Upgrading Compaq Dual Core to Quad Core?

LimerickDan

Hey guys,

I have a compaq Presario cq5110f desktop.





Specs here: http://www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/data_sheet/np185aa.html

As you can see from the specs it a dual core. Now i really love the desktop and would love to keep it for years to come as I'm back in college for the next 3 years doing a networking degree. Rather than buying a new PC, I was wondering is it possible to upgrade this computer to a quadcore with more than 4 gig RAM? without spending an absolute mint of money.

I'm aware that I will more than likely need to get a new motherboard. I'm just here to find out how much(ball park figure) it will cost to upgrade this PC.

I was considering buying RAM for it soon but is there much pointfor when I go up to quad core will I need different type of RAM(ddr2/ddr3).

I've never built or upgraded a PC before. The most i've done is install Ram and surround sound cards. But I'm not a total noob or useless with computers and electronics.

This is a project in which I'm in no hurry with. I'm just doing this over the summer at my leisure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

EoghanConway

Motherboard looks like an AM2 http://cgi.ebay.ie/Asus-M2N68-LA-Socket-AM2-HP-513426-001-NARRA5-GL6-/130465916623

...which should take an AM2+ quad core processor http://www.behardware.com/news/8689/cebit-amd-quad-core-compatibilite-am2.html

Only seems to have 2 RAM slots which may limit your options there. Also you would need a 64-bit operating system to get the benefit of more RAM.

Hope this helps.

Edit:
States here that the max RAM is 4GB http://www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/data_sheet/np185aa.html

LimerickDan

EoghanConway wrote: »

Motherboard looks like an AM2 http://cgi.ebay.ie/Asus-M2N68-LA-Socket-AM2-HP-513426-001-NARRA5-GL6-/130465916623

...which should take an AM2+ quad core processor http://www.behardware.com/news/8689/cebit-amd-quad-core-compatibilite-am2.html

Only seems to have 2 RAM slots which may limit your options there. Also you would need a 64-bit operating system to get the benefit of more RAM.

Hope this helps.

Edit:
States here that the max RAM is 4GB http://www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/data_sheet/np185aa.html

If I install a new motherboard does that allow me to increase RAM? Do alternate motherboards have extra RAM slots?

sink

LimerickDan wrote: »

If I install a new motherboard does that allow me to increase RAM? Do alternate motherboards have extra RAM slots?

Yes most modern motherboards would have 4 DIMM slots and allow up to 16GB of RAM or more. However replacing the motherboard in factory built systems can be very tricky. The headers can be in different places etc. Looks like yours is a m-ATX form factor.

If you're replacing the MB, CPU & RAM that is basically the guts of a new PC, you should probably spring for a new case, one that you can be assured is upgradable in the future.

LimerickDan

So am I better off buying a new quad core PC or is it better to upgrade my own one and try an get more RAM with the custom build(MB, CPU)?

sink

LimerickDan wrote: »

So am I better off buying a new quad core PC or is it better to upgrade my own one and try an get more RAM with the custom build(MB, CPU)?

You're probably best off building a new PC yourself and selling your old one. Buying off the shelf will cost you more and won't be as upgradeable and usually contains lower quality parts. Plus you'll learn some things you won't be taught in college and it's fun. The difficult part is speccing the system with good value, compatible parts for a well balanced system. What's your budget and what do you want to use it for (gaming, video/photo editing etc)?

LimerickDan

I will be using it for college work. Networking to be precise, so not alot of processor speed there, but i also do programming so i need good processor speed to build/compile programs.

I have started video and photo editing lately but not on a large scale but if the mood took me i would like the opportunity to try it, espacially as I am an avid Xbox Live Gamer(Halo: Reach, Gears of war etc.).

I dont game alot on PC. Most of the games i do play are sega or ps1 emulators. still pretty good processor speed needed there.

Regarding my budget I dont wan't to spend alot but to be how I see it is if I dont spend a reasonable amount I wont get a good result. Budget >= 600 -700 euro. But spread out over a period of time.

Is that budget reasonable or not enough?

LimerickDan

Also the computer is basically my tv/cinema ha ha. Watch all my dvd's and tv shows on it. Dun't know if that is relevant but I said I'd say it anyway!

sink

LimerickDan wrote: »

I will be using it for college work. Networking to be precise, so not alot of processor speed there, but i also do programming so i need good processor speed to build/compile programs.

