How to upgrade from AMD X1 to AMD X2 processor

E

esbo

New Member
Hi I have a sempron 3000 and and I want to upgrade to an AMD 3800 X2
Do I basically just swop the chips?

OR do I have do do anything else? Drivers? etc?
 
It all depends on the motherboard you have and if it supports the new processor. If this is a store bought computer, need to know the make and model. If it's a custom built system, just need to know the model of the motherboard.
 
From what your specs say, you can handle the Athlon X2 up to the 4800+ series, so the 3800+ will work with your motherboard. I'd sell you mine, but I'm still using it :D

I wouldn't get one new though. They'll be way overpriced. You should be able to find a good deal on ebay though,
 
voyagerfan99 said:
From what your specs say, you can handle the Athlon X2 up to the 4800+ series, so the 3800+ will work with your motherboard. I'd sell you mine, but I'm still using it :D

I wouldn't get one new though. They'll be way overpriced. You should be able to find a good deal on ebay though,
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Yes I made sure the system had good upgradability when I bought it as the last one I had was pretty much 'maxed out' in the CPU upgrade area.

Disappointing AMD had brought out the AMD2 and was making cheap X2 processors for them but their X2 processors for the 939 board stayed very expensive.

I would like to have gone for a 4800 X2 but the prices on them are about £160!! I am getting mine for £40. Even for a 4200 X2 you have to pay 50% more for basically a 10% increase in speed, that is just not worth the extra, I would hardly notice the increase in speed.

One thing I am wondering about is the performance, some things will not run much faster, if they can only use a single core I believe.

One thing I do is use a USB dongle to watch TV via the computer, that uses a good bit of CPU, I am hoping now one core will do that, and I will have the other core for the rest rest of my stuff, surfing etc?

I mean I assume a process can run in any core?

Is there something to manage what processors use which core?
Could I be left with one core clogged up with running procesors and the other core pretty idle?

I am interested to how it manages this. Have you upgraded yourself from a single core?

Thanks.

I could have got a used one for £37 but that was used, it says mine is "is AS NEW OEM." does that mean it is not new?
I suspect it might, anyway I have already ordered from China so it will take a while to get here, the other used one would have been quicker.
 
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What OS are you running? If it's XP, then you can download the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer and it will add better dual-core support. If you're running Vista or 7, you won't have to worry.
 
voyagerfan99 said:
What OS are you running? If it's XP, then you can download the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer and it will add better dual-core support. If you're running Vista or 7, you won't have to worry.
Click to expand...

I'm on XP, presumably I can get that after instalation if I need it.
Well OK I have downloaded it now anyway if I need it.
I have been meaning to get this for ages, one it hit £39.99 is seemed a good price.
There are a lot of faster processor now so I expect the X2 ones will drop a bit now, however it should keep me going for a good while I hope.

It's the graphics though, everything gets higher resolution I think, however I will be paying out quite a bit to get a really significant improvement in performance. I went from an Cyrix MII 300 to the semperon, wow that was a huge leap in performance!! :D
 
OK I received my new X2 CPU about an hour ago!! :D

It's installed and working!!

I have not put the AMD software thing to balance the load yet but it seems to manage just fine as it is, I have ran some tests on thinigs which seemed to be slow before when loaded and it seems a lot better, I will try some more later, but at the moment everything is looking good!! :cool:
 
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