Upgrading a CPU

[-taz-]

Hi there

I have an old computer, and want to upgrade the CPU.

The computer is an eMachines E3038.
Motherboard:
- Intel® D101GGC
Click for More Info

Current CPU:
- Intel(R) Celeron(R) D CPU 3.20GHz

The CPU i want to replace it with:
- Intel Pentium D 3.60GHz (found a couple on ebay to check all the specs)

I've checked the socket type and it seems to be compatible (LGA 775), the same goes for the system bus speed (800Mhz).

Are those two things the only things you have to check when checking compatibility between processors and motherboards in general?

Also the new PU is dual-core and has '64-bit Instruction Set Support' when the old CPU does not? Does this affect the existing operating system installed on that computer (which is 32-bit)?

Do you guys the upgrade is worth it? I've looked on http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php and the score they've given it is almost three times as good as the old CPU. I'm just looking for a general increase in speed so i can run some newer software on it

Thanks in advance

 

[muon]

The bios has to also support it. Unfortunately this is more difficult to find out on oem systems. It is usually guesswork off the systems the oem produced and the motherboard chipset.

 

[RJC]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Do you know the exact model number of the CPU your looking at purchasing, as the link provided shows a list of supported cpu's that the motherboard can use.

The new cpu will be able to support both 64 & 32 BIT operating systems without issue.

 

[MonsterMoshi]

Check out the Intel website for a full list of compatible CPU's some boards can be really funny. Yours seem ok. Just check whichever one you buy is listed here else it simply won't work. Also this give which BIOS version you need so you should check that also.

 

[-taz-]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Do you know the exact model number of the CPU your looking at purchasing, as the link provided shows a list of supported cpu's that the motherboard can use.

The new cpu will be able to support both 64 & 32 BIT operating systems without issue.

This is the info i can find:
Intel Pentium D 960 Dual Core 3.6 Ghz 3.60Ghz SL9AP 4MB

However it doesn't seem to be listed on the link MonsterMoshi posted, so i'd imagine it wouldn't work

 

[Twirlywoos]

Depends on what you want to use your computer for.

 

[RJC]

This is the info i can find:
Intel Pentium D 960 Dual Core 3.6 Ghz 3.60Ghz SL9AP 4MB

However it doesn't seem to be listed on the link MonsterMoshi posted, so i'd imagine it wouldn't work

The chances are it probably will not

Other option is to look for a lower model which is on the support list, but check you have updated the BIOS before installing.

 

[-taz-]

The chances are it probably will not

Other option is to look for a lower model which is on the support list, but check you have updated the BIOS before installing.

I've found a slightly lower model:
- INTEL PENTIUM D 945 SL9QB 3.40 GHZ SOCKET 775 PROCESSOR

This one does look like it matches that list

How can you check the BIOS and what do you have to do to update it?

 

[-taz-]

Depends on what you want to use your computer for.

Nothing too intensive, just word processing, and maybe watching some videos.

Out of interest, do you think the processor i'm now looking at INTEL PENTIUM D 945 SL9QB 3.40 GHZ SOCKET 775 PROCESSOR could run something like adobe photoshop. Cpubenchmark.net gives it a passmark of 930 if that means anything?

 

[muon]

Check out the Intel website for a full list of compatible CPU's some boards can be really funny. Yours seem ok. Just check whichever one you buy is listed here else it simply won't work. Also this give which BIOS version you need so you should check that also.

There is also an important board revision note there.

I suspect the more power hungry Pentium Ds required a slight change to the motherboard.