Upgrading just my Processor

[Martoch]

My current specs:

Windows XP Professional
FIC AZ11EA motherboard
AMD Athlon 1Ghz CPU
768mb PC-133 SDRAM
ATI Radeon 64mb DDR VIVO
SoundBlaster Live 5.1
IBM 60gb ATA/100 7200 RPM (on a Promise Ultra ATA/133 Controller Card)
52X Creative Labs CD-ROM
Plextor 12-10-32a CD-RW

I read on FIC's website that they haven't tested any processors on my mobo faster than 1.3Ghz...do any of you know whether I can actually go higher than that or not? If I'm going to upgrade my processor (a big IF), I want to go to at least an Athlon Xp 1800. 1ghz to a 1.3ghz is pointless. Any info on this? I can always just do the whole mobo/cpu upgrade down the road, but I'm curious...

[Tekk]

http://www.fic.com.tw/techsupport/dr...delname=AZ11EA

Thats what youre looking for. If you upgrade to the newest version of the mobo's BIOS you should be fine. The October BIOS even states that it now will support the XP CPU. It should work just fine

[otheos]

Unless you're into top level gaming or crunching serious code, don't expect to notice a difference between your current 1G and any other current Athlon chip. So stick to the 1G and wait for the thoroughbred and upgrade in the next price dive

[Martoch]

DOH! LOL at myself--I flashed my bios last week to that latest update so I should be good to go! WOOHOO!!!!

So, I can just replace my processor and be good to go? Do I need to do anything else if I install an XP 1800?

[Tomteriffic]

I'd make sure your heatsink/fan is up to the job of keeping that XP1800 cool. Other than that, you're golden

[Tekk]

yep...exactly what he said

[RamonGTP]

I agree that you won't notice much if any real world difference... I upgraded my TB 1.333 to an XP 1700+ and didn't notice and performance increase, other than in benchmarks... I did notice a very significant temprature drop with the XP chip though... Only reason why I upgraded is cuz my TB processor was acting up a bit.

-Ramon

[Rhino]

Supposedly, if you want to take advantage of the SSE on the XP, you need to re-install the OS.

[MegalosSkylaki]

No offense,Martoch, but I was thinking of getting the AZ11EA some time ago and even printed out the Manual. It is an older board which in its heyday didn't get any better than middling reviews as I could see.

Your stuff seems higher grade than the Mobo.

Have you considered spending the money on a better Mobo and just moving your modern cards over?

I suspect a KT7A or the DDR version can be found in many inexpensive Mobos out there. And the Soyo Dragon is coming down in price.

This will give you some room to grow: a CPU upgrade will just about exhaust that and leave you with a Mobo thats done just about what it can do.

Don't think better cards would help you much on the FIC AZ11EA as they would on a Dragon. Should be quite nice for another two years plus.

Advice: Spend the money on a better Mobo. And work from there in the years to come.

Err...Do you have any use for the (to be surplus) SDRAM if you go that route ? If it's premium grade, might fetch you something in barter.

Ha, trade it for a better Mobo and buy DDR memory. Nice work if you can get it.

DO--OG

[XPCOMPUTERMODDER]

Yes you can run a XP1800 AThlon Processor In a AZ11EA with the current Bios VDC48 and VDC49 though Prefered The VDC49 Bios Update..

HOWEVER !~ Have a hell of a powersupply on HAnd...These babies take some power to run.....Have at least 40 Amps on the 5v and 30 on the 3.3V or you wont get anywhere....And yes you must reinstall Windows Xp to take advandtage of the SSE instruction set on the Athlon Xp CPU in Windows XP///

There. YA GO !!! HAve FUN !