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I have a really old pc that I maxed out and really need to update.. I mean the PC has a Pentium 4 lol...Had it since 2000. I want to go with a computer I can upgrade later I know the none of the new processors are compatible.. So I was thinking of finding a computer with an Amd athlon 4 core. I evenually want to upgrade to a hexacore cpu when I get the money. Maybe a AMD phentom 6 core. Are these two processors interchangeable or will I need a new mobo? Just trying to go with a cheap route |
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More likely you'll need a new motherboard along with the cpu, fan and memory when doing an upgrade like that. Since earlier motherboards sockets are different than the current one. Including the bus speed and the speed that the memory is running at are a lot higher than the older ones. You might have to change the power supply as well since the mother power supply sockets have changed. Depends on how drastic an upgrade is for the computer itself with the current stuff in there. What are the whole specs just to get an idea as well. Just so we have an idea of what is in the computer itself. The other thing that you can do is buy either a clone computer where you build it to your specs that you want it at. Or buy a brand. Usually I go for building one since if you are going to upgrade certain pieces like cpu, memory, video card as examples. You won't have to worry about getting half height cards. Or cards through the manufacturers like Dell if your going through dell to buy the computer itself. |
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it depends on what socket the mobo has - some athlon II's fit an am3 socket whereas a couple fit the fm1 socket. If the mobo socket is am3 then any of the current phenom IIs will be compatible as they also use the am3 socket, however, if it is an fm1 socket then a phenom can't be fitted to it. if you check the AMD website they have their processor models and the socket type for each processor so you can see what your options are. AMD make their sockets backwards compatible, so (as an example) an am2,2+ or 3 processor will fit into an am3 or am3+ socket mobo BUT an am3+ processor WILL NOT fit in an am2,2+ or 3 mobo (am3+ is the newest version) for future proofing, you might be better getting a new mobo with an am3+ socket |
