Hardware Upgrade

[SCPD]

My PC was custom built about 6 years ago. The motherboard is Asus m2n68 Plus. Processor is AMD Athlon X2 250, 3GHZ. I'm planning to replace the processor with a 4GHZ. Should I upgrade the BIOS?

Thanks.

 

[wkm]

Is there a upgrade option for the bios? Should you upgrade the mobo too with the processor. Probably. Mobo/cpu bundles are easy to find. Why upgrade a 6 year old board to a new old processor?

 

[CapStar362]

maybe because that is all he wants to upgrade right now?

he asked if he should flash the firmware.


The answer is, if the new CPU is not supported by the older firmware, YES, flash the new firmware.


if it is supported already, unless you feel the absolute need to do it, leave it alone.


here is the link to your board's downloads page:

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M2N68_PLUS/HelpDesk_Download/



also, verify your new CPU is on THIS list: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M2N68_PLUS/HelpDesk_CPU/


before you do anything.

 

[SCPD]

Thanks, guys. CapStar, my computer has both Vista 32 bit and 7 64 bit. I'll probably get the free upgrade to 10. Which should I choose from the driver & tools drop-down box? If I install a faster processor, and I should upgrade the BIOS, but don't, what will happen?

 

[KC4RAF]

Thanks CapStar for that link.

Have thought about upgrading this machine but had no idea as to what CPU would work. Thanks again.

 

[wkm]

I understand he wants to upgrade his processor to 4ghz. According to the list the board doesn't support a 4ghz cpu. There is a bios update for that board that updates support for more cpu's

Yes depending on your choice of cpu you buy you may need to update the bios.


tc

 

[questnz]

Look ahead, Raw CPU speed does'nt count anymore like use to in the "old days". If you just flash new BIOS and get bit faster AMD CPU it will be half baked solution and you still stuck 6 years behind. Spend more money and upgrade MB, CPU and DDR3 Memory to match. You can get cheap x97 chipset motherboard, 2 x 4 GB memory modules and any Intel CPU option with socket 1150 including best bung for your buck cheap and unlocked anniversary G3258 CPU. It will give you wider memory bandwith, better compatibility with new hardware, HD's, SSD's, new software, new drivers and more future proof. Windows 10 will be free to users of Win7 and 8.1 but I am not convinced it will run on your old Mobo due to chipset and drivers support. You can download preview version now and try. Download Windows 10 Insider Preview ISO - Microsoft Windows Good luck

 

[CapStar362]

Thanks, guys. CapStar, my computer has both Vista 32 bit and 7 64 bit. I'll probably get the free upgrade to 10. Which should I choose from the driver & tools drop-down box? If I install a faster processor, and I should upgrade the BIOS, but don't, what will happen?

you would have a non-booting system as the board with the invalid CPU microcode trying to boot it.


the microcode contains the data for the board to even access the CPU at certain pins on the POST Test.

POST - Power On Self-Test

without a POST completing due to the fact the board cannot even correctly boot the CPU much less get BIOS to see the CPU. you have exactly that, a dead system.


your best bet is to VERIFY the CPU is listed on the link i gave you and verify its listed as compatible with the latest BIOS Firmware image.


OR!! you can do Quest's suggestion. a new CPU/Board/RAM setup.

the OS has NOTHING To do with whether a system will even enter the POST phase. POST test is pre-OS boot periods and is STRICTLY hardware with no drivers of any kind. these are hard written ROM instructions that you have no access too.


one curious question.... how are you booting Vista x32 and 7 x64 independently?


only if you run them on two separate partitions or completely different drives could you achieve that. and i hope you have more than 4GB of RAM for that x64 OS.

 

[SCPD]

you would have a non-booting system as the board with the invalid CPU microcode trying to boot it.


the microcode contains the data for the board to even access the CPU at certain pins on the POST Test.

POST - Power On Self-Test

without a POST completing due to the fact the board cannot even correctly boot the CPU much less get BIOS to see the CPU. you have exactly that, a dead system.


your best bet is to VERIFY the CPU is listed on the link i gave you and verify its listed as compatible with the latest BIOS Firmware image.


OR!! you can do Quest's suggestion. a new CPU/Board/RAM setup.

the OS has NOTHING To do with whether a system will even enter the POST phase. POST test is pre-OS boot periods and is STRICTLY hardware with no drivers of any kind. these are hard written ROM instructions that you have no access too.


one curious question.... how are you booting Vista x32 and 7 x64 independently?


only if you run them on two separate partitions or completely different drives could you achieve that. and i hope you have more than 4GB of RAM for that x64 OS.

