Comments on: How Expensive Is It To Go Multi-Core? http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-expensive-is-it-to-go-multi-core/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:17:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Masaki 7-11 http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-expensive-is-it-to-go-multi-core/comment-page-1/#comment-18896 Masaki 7-11 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:23:18 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-expensive-is-it-to-go-multi-core/#comment-18896 All AM2, AM2+ and AM3 processors will fit on a AM2 motherboard. Whether the AM2 motherboard will support the newer processors is up to the motherboard manufacturer. Check the motherboard manufacturer's CPU support page and update the bios before you upgrade. All AM2, AM2+ and AM3 processors will fit on a AM2 motherboard. Whether the AM2 motherboard will support the newer processors is up to the motherboard manufacturer. Check the motherboard manufacturer’s CPU support page and update the bios before you upgrade.

]]> By: Sharron Field http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-expensive-is-it-to-go-multi-core/comment-page-1/#comment-18880 Sharron Field Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:30:19 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-expensive-is-it-to-go-multi-core/#comment-18880 If you have an older computer with a single-core processor then you'll probably need to upgrade the motherboard as well as the CPU to go multi-core. If it's a particularly old computer then I'd suggest simply buying a new one with a multi-cored processor fitted from the word go. What about upgrading your existing processor on your existing motherboard? It's a possibility; but you'd have to take into account things such as motherboard's capability, as well as its processor socket: For instance; an AMD socket AM2 CPU will fit into a socket AM2+ motherboard; but not vice-versa: Therefore if your existing processor is, for example, a socket AM2 Athlon 64 single-cored device, which you want to upgrade; then, providing that your motherboard is capable of running a dual-cored CPU, (CPU=processor.) you'll have no problems in replacing your existing CPU with a socket AM2 Athlon 64x2 dual-cored processor, providing that the motherboard's chipset is capable of supporting the operating frequency of the new component. You'll probably need to run a maintenance-reinstall of your operating system though; as a system configured for a single-cored processor probably won't instantly recognize that the new processor has 2 cores, and will only run 1 of the cores unless it's reconfigured. Further to the above; if you want to upgrade from a single-core Athlon 64 to a quad-core Phenom, which is socket AM2+, you'll need to upgrade the motherboard as well as the CPU, as a socket AM2+ CPU simply won't fit into an AM2 socket. Also the motherboard with an AM2 socket probably won't be capable of supporting more than a dual-core CPU... There's a lot to consider; in addition to simply swapping the processor. If in doubt I suggest a motherboard and processor upgrade would be the best option - Which will once again maybe require you to perform a maintenance-reinstall if using the same hard-drive. (Don't forget to install, and upgrade afterwards if possible, the new motherboard's drivers.) Best of all IMO would be a total-rebuild (Strip everything out of the case and renew it with new compatible parts, or ditch your old machine and build a new one.); after which you can install any really important files that you want to keep to your new hard-drive from a backup you took of your old system. If you have an older computer with a single-core processor then you’ll probably need to upgrade the motherboard as well as the CPU to go multi-core. If it’s a particularly old computer then I’d suggest simply buying a new one with a multi-cored processor fitted from the word go.

What about upgrading your existing processor on your existing motherboard? It’s a possibility; but you’d have to take into account things such as motherboard’s capability, as well as its processor socket:

For instance; an AMD socket AM2 CPU will fit into a socket AM2+ motherboard; but not vice-versa: Therefore if your existing processor is, for example, a socket AM2 Athlon 64 single-cored device, which you want to upgrade; then, providing that your motherboard is capable of running a dual-cored CPU, (CPU=processor.) you’ll have no problems in replacing your existing CPU with a socket AM2 Athlon 64×2 dual-cored processor, providing that the motherboard’s chipset is capable of supporting the operating frequency of the new component. You’ll probably need to run a maintenance-reinstall of your operating system though; as a system configured for a single-cored processor probably won’t instantly recognize that the new processor has 2 cores, and will only run 1 of the cores unless it’s reconfigured.

Further to the above; if you want to upgrade from a single-core Athlon 64 to a quad-core Phenom, which is socket AM2+, you’ll need to upgrade the motherboard as well as the CPU, as a socket AM2+ CPU simply won’t fit into an AM2 socket. Also the motherboard with an AM2 socket probably won’t be capable of supporting more than a dual-core CPU…

There’s a lot to consider; in addition to simply swapping the processor. If in doubt I suggest a motherboard and processor upgrade would be the best option – Which will once again maybe require you to perform a maintenance-reinstall if using the same hard-drive.

(Don’t forget to install, and upgrade afterwards if possible, the new motherboard’s drivers.)

Best of all IMO would be a total-rebuild (Strip everything out of the case and renew it with new compatible parts, or ditch your old machine and build a new one.); after which you can install any really important files that you want to keep to your new hard-drive from a backup you took of your old system.

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