I just want one greater than the one i have right now
2007-01-23 17:30:52 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
This depends almost entirely on the motherboard. motherboards are designed to support a specific CPU form and then the chipset used on the motherboard can only support a specific model or select models of chips. You will need to look up your motherboard and find out what chipset it has and what socket it has. Then you can determine what CPUs your computer can support.
But nowadays, CPU speeds cannot be reliably compared by GHz alone - things like dual core, cache, hyper threading, hyper transport, and other factors can all make a slower GHz chip FASTER than a faster GHz chip. It really depends.
2007-01-23 17:52:10 · answer #1 · answered by lwcomputing 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This entirely depends on what motherboard, memory and type of CPU you have at the moment. It's likely you have a particular type of CPU from a particular line of models, and if so your motherboard will have a compatible 'socket' for that and only that particular line of chips - so if it's older, you may have to upgrade both your CPU and your motherboard (and possibly your RAM while you're at it, if it's incompatible with the new mobo... and maybe even your graphics card, if it's an old one!)
One of the many good sites to read up on before you forge ahead with your upgrading is http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Upgrade_Checklists.htm - essential advice.
If you're not sure what you have in your machine, the most hassle-free way to go about choosing upgrades is to take it to a computer shop and say "I'm thinking about upgrading, tell me what I have in it at the moment and cost me some options". Of course, you take it to any shop like a chain of stores (PC World, Best Buy, Circuit City, whatever) they'll immediately go "ooo, a newbie customer" and IMMEDIATELY try to upsell. Fend the bloodthirsty customer service reps off, try and get to speak to one of the proper geeks behind the PC Repair desk if you're in somewhere like PC World, and you should get some proper answers.
Whenever someone asks me what they should do, I cost out three options - the budet path, the compromise path, or the uberpowerful, does-everything-and-makes-the-bed option, and they can choose what they like. Of course I'm flexible and work with them to get what they want out of their machine based on the starting options, so maybe your best bet is to find the family geek (there's ALWAYS one!) and consult with them.
If you're in the US, and you're feeling super lazy (as we all do) the Geek Squad are a (probably pricy) but, from what I've seen, likely useful service for regular people who can't be bothered to geek up on a daily basis but want tech help. They could most certainly give you advice or tell you what you'd need to get to upgrade your system (and maybe even offer to sell it you!)... But I'd still go with the family friend, then local store, then last option.
... Thinking about it, if you have a particular model of PC from a big name manufacturer, just giving their customer services number a call and specifying what model of computer you have will give them all the info they need to go off and see what your machine has in it at their end - so they can give you informed advice right off the bat. Can't hurt to give that a go, either!
2007-01-24 02:03:09 · answer #2 · answered by Christopher Woods 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to identify the motherboard and the model of it (model is usually stamped on the motherbard). From that point, look it up and find out what it can support.
If it's a notebook, you're out of luck, they cannot be upgraded that way.
2007-01-24 01:47:12 · answer #3 · answered by computertech82 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You need to check if your motherboard supports it.
2007-01-24 01:34:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you will probably need more RAM as well to take advantage of the faster processor
2007-01-24 01:38:18 · answer #5 · answered by sassy g 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