Upgrading from Single Core to Dual Core AMD AM2 CPU

psyklops · **19th October 2007, 01:47 PM**

hello all,

just wondering what people's experiences are with upgrading from a single core AMD to a dual core, in this case from a 3800+ to an AM2 X2 5200+?

Can you just pop the new CPU in without much change to MCE2005? Any drivers or patches need installing?

Reinstall?!

thanks in advance...

simbot82 · **19th October 2007, 03:15 PM**

you should be fine just be very careful and if your not confident pay the extra $50 oir so for shop to install so anything goes wrong itsd there fault

logifuse · **19th October 2007, 03:33 PM**

The hardware abstraction layer will need to change from single core to dual core (ACPI PC to ACPI multiprocessor PC or similar) to take advantage of the dual cores. If Windows doesn't do that automatically, you should be able to do it in device manager by updating the driver of the computer component & choosing the multi processor one.

Justin

falcc · **19th October 2007, 04:11 PM**

This is supposed to work. However, I recently went through this exercise and although I could see both cores in Task Manager and the ACPI stuff was correct I did have issues. It would blue screen every second day or so. It never did this before.

I rebuilt the O.S. and it is now fine. Go figure.

noonz · **19th October 2007, 04:11 PM**

From experience i can tell you that you shouldnt have any dramas, exept that you may have to upgrade your BIOS on your MB.
do that before you change processors though

psyklops · **19th October 2007, 05:09 PM**

thanks for the feedback.

just thought i would get some feedback on people's experience as the MCE box is as close to production as you can get

logifuse · **19th October 2007, 05:13 PM**

Do you have any heat concerns? For my production VMC, I sacrificed a faster CPU for a lower powered BE-2350 (a 4000+ X2 running at 45w) - it's more than enough for a media center, but if you want to game as well, then the higher power chip would be better.

Justin

bdorring · **19th October 2007, 08:05 PM**

I have an ASUS A8n-sli motherboard which is a Socket 939.
I can't upgrade to an AM2 processor can I, since that requires socket 940?

falcc · **19th October 2007, 08:58 PM**

Correct.

misterp · **20th October 2007, 12:28 AM**

I did an upgrade of a 3200+x2 to a 4200+x2 socket 939 and had issues (using my Asus A8N-E MB)

From memory the dual core processors need a driver (but think that gets deteted and installed automatically), as well as the ACPI (multi-processor rather than single).

My experience wasnt good though, ended up re-installing MCE2005, still having issues with TV stuttering (never had this problem before), and ended up going the Vista route as it was written for multi-processor PC`s (XP wasnt and needs patches/drivers to get the dual processor to work).
Also check the Asus info, I read somewhere that the A8N series boards are NOT designed to use dual core processors, BUT they do work with the correct BIOS versions and Chipset drivers (just get the latest and you should be OK).

If I had the money and time again, Id spend the $100+ bucks and add another $200 or so and go AM2 route as everything is up to date and support if there for X2 processors.

Just my 5c

Hope it helps.