Thanks. Vista and 7 are on two separate drives. 4 GB RAM. I've already run the 10 compatibility test. Everything meets requirements.

 

[CapStar362]

no problem. if it already meets the minimums, are you just looking for more horsepower?


if yes, a simple CPU upgrade is only part of the equation. being that is a DDR2 board with the max spec'ed DDR2 of 1066, you would be okay, but DDR3 or DDR4 ( for that matter which is becoming main stream now) , would give you much better results.

its your choice of course, but i would do Quest's part ( for once ) Board/CPU/RAM

just for the long haul term of staying free of upgrades.


why do you retain vista? may i ask?

Vista is even still to do this day plagued with bugs that 7 Solved. after SP2 for Vista they actually removed many features of the Initial RTM of Vista.

no need to answer if you dont want to, im simply curious. i don't even support Vista on customer's systems anymore unless they specifically deny a conversion to 7.

 

[K5MPH]

Why don't you just up grade the whole mother board and cpu chip,just make sure the form factor is the same,good luck..........

 

[SCPD]

no problem. if it already meets the minimums, are you just looking for more horsepower?


if yes, a simple CPU upgrade is only part of the equation. being that is a DDR2 board with the max spec'ed DDR2 of 1066, you would be okay, but DDR3 or DDR4 ( for that matter which is becoming main stream now) , would give you much better results.

its your choice of course, but i would do Quest's part ( for once ) Board/CPU/RAM

just for the long haul term of staying free of upgrades.


why do you retain vista? may i ask?

Vista is even still to do this day plagued with bugs that 7 Solved. after SP2 for Vista they actually removed many features of the Initial RTM of Vista.

no need to answer if you dont want to, im simply curious. i don't even support Vista on customer's systems anymore unless they specifically deny a conversion to 7.

Because of newer games. I'll replace Vista with 10. I know I'll have to format that drive and do a complete install.

 

[SCPD]

Why don't you just up grade the whole mother board and cpu chip,just make sure the form factor is the same,good luck..........

I've been looking into them. Some with the correct requirements (form factor, enough SATA slots; I need 5) are no longer in stock.

 

[CapStar362]

5+ SATA? what form factor? ATX? m-ATX? E-ATX?

Computer Hardware, Motherboards, AMD Motherboards, 6 x SATA 3Gb/s - Newegg.com


18 boards right there AMD based. 6 SATA II Ports. thats SATA 3Gb/s

though those boards may not run your CPU and definitely not your RAM.

if i needed a quick Intel replacement:

id be on this in a heartbeat:


ASUS H97M-PLUS LGA 1150 Intel H97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

6x SATA III connectors, so there is your 5x requirement


the performance of this board, is unreal. for the H97 chipset it surpasses most other H97's

this CPU: Intel Core i7-4770S Haswell Quad-Core 3.1GHz LGA 1150 65W BX80646I74770S Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics - Newegg.com

and this RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M4A1600C9 - Newegg.com


and you have a VERY nice system to play with 7 8 and 10 with ultra smoothness.

add a SSD, and uhhh..... i wont spoil that

 

[SCPD]

Form factor utx 9.6 x 8.2. Maybe I'll have to get a new case.

 

[CapStar362]

UTX?

UTX is 4.4x4.6 not 9.6x8.2

9.6x8.2 is Micro ATX. not UTX

 

[SCPD]

UTX?

UTX is 4.4x4.6 not 9.6x8.2

9.6x8.2 is Micro ATX. not UTX

Excuse me. uATX.
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M2N68AM_PLUS/specifications/

 

[CapStar362]

Asus is known to mix up spec names, they frequently make up stuff, though in this case uATX can be up to 9.6x9.6 and as small as 6.75x6.75 or anything in between and still carry any of the m or u ATX designations.


your typing of it is what threw me off, its uATX not UTX, UTX is a tiny board for integrated emulators, with a size of 4.4x4.6 inches. the raspberry pi is perfect example of a UTX Style design.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroATX

microATX (sometimes referred to as µATX, mATX or uATX) is a standard for motherboards that was introduced in December 1997. The maximum size of a microATX motherboard is 9.6 × 9.6 in (244 × 244 mm), but some microATX boards can be as small as 6.75 × 6.75 in (171.45 × 171.45 mm). The standard ATX size is 25% longer, at 12 × 9.6 in (305 × 244 mm).

http://www.formfactors.org/developer\specs\matxspe1_1.pdf