I have started video and photo editing lately but not on a large scale but if the mood took me i would like the opportunity to try it, espacially as I am an avid Xbox Live Gamer(Halo: Reach, Gears of war etc.).

I dont game alot on PC. Most of the games i do play are sega or ps1 emulators. still pretty good processor speed needed there.

Regarding my budget I dont wan't to spend alot but to be how I see it is if I dont spend a reasonable amount I wont get a good result. Budget >= 600 -700 euro. But spread out over a period of time.

Is that budget reasonable or not enough?

You can get a pretty good budget performance PC for under €700 these days. See the budget gaming PC thread. Particularly one that's scalable so that you can add to it in the future.

Since you don't PC game you don't really need a discrete graphics card which is usually a big expense and integrated graphics can easily decode HD video. By going with integrated graphics you will save a packet and if you decide you want to game in the future you can add in a graphics card.

Hardwareversand.de is the usually the cheapest retailer around but they only accept bank transfers or Paypal with an added 3% markup.

MB: Gigabyte GA-PH7-UD3-B3 - €96.79
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=43756

CPU/GPU: Intel Core i5-2500K - €181.11
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=41224&agid=1617

RAM: 4GB-Kit Corsair DDR3 PC1600 C9 - €42.47
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28068&agid=1193

PSU: Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W €51.47
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30069&agid=1628&lb

HDD: WD Caviar Blue 1TB SATA 3 6Gb/s - €51.15
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=39658&agid=1342

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-223C DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - €16.61
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=29466&agid=699

OS: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SB-Version Englisch - 82.16
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28239&agid=185

Total: €521.76
Delivery: €30

That processor is the best bang for your buck right now. You could go for blu-ray for an extra €35. There are two spare DIMM slots if you want to upgrade your RAM in the future. There is space for PCI-E x16 graphics card if you ever decide to game.

However that motherboard won't allow you to overclock you CPU, if you want to do that you would have to change a few things. Overclocking can add an extra 10-20% performance.

You just need to select a case, which beyond decent airflow is mainly down to personal taste. I like this

Antec Three Hundred - €52.30
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=23029&agid=631

it has good airflow and is good value, but any ATX case will do. Let us know which one you're interested in and we'll let you know if it is any good.

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articlesearch.jsp?agid=375&search.reset=1&search.sKey=

IrishMetalhead

He could just buy an upgrade kit which would cost him alot less then buying a whole set-up considering that case supports all mATX mobos.
Would suggest buying either of these 3:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 - €125.97
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=27814&agid=1242

Motherboard: ASUS M4A78LT-M - €48.18
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=31450&agid=1292

RAM: 4GB Mushkin Silverline Stiletto 1333MHz - €33.64
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=33951&agid=1192

Shipping - €30

Total - €237.79


CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T - €142.50
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=34042&agid=1242

Motherboard: ASUS M4A88T-M/USB3
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=34892&agid=1292

RAM: 4GB Mushkin Silverline Stiletto 1333MHz - €33.64
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=33951&agid=1192

Shipping - €30

€282.28


CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K - €181.11
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=41224&agid=1617

Motherboard: ASRock H67M-GE - €85.47
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=43138&agid=1603

RAM: 4GB Mushkin Silverline Stiletto 1333MHz - €33.64
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=33951&agid=1192

Shipping - €30

Total - €330.22

But this is only if your on a tight budget or if you havn't got the time to sell off the old one otherwise your better off with Sink's suggestion about building a new system and selling the old one.

LimerickDan

Thanks for the info on the upgrade Metal Head.

Interesting to know but I think I will build a new one purely for the experience of building one! Who knows, I might keep my old comp aswell! Unless I find a buyer you know.

Thanks for the info lads.

Hopefully it's not a painful process building a computer.

:D:D

sink

LimerickDan wrote: »

Thanks for the info on the upgrade Metal Head.

Interesting to know but I think I will build a new one purely for the experience of building one! Who knows, I might keep my old comp aswell! Unless I find a buyer you know.

Thanks for the info lads.

Hopefully it's not a painful process building a computer.

:D:D

I just realised that the mobo I recommended above doesn't support the intel integrated graphics and doesn't have video out. You need that if you don't go for a graphics card. Here's one that has those features

ASRock H67DE 3 - €96.98
http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=43137&agid=1601

It has DVI-D, HDMI and VGA out so you connect your monitor directly to the motherboard back i/o and it uses the intel integrated graphics of the sandy bridge cpu.

