Processor upgrade?

[MICHAEL]

I'd like to upgrade my processor in my Presario 5423US.It has a 1.6 P4 at
400mhz.Compaq support gives you the standard"consult local service
center"nonsense.The most common answer is that it will support at least a
2.0,but which version,there are many models to choose from,even if you
narrow it down to 400mhz models.So long as my motherboard will support
a 2.0,will any model work.Am I restricted to 400 mhz system bus?

 

[Wheat Muncher]

MICHAEL put me in my place by writing

I'd like to upgrade my processor in my Presario 5423US.It has a 1.6 P4 at
400mhz.Compaq support gives you the standard"consult local service
center"nonsense.The most common answer is that it will support at least a
2.0,but which version,there are many models to choose from,even if you
narrow it down to 400mhz models.So long as my motherboard will support
a 2.0,will any model work.Am I restricted to 400 mhz system bus?

Check with the Motherboard manufacturer, some Compaq's had Intel boards,
and many other types. I don't remember if Compaq (HP now) makes their own
motherboards or not. This is going to be the restriction on what processor
it will handle. In my experience with the newer boards, if it will take a
400 FSB, it will usually take a 533 as well, but with a Compaq, who knows.
They are kind of notorious for being very finicky with upgrades of the
major components like the CPU, so double check it all. You also need to
know what the Pin Grid Array (PGA). mPGA, or others. Socket 478 (most
likely) or different? I don't think the P4's use a socket 423 any more, but
again- double check.
I would look some of this up for you, but I am on dial up, so it would take
me a fort-night.

 

[kony]

I'd like to upgrade my processor in my Presario 5423US.It has a 1.6 P4 at
400mhz.Compaq support gives you the standard"consult local service
center"nonsense.The most common answer is that it will support at least a
2.0,but which version,there are many models to choose from,even if you
narrow it down to 400mhz models.So long as my motherboard will support
a 2.0,will any model work.Am I restricted to 400 mhz system bus?

Knowing a little bit about the situation with your system, I'm very
tempted to tell you that now is the right time to replace the
motherboard.

I was about to tell you that, since you had the inadequate power
supply issue, since the upgrade processor is overpriced for what it
is, and since the end result of all the upgrading will be a system
that runs too hot because that chassis has inadequate ventilation...
it has the rear fan exhaust, but insufficient air inlets. Take a 5"
hole saw and boring straight in through the bottom front of the case
would help a lot, but there's that HDD right behind the front, so
it's in the way too.

In the long-term, I think you would be better off to start over, with
new case, power supply, motherboard, processor, memory.
If, for whatever reason, you really really want to upgrade the CPU,
here's the scoop:

It's socket 478, Intel 845 chipset, max FSB is 400MHz.
It'll take up to 2.6GHz processors, but be sure they're socket 478 &
400MHz FSB version.

You MUST upgrade the BIOS first. I don't know what minimal verison is
needed, but you might as well get the last BIOS released. Upgrade the
BIOS while the old CPU is in the system.

Now, if you're trying to run a newer video card with the faster
processor, on that ~235W power supply, there's a potential that if the
system doesn't post, you won't know if the power supply is inadequate,
or there's some other issue. People have reported that the BIOS
update does allow the faster CPU but I don't know if there's any other
steps needed (like clearing the CMOS just after installing the new
CPU).

As for celerons, i have no idea.
Does that motherboard use PC100 or PC133 memory instead of DDR? If
so, I definitely wouldn't upgrade the CPU, PC133 memory will hurt
performance even more with the faster CPU.


Dave

 

[MICHAEL]

Thanks for the information,it's a lot more than I got from Compaq
support.It's absolutely amazing how little they know about their
own systems.I do know my present bios will support up to 2.0,there are
updates but I'm leary of trying to flash a Compaq,they can be so quirky
and the chip is part of the board itself,non-removable,so if something goes
wrong,goodbye motherboard.

You mentioned before the possibility of converting or making an adaptor from
my present psu.I finally found a 250 watt model(it took me a month
of searching,and returning a unit that Compaq said would work but turned out
to be a standard ATX model).It's only a temporary measure,I'd like
at least a 350.If you're still willing to try,I can send you the original
PSU and you can see what you can do with it.

 

[DaveW]

You would need to use a 400 MHz bus P4 2.0GHz processor. However I believe
you would be very hard pressed to detect any difference in the performance
of the 2.0 GHz over your current 1.6Ghz P4. It's only a 25% difference in
processor speed; very subtle actual difference.