Solved: need advice on fitting new cpu

[albertteacake]

My machine was built by a friend:
System Specifications
Subsystem Description Specification
System OS Windows XP Home SP3

System Serial Number EVAL
Main Board Make ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Main Board Model A8N-SLI SE
Main Board Version 1.XX
Main Board BIOS Phoenix Technologies, LTD Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG Nvidia - 42302e31 20060309
Processor Description AMD Athlon 64 3500
Processor Clock Speed 2200 Mhz
Graphics Description NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO

I want to upgrade to an amd athlon 64 x2 5600+

I think I understand the mechanics of this
BUT

can someone tell me, do I just swap them over and my system will just work or do I need to install some software/drivers first?

Are there any other compatability issues?

It is my first attempt at doing anything like this although I have read the idiots guide and taken the panels off to see all the bits.

 

[leroys1000]

Check the ASUS website support section and look at the motherboard specs.
Make sure it supports the new processor.
May or may not need a BIOS update.
There is a dual core driver in the download section of the AMD webite,
but you should be able to boot with the new processor,then download
and install it.
You can find instructions to apply thermal compound at the artic silver website.
All these can be found by searching on google.

 

[albertteacake]

thanks. That was what i wanted to hear. I had visions of putting it in and not being able to boot.

 

[bigbear]

Is the new cpu 940 pin or 939 pin? the A8N uses 939 pin

 

[albertteacake]

just checked amd site and it is 939

 

[BG-0]

I thought Athlon 64 X2s were AM2/AM2+ socket (940)

 

[Old Rich]

They are hard to find, but a few of the 939 were dual core . . I have one

 

[leroys1000]

Yeah,I have a 3800+ dual 939.
I think 5600+ was as high as they got.

 

[BG-0]

Asus' site doesn't seem to provide a list of all the CPUs supported, it only says that board supports athlon FX, athlon, athlon X2, blah blah blah. I would assume from that it can take the 5600+...
Or maybe not?
Quote:
A8N-SLI SE supports AMD 939-pin Athlon 64 FX/ Athlon 64 processors with 1MB/512KB L2 cache which is based on 64-bit architecture. It features 2000/1600 MT/s HyperTransport Bus and dual-channel un-buffered DDR400 memory support. Currently, it also supports AMD Athlon 64 X2 CPU.

That makes me doubt it could handle the best 939 socket Athlon 64 X2...

 

[leroys1000]

If it has a 2000Mhz hypertransport,then it probably can hadle
then front side bus frequency and definitly the memory controller
frequency.
The variation is basically at the memory frequency and that board
can handle all available for the 939.

 

[win2kpro]

Here's a list of all the processors the A8N-SLI SE supports.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=A8N-SLI SE

 

[BG-0]

And it supports athlon 64 X2'sonly up to 4800+. Too bad for you.

 

[albertteacake]

Guys, I thank you for all your input.
I tried to fit it this morning
AND
it is 939 slot and the processor is 940 pin
AARRGGHH

But as it was the first time I had tried this I was just happy that I was able to take it all apart - put it back together, and it still al works!

The guy who built the machine gave me the processor with the machine as he was clearing out all his computer stuff. I had assumed it must fit but, I was wrong.

I will now find a new processor that fits. Would anyone have any recommendations?
looking at the list of cpus that fit, I am guessing the

Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4800+rev.E6 (Socket939)
is my best choice?
thnaks again

 

[bigbear]

I would change the motherboard and benefit from the newer technology.

 

[albertteacake]

Final word
I managed to get a 4200 x2 athlon on ebay. Boy are these 939 socket cpus hard to find!

I will upgrade motherboard when I feel confident. At the moment changing the cpu seems like a brave enough task.
Thanks again.