Old HP6730 CPU upgrade - HELP!

RetroComp6730

New Member
Hello:

I've got an old HP6730 Pavilion that I want to upgrade with a faster processor. (I know, this computer is super old by today's standards, but I only want it as a garage jukebox for Pandora and mp3s...)

Originally, the machine came with a Celeron 600mhz, which is too slow to run more than one app at a time. I just got a Pentium 3 850mhz 100FSB chip and have tried adding it, but the computer won't boot at all. It turns on, the fan spins, even the hard drive spins too; however, the comp never gets to the BIOS screen. Any suggestions? All my research says that the Pentium should work. (It's a "Cognac" motherboard.) Has anyone had this problem before? Any help would sure be appreciated. Thanks.
 
even if the motherboard socket is correct, the bios on all oem's are only given the coding to support a limited number of cpu's, so that one may not be compatible, it may be more, but you could get an ipod touch and plug it into the speakers, i do that with 2 auditorium style peavy's and you also have the portible mp3 and apps and all too.
 
What Jonnyp11 said is correct. Original Equipment Manufacturer motherboards generally have a very limited number of processors they support.

Here is a Dell Dimension 2400 for $25. Do not know how much they want for shipping costs:
Processor: Celeron (2.40 gigahertz)
768 megabytes of RAM,
75 gigabyte Hard Disk Drive
Windows XP Home installed with license
CD-ROM Drive Does not work.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=16281027&cat=21&lpid=1&search=
 
Id skip on that dell dimension...i have a 1.2ghz toughbook that responds better than the pentium @ 2.6 ghz that is in it right now... (1.2ghz dohan ulv, based on pentium iii)
 
I'd suggest a hard drive upgrade. The CPU itself will cope fine with XP or 2000 or prior, but I'm guessing that poor hard drive has never been reformatted and the windows installation is so bloated and old that it makes everything inefficient. I'd be spending money elsewhere as it's a really old machine... not really worth spending money on, but it may be for you if you have a use for the machine. I would recommend an IDE Solid State Drive:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208444

They are quite expensive and small capacity however.
 
I just tried updating the BIOS to the last one available on the HP website. Nothing. Same thing. So, does this finally prove that there's nothing else I can do? I'm stuck with the 600mhz Celeron?
 
How about over clocking the Celeron? Any help with that? What's the maximum juice I can get out of is puppy? (The computer itself is pretty zippy, runs XP. I just want a little more bang for the buck.)
 
Please download and install PC Wizard, run it and go to FILE, SAVE as and click OK. Copy the text out of that file into this thread. HP claim the best cpu they support is a Celeron 667 (Socket 370) however it is possible that alternative could be sought. Post the report, however it is not likely. Also, don't OC that machine, not worth it.
 
again, sounds familiar to what you told me and i'm fine, but truly it is a good idea to listen to bigfella, if he says no he's going to be right unless it's to me cuz i'm smarter :P
 
I just tried updating the BIOS to the last one available on the HP website. Nothing. Same thing. So, does this finally prove that there's nothing else I can do? I'm stuck with the 600mhz Celeron?

BIOS upgrades will do nothing for performance by themselves, they are for new cpu/memory support and for bug fixes.
 
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