Is there anyway to update a computer processor?

[katherine5135]

Hello! Is there anyway to update a computer processor without buying a whole new computer system? I have a Hewlett Packard Pavilion with an Intel Pentium III processor - 1.00GHz and 512MB of RAM / The computer is from 2001 - and since then I've upgraded it a whole lot: from a 29GB hard drive to 150GB + an extra drive w/250GB (so space is no problem!) I've also upgraded the video card to a NVidia GeForce4 MX 4000.

After all of that upgrading over time, I thought I had all I needed -- but I completely forgot about speed! 1.00GHz isn't very fast when your favorite hobby is video editing. Is there anyway you can buy a new processor (say 1.7GHz+) and switch it with the processor that's in my computer? Someone on eBay told me that their Intel Pentium 4 processor would not work in my computer, and that I would have to buy a whole new computer. Is that my only option?

Thanks everyone! - Katherine

[mcool61]

Your probably not going to be able to put a faster processor in that board. Most Socket 370 or slot 1 motherboards only supported up to 1ghz. I think a few went up to 1.3 ghz or so but that isn't enough extra speed to help much.

You can use your drives & video card of course but for any appreciable speed increase you will have to buy a new motherboard, Processor & ram. Most brand name computers have a pitifully small power supply & cases are usually proprietary so no good for your upgrade. You should purchase a new case as well.

I got this in email today, ram motherboard & cpu bundle. You would need a cpu fan/heatsink & a case with power supply & you'd be in business.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1279020&sku=MCM-KV7V-2900A&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM899C
Tiger has a nice catalog they send out & you can sign up for free. It helps you match parts for compatibility.

New Egg is a great place to shop also.
http://www.newegg.com/

Have fun. Good luck.
mc:t

Oh, & welcome to Sysopt.

[crazyCol]

If you are in the UK a good place to start is http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Intel_Socket_478_Bundles.html
buying a whole system is an easy way out but with a little work and help from these people you can get a lot more computer for a lot less money.

[Midknyte]

you have an HP chassis, so upgrading will be a headache. you are better off getting a new complete system.

[crazyCol]

Originally posted by Midknyte
you have an HP chassis, so upgrading will be a headache. you are better off getting a new complete system.

But she already has GPU, HDDs, OS, Monitor, Keyboard, mouse, speakers.

And she has the skills needed to do the work because she as already done a lot of upgrading.

[Midknyte]

I worked on 3 HPs tonight alone, so trust me on this one. HPs have strange mounting configurations and low wattage proprietary power supplies. She's gonna need a new case, CPU, MB, RAM, etc. It's basically a whole new system. it will probably end up costing you more for parts than it will cost for an entire system. Price it out and compare.

The MX4000 is old tech. I suspect it is a PCI card too. Hdds can be slaved in, but the newer systems will have SATA instead of EIDE.

upgrading a hdd and video card is not the same skill level as building a system from scratch. I can't really assess her expertise from one post. If she didn't know that a P4 isn't going to work on a PIII, then I suspect she is still at a beginner level.

You don't have to buy a new monitor. I said a new system, but I never said she had to get a monitor.