Processor Upgrade (W2K)

[nospin]

I have a Compaq Persario 5070 with a 533 MHz AMD processor (Socket 7 ) and 100 MHz bus. What is the ultimate upgrade for my processor. Thank you.

[jdharm]

What is the make and model of your motherboard?

Josh
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.jdharm.net>www.jdharm.net</a>

[nospin]

It is the original by Compaq and I would assume the model is 5070.

[jdharm]

Well, this is just my opinion, so anyone feel free to contradict me on this.

I don't think you can upgrade, and even if you could I wouldn't bother.

I say you can't because from the specs I looked at on the AMD web site the 533 is the upper range of the K6-2 line. After that there is a fundamental change in the electrical properties of the processor, and therefore the motherboard as well.

I say I wouldn't because it is a Compaq. I have never had any luck doing anything to a Compaq. I just got finished working on a friend's 7470 last night (also a 533MHz Presario). I put 10 RAM chips in the thing before I got the system to accept one of them. All of the chips are good and tested/pulled from running systems, but the Compaq is just too sensitive to change/proprietary for my taste.

You want to upgrade? I just built a system for my sister-in-law. I got a 1.8GHz AMD Athlon on a ECS motherboard (that got excellent reveiws when it was new) for $120 USD, s&h included. I went to Best Buy and they had a special on DDR RAM so that a 128MB stick was FREE after rebate.

You could have a system far better than you'd have after upgrading your current processor for around $150 if you shop around. That is the upgrade I would recommend.

Josh
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.jdharm.net>www.jdharm.net</a>

[nospin]

Sounds like sound advice, is it hard to find a motherboard that will fit in a Persario and is
thier a special name for it ? (ex. baby AT)
Its been a long time since I fooled around
with motherboards. Thanks

[jdharm]

I couldn't say without looking, but the form factors ATX, Baby AT, and such are standards. If you get a mobo with the same form factor as what's in there now it should work, though I beleive most non-OEM mobos you'll find will be ATX. But if the case is a small one you might have a problem where the new mobo bolts right in, but the larger cpu cooler and/or RAM chips of the newer system won't fit around the power supply case or drive bays.

But you can get a nice big case with power supply cheap online ($20 and up), or check with your local repair shops. They might have a couple more suitable cases in their parts stack that they would give you just to get it out of their way (that's so at our shop).

Josh
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.jdharm.net>www.jdharm.net</a>

[cmon]

Absolutely agree.

Compaq has nice parts and as long as its compaq it will work. I especially like the fans they put in the power supplies of the older towers. Moves lots of air and quiet to .. Nice way to get a cheap fan.

In the long run your own build pc would probably give you more upgrade options and is cheaper.
Most important part is getting a good motherboard. Like jdharm says just upgrade the board , cpu and memory , probably also the tower. Then use the compaq parts like hardrive , cdrom , monitor etc on the new one. Oh you might want to check out iether a board with build in sound and video. Or make sure you can use the sound card and video from the compaq .

good luck

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