
VOLTAGE
The voltage rarely has to be changed. But upgrading from a Duron to Athlon may need a higher voltage increased from 1.5V to 1.6V. check when buying processor!!
Once you know the max speed you can have and the type of processor you can buy the thing. They do vary in price. A Duron is the cheapest of all, with Celeron next and then Athlon, Pentium 3 and Athlon Thunderbird.
FINALLY INSTALLING:
Now you have the processor just follow the mini guides to installing it::
Slot type:
Open case cover.
Search for processor (big black thing sticking up at you)
Look for fan wire connection and remove from socket.
Remove the clips on side and remove.
Now get new processor and insert. Connect fan.
Set multiplier setting according to manual.
AND TEST
Socket Type:
Open case cover.
Look for a fan on the motherboard sticking up.
The fan will have clips attached to the yellow socket, remove the clips and fan and fan wire.
Lift arm at side of processor/socket.
Lift out processor.
Insert new processor. Push down arm and put fan back on. Connect the fan.
Set multiplier setting according to manual.
AND TEST
Hopefully with the multiplier & voltages set correctly the system will boot correctly.
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