IrishMetalhead

should get a 5670 graphics card atleast if your building a new comp because emulators do use abit of graphic processing if you have it and relieve the cpu a tad bit

LimerickDan

MB: Gigabyte GA-PH7-UD3-B3 - €96.79
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=43756

I was going ordering this setup in about 2 weeks and i was checking these links again to make sure i have everything but this link no longer brings me to this particular motherboard.

Any other recommendations on which motherboard i should get?

I was thinking these:

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=27948&agid=1305

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28379&agid=1305

But I'm confused on which is best to buy if either of them??

All i want is Quadcore with about 8 - 16GB RAM. with at least 3GHZ Processor. I'm going editing videos for a website soon and need good power.

Thanks,

LimerickDan

sink wrote: »

I just realised that the mobo I recommended above doesn't support the intel integrated graphics and doesn't have video out. You need that if you don't go for a graphics card. Here's one that has those features

ASRock H67DE 3 - €96.98
http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=43137&agid=1601

It has DVI-D, HDMI and VGA out so you connect your monitor directly to the motherboard back i/o and it uses the intel integrated graphics of the sandy bridge cpu.

Is that only capable of 1GB RAM?

"Max Allocated RAM Size 1759 MB"

sink

LimerickDan wrote: »

Is that only capable of 1GB RAM?

"Max Allocated RAM Size 1759 MB"

That's wrong, according to the manufacturers specs.

Max. capacity of system memory: 32GB

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=H67DE3&cat=Specifications.

Which processor are you going for? The two boards you listed above are socket 1156, which is for the older i3-5xx, i5-6xx, i5-7xx and i7-8xx series processors. The newer i3/i5/i7-2xxx boards require a socket 1155 motherboard.

LimerickDan

the link that is now broken/no longer taking me to the other motherboard that was suggested to me had a processor that was dual/quad core, capable of up to 32GB RAM and had DDR2 RAM and DDR3 Capable.

I just want a good powerful computer that wont limit me with upgrading in the future should it need it.

sink

No motherboard I've ever heard of is DDR2 & DDR3 capable, the dimm slots are different sizes. Here's what I would go with, you just need to add a case.


MOBO: ASRock H67DE3 (B3) - €90.77
http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=43137&agid=1601

CPU/GPU: Intel Core i5-2500K - €172.54
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=41224&agid=1617

RAM: 8GB-Kit Corsair XMS3 - €65.27
http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=38052&agid=1192

PSU: Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W €51.75
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30069&agid=1628&lb

HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1000GB, SATA II - €45.14
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=39658&agid=1342

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-223C DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - €18.89
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=29466&agid=699

OS: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SB-Version Englisch - €78.65
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28239&agid=185

Total: €523.01
Delivery: €30

If you want to overclock you need a P67 board, which would also require a graphics card.

marco_polo

Took me a while to find but your post reminded me of this abomination from MSI, what an absolutely awful, really ugly waste of precious motherboard space it was.

sink

marco_polo wrote: »

Took me a while to find but your post reminded me of this abomination from MSI, what an absolutely awful, really ugly waste of precious motherboard space it was.

Haha, of course someone would be crazy enough.

Dublin_Gunner

sink wrote: »

No motherboard I've ever heard of is DDR2 & DDR3 capable, the dimm slots are different sizes. Here's what I would go with, you just need to add a case.

Well then you don't know much. There were quite a few DDR2 /3 motherboards released.
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/8709-asrock-p45r2000-wifi-motherboard-review.html

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_775/P5G41CM_LX/

http://www.amazon.com/Biostar-DDR2-Intel-Motherboard-TP45E/dp/B002SG7ME6

http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/missmorning/product-detailKbyxzsCVlJRd/China-Intel-Motherboard-G41-Support-DDR3-and-DDR2-Memory.html

And they were just from a quick google. I know a couple were s775, but still -proves a point!

Not that there's much point these days, with DDR3 being so cheap.

Is ther a reason noone has mentioned an AMD based system?

He could have an AMD based system, with a fast Phenom X4, with integrated gfx for around €100 less.

Or if Intel is the way to go, he should hold off for Z68 - integrated gfx and overclocking, as well as SSD caching. And being able to use the integrated gfx on the Core i5 / i7 mean MUCH faster video encoding / transcoding - which is a small part of the requirement for this PC.