Cpu up grade

joecoolvette

• 5660 Answers
• Posted on Mar 25, 2010

SOURCE: cpu upgrade , please help

tech-gu818,

When looking to see what processors a computer will support, try to find out what motherboard chipset is on the motherboard, and the processor socket.

The motherboard chipset is the;
1) Northbridge chip
2) Southbridge chip

[Chip and Chipset are slang terms for Integrated Circuit, or IC.
A Processor is one type of Integrated Circuit]

The Northbridge chip is responsible for handling the Processor, Ram Memory, and high-speed graphics, such as AGP, or PCI-Express.

Integrated graphics, or a graphics card installed in a PCI slot, is handled by the Southbridge chip. The slower capabilities of a computer are handled by the Southbridge chip.

This motherboard diagram may help further illustrate the above statements,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Motherboard_diagram.svg

(You can also type,
1) Northbridge (computing)
2) Southbridge (computing)
in Wikipedia's search box to obtain more info )

How to find out what motherboard chipset the eMachines W3502 uses?
Three ways:

1) Go to the computer manufacturer's support website, and look under Specifications.
2) Download the free, tiny, program CPU-Z from CPUID.com
3) Download the free, tiny, program Belarc Advisor

Fortunately eMachines Support lists what the W3502 motherboard chipset is,

http://www.emachines.com/support/product_support.html?cat=Desktops&subcat=W%20Series&model=W3502

Chipset: ATI Radeon XPress 200

Now look for information on ATI's Radeon XPress 200 chipset.
For this we can go back to Wikipedia once more,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ati_radeon_xpress_200

Reading the top sentence in the first paragraph you will note,
".......Pentium 4, Pentium D, and Celeron processors, ......using either a Socket 478 processor socket, or an LGA 775 processor socket."

What isn't stated in the first sentence is that it will also support Intel Core2 processors. That is stated on the right side of the page, in the information box under the subheading - CPU Supported

I wouldn't think anything higher than an older E4400, or E4500 though.
The E4400, and the E4500 use an 800MHz Front Side Bus. So does the E5300 Dual Core.

The information box states that processors with Up To a 1066MHz FSB are supported.
I just don't know if there is a BIOS update needed, or if a BIOS update is available, in case it's needed.

Needed to change the voltage, and multiplier, so that a processor with a 1066MHz FSB can be used.

To summarize:

The ATI XPress 200 motherboard chipset, on your eMachines W3502, will support an Intel Dual Core E5300.

Advise:
Do Not forget to use anti-static precautions. Your body carries Static electricity. Static will fry out (Short circuit) computer hardware components.

A Processor is the most susceptible hardware component to static shock.

I would advise buying a cheap $6 ESD wrist strap, from some where like Radio Shack, or a similar store, and using it.
Clip the alligator clip to an unpainted surface of the metal frame, of the computer case. (Computer unplugged from power)

Barring this, make sure you touch the metal frame of the open computer case, before you reach inside. (Computer unplugged from power)
If you get up, and walk away in the middle of working on your computer, upon your return touch the metal frame again.

Make Sure the top of the Processor's case is clean, and the bottom of the Heatsink.
I use an old credit card to scrape both surfaces as clean as I can, then follow with Q-tips dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol.

Usually takes a few dipped Q-tips, as thermal paste is a gooey mess, and the alcohol takes time to break it down.

Isopropyl alcohol is also referred to as Rubbing Alcohol. 91 percent is best, but 70 percent will do. Nix on the 50 percent.

CAUTION!
Isopropyl alcohol is Extremely Flammable! Use in a well ventilated area, with no sparks or flames present.

Use fresh, new thermal paste, never try to reuse old thermal paste, or a thermal pad. Thermal paste properties break down over time, and the thermal paste becomes more of an Insulator, than a Conductor.

Thermal pads are only good for taking off, and flying at the cat.
They're Junk!
(Meooow! Hey watch it dude! You almost hit me with that!)

Thermal paste doesn't have to be Artic Silver 5. A good quality thermal paste, applied correctly, will get you down the road just fine. A 'Mom and Pop' computer repair shop, should have a one processor tube, for around $2.

You Should be okay with the same Heatsink/Fan combo, as the Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 puts out less heat than a Celeron D 352, or around the same amount.

Be sure the inside of the computer sparkles, as well as the Heatsink, processor fan, and the inside of the Power Supply. Use a can or two, of compressed air for computers.

(Celeron D's are not dual core processors. The Pentium D's are)

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