Upgrading the Chip on my motherboard

[Mr.Shovel Hands]

I am trying to find out if i can upgrade my 233mhz chip, or if I would have to change the motherboard as well. My system is : pentium(r), 233mhz, 128 meg of RAM,8 gig hard drive,using win`95 (getting ready to change upto win`98 next week). I have been told to find out the board number (off the start up screen), I have done that, but I don't know how to find out if I can use a different chip or if I will have to change the board as well. The board number is ; i430TX-W83977-2A59iA1BC-GP. None of this makes sense to me. Any ideas ?? Many thanks from a confused Welshman.

[Randy_tx]

I believe you have a Pent. Socket 7 - 233 chip and you are at the maximum the motherboard will handle......so, the answer is yes a new motherboard, Ram memory and cpu chip will probably be needed.....possibly a new power supply and case depending on what you want to upgrade to. If you haven't done this type of upgrade before (and it sounds like you haven't), you will be looking at about $495+ to have a good shop do the upgrade for you. You can save about $250 or so by doing it yourself; however, you will definately need a "mentor" to work with you if it's the first time. Upgrades are so expensive relative to just buying a New "Box" (cpu unit, if you will), that it is well worth looking at new unit prices as well.
I guess you could go to a P-266 chip but that wouldnt be worth it. All money is in US Dollars http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 03-19-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 03-19-2001).]

[newton's cat]

There are upgrade CPU's (which are SIMPLE to install) such as the Evergreen Spectra 333, and others even higher (but more expensive!). If you hunt around you might get a S/H one for 40 quid or so. It might be possible to get one mail-order from the USA - the manufacturers have drastically reduced their prices recently. I assume you're not MMX yet? The Spectra is MMX & 3D & WILL give your system a REAL boost.

As for upgrading to Win98 - email me & I'll give you a few tips.

newtonscat@ic24.net

Newton's Cat

[newton's cat]

Try this:

Right-click on the 'My Computer' icon on your Desktop, then click properties. What does it say?

There is a very good chance (with some versions of Win95) that it says that you've only got 64 megs of memory! Win95 was originally designed to only make effective use of a maximum of 64 megs. The extra 64 often has the effect of SLOWING things down! When you upgrade to 98 this problem will be sorted - maybe!

Older motherboards were also designed to make effective use of a maximum of 64 megs - although they CAN take more! There is another type of memory on the board called cache memory, which sort of "services" the main memory. Because this was expensive most boards were supplied with only enough of this memory to "service" 64 megs of main memory (sometimes even less!). In order to make effective use of all of your 128 megs you may have to increase this cache memory. (Which may involve removing the present cache chip & adding a larger one - NOT a simple job for a novice!)

Is there an MMX after the processor speed? If not then there is definitely room for improvement in your system.

You might find this URL useful:
http://www.computertips.com/Windows/Windows98/Installation/installation98tip.htm

Good luck!

Newton's Cat




[This message has been edited by newton's cat (edited 03-20-2001).]

[newton's cat]

Me back again!

Well - the BIOS number you gave indicates that your board is an ABIT TX5. The 233 CPU is almost certainly an MMX chip. As for the memory - well, it would run faster if you reduced the memory to 64 megs! The i430TX at the beginning of the code indicates that the board has an Intel 430TX chipset, which can only cache a maximum of 64 megs.

Why can the board take up to 256 megs then! The extra memory is useful if other operations systems than Windows are installed, very large databases are being used, certain multimedia programs are running, and so on. For most practical home usage of this computer 64 megs is all that is needed, more - slows things down! The installed cache memory on the motherboard is already at its maximum.

The point I made about the Spectra 333 may not be worth the cost as the increase in speed performance may not be worthwhile.

I hope I've "less confused" you - or have I?

You can get the board's manual at:

ftp://ftp.univ-lille1.fr/pub/abit/manual/english/aptx5e.pdf

(You'll need to have Adobe Reader installed to read it)

Newton's Cat


[This message has been edited by newton's cat (edited 03-20-2001).]