P-200 mmx to an AMD K-62??? (newbie needs help!)

[Nanor]

Please, could someone tell me if it's possible my p200 mmx (gateway g-5 model) could be upgraded to an AMD K6-2?? This is without upgrading the motherboard. If this is possible, what exactly do i need to do it?? Do I need a thermal cooler with the chip, or a new BIOS or something?? I would really appreciate any info on this, as I don't want to buy a K6-2 that won't work on my motherboard. Thanks.

[CMonster]

Yes, maybe, it depends - I do not know about your gateway, but some BIOS will not take a non-intel CPU and sometimes there is no BIOS upgrade available (the chip may run but there may be an error message on startup, as was the case with an Aptiva I played with recently).

*First get VERY familiar with your system; go here and do a little research using the documantation that came with your computer (if any) www.gateway.com/support/product/components/index.html (http://www.gateway.com/support/product/components/index.html)

*Yes - you may need to upgrade your BIOS

*Yes - you will need good cooling, but chances are the heatsink and fan on your P200 will do okay (you would be sure to put heat transfer compound between the CPU and heatsink).

IF your BIOS will support a non-intel CPU then the next question is whether or not your board can run the proper voltage for the CPU core (you have to setup this voltage using jumpers, dipswitches, or BIOS settings, or an add-on regulator); ON YOUR PENTIUM the core voltage is around 2.8 to 2.9volts, but on the K6-2 it is only 2.2 to 2.4volts (and 2.8 would likely burn out the K6-2 in a hurry). There are voltage adapters that go between the CPU and motherboard but they cost about $49 (1/2 the cost of a new motherboard), adding substantially to the cost of your upgrade.

Next thing to look at is frequency multipliers; let's say you get a 333mhz chip, and you want to run it at 5x66 (5 times your bus speed) but your motherboard is maxed out at multiplying the 66mhz bus speed by 3 or 3.5 then you would still be limited to 233mhz---however, there are some of these voltage adapters that also allow more multiplier choices..

But better yet, the K6-2 400 has a remapped multiplier that will multiply the system bus by 6 times if you set it to the 2 times multiplier (2x = 6x), so if your board supports the core voltage, and your BIOS is "cool" with the chip, then you can set the board up for 2X66 (=6x66 on the K6-2 400) and you will be sailing away at 400mhz (okay really 396) - I have done this upgrade a few times now and it does work, but I do not know about your gateway.

Best of luck with your upgrade




[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 07-06-99).]

[Nanor]

thanks for answering, your info has helped me understand the workings of an upgrade a bit more. I went to www.powerleap.com and they said my system could be upgraded "flawlessly" to a K-62 400 with their product and a BIOS upgrade (which they named). Do you know exactly what this "powerleap" product is?? Is it an adapter or something, and do you think I need this to run a K-62 400, or will just the BIOS upgrade and chip do?? Providing other standards are met of course.

[Nanor]

By the way, I had already check out the Gateway page and found my product (I think) but I don't understand any of the specs. This is the address to the the BIOS info I think is mine. Maybe you could take a look??
http://www.gateway.com/support/techdocs/references/motherboard/0aaes/0AAES.html
Thanks

[Assasin]

by the looks of it the powerleap is a voltage adapter that cmonster was talking about.