Upgrading Compaq SR1710NX to dual-core processor?

Question

I recently bought a Compaq Presario SR1710NX. The stock processor is an AMD Sempron 3400+ 2.0GHz. The motherboard specs are here:

http://tinyurl.com/23myqo

I'd like to upgrade the computer to a dual-core processor. I know the processor has to be socket 939, but I'm having trouble figuring out which specific processor to buy. The Newegg website lists these dual-core AMD processors:

http://tinyurl.com/2hn8hb

Would any of these work? If so, do the more-expensive processors really boost performance significantly more than the cheaper ones?

Any guidance here would be helpful. I'm particularly interested in whether an Opteron-type processor would work, even though it's not listed on the official HP motherboard specs (but I've heard through the grapevine that it would work anyway).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer 1

It really depends up to what your motherboard will support. Also, the dual cores have a higher wattage. The power supply should be strong enough to support dual cores too.

Answer 2

I would look at upgrade your RAM first. I'm not sure how much you have, but I would look to increase it to around the 2GB mark first. You can't go higher than 3.5GB without moving to a 64 bit OS though. What's interesting is most people don't make use of the processors they have. A Core 2 Duo offers many advantages over the Celeron D on the basis of power consumption, but as far as for multiple applications and multithreading you won't see much of a difference. A windows computer will have over 10 different services and programs running in the background from the minute you hit your log in screen. Running MS Word and MS Excel while are multiple programs will barely tax a system. Most of the time you see the processor hit the 100% mark because of this is because either the program is hanging which means there is an error with the software or you lack ram so it is shifting the program to and from the ram. The 100$ laptops in production for poor countries actually will only use Centrion 740s which have half the power of your Celeron D, but will boast comparable speed and performance on standard apps. If you are going to upgrade your processor, look to then upgrade your OS. Windows XP doesn't make as much use of the processor as Vista 64 bit does. Windows XP 64bit is a disaster.

Answer 3

Well All you really need to worry about is making sure your new processor is Socket 939 which you already know. The motherboard specs on HP's site just lists the ones that you could get in that machine when it came out not the ones you could use.

Answer 4

Go to http://Powerleap.com download their free Upgrade Configuator. It will quick analyze your PC and offer suggestions and what to upgrade from your processor to memory. You do not have to purchase the parts form them. Search for least expensive parts online.

Answer 5

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