AMD k6-2, can my processor be upgraded?

[fenrir]

Okay here it is, I've been itching to upgrade my processor lately because all my favorite games and graphical programs have been upping the stakes. And it seems my system needs a little bit of a boost. I've already put some Ram in which weirdly only reads up to 184mb, rather than the installed 192mb( I looked in the set up and it acknowledges what slots are taken with that much memory, yet the system can only read 184. And it is supposed to be upgradeable to 384mb?). Well the system I have was actually bought for me for Christmas a year or so ago(i'm pretty poor, so when I do build my own it might be a while to save up for it). It's a hewlett packard pavilion 6640c. It came with a amd k6-2 processor, which is a super socket 7. Right now it is only 500mhz. Well I check the specs on the hp site and it says that's the highest it can go, yet I also noticed their info on the amd k6-2 is outdated. now the k6-2 can go higher and there are more additions such as the k6-III (though I couldn't see how it was better because clock speed wasn't that great and neither was bus speed, but maybe I was missing something?). I wasn't sure if they just never updated the info or if the mobo can only handle that much? So can I upgrade it or am I stuck ? I don't want to make the system unstable or anything. And any additional info would be much appreciated(including new fan recommendations with upgrade, power, jumper settings, etc). Thanks!!!!!!!!

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'The Dance of Angry Feet'-used to describe stampede
"She'd have a fearsome reputation if she left any survivors.."

[Randy_tx]

You already have about the best socket 7 available out there. If you could find a K6-2 550, it wouldn't improve things enough to even notice it. Save up to replace the mainboard, cpu and Ram down the road and plan to spend about $450 or so for the upgrade.....if you do it yourself, that is!

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XP didn't save Me !

[computer_junkie]

fenrir,

Randy is right, forget upgrading the HP, time to build you another machine!

To answer your question about the missing 8MB of memory, this is what the video card is using. The HP and many others use system memory for video, the values are set in the bios. The full installed value shows during boot, because the motherboard and bios nows whats really there. Windows will only see what memory what is available, which is the total minus what is shared for video. In your case 8MB.

Hope this helps,
CJ

[fenrir]

Ouch and I just got the machine last year. It goes really fast doesn't it?? Unfortunately my cash flow is a problem lots of the time*sigh*. Or else I would have already started building one. Do you guys have any recommendations on a nice mobo with upgrading possiblities? And What I should look for on it? I'd appreciate any help http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Thanks!!!!!

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'The Dance of Angry Feet'-used to describe stampede
"She'd have a fearsome reputation if she left any survivors.."

[wiltrot]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=MBM-TK7-850

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http://trotter.infopages.net/

[bassman]

Hi Fenrir,
My recommendation would be to just save your bucks when you can (stash box in the attic maybe???) and when you have a few put away, then start looking and shopping. This stuff changes every day and the deal you find today will be overpriced next week.
Personaly, I don't think you would be satisfied with the performance of any upgrade less than 850Mhz with 256Mgb RAM, considering the money it would take to get there.

Here are a couple things to try in the mean time.
R-click an open area on the desktop, click Properties>Settings>Advanced>Memory. You can adjust your video memory here, but you may not want to (games and graphics like memory).
Another option would be a better vid card with higher onboard memory. Less bucks then a system upgrade and you can take it with you when you do.

Here is a Link (http://bedford.webstudioservers.com/BI.asp?Page=PCU/BI/Jan2002/HardwareDoctor.htm#8) to a registry tweak that I just read about. Click on "Question 8" and read it carefully.
I have not tried it yet but plan too today.

Good luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Waiting patiently for the future to arrive Frank's Place (http://www.members.aol.com/frankscompsrvice)

[fenrir]

Hey http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
Thanks for the good advice. I figured I would have to get a new mobo and processor, but it was just a thought I guess. So is TigerDirect really a reliable place to order from? The prices seem very reasonable! Tell me how the registry tweak goes bassman. Do you think it works with win98? I still haven't upgraded windows and with all the talk about them, I'm not sure if I should or what I should upgrade to? Thanks! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Hey btw, what are your system specs? I'm just curious http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

fen

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'The Dance of Angry Feet'-used to describe stampede
"She'd have a fearsome reputation if she left any survivors.."

[andyswork@beci.net]

I have ordered a lot from Tiger with no problems.
I had a had drive crashed less then year old and they replaced it.
I built my wifes system using all their parts. No problems from her system, almost year old now.

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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy

[fenrir]

Thanks Andy!


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'The Dance of Angry Feet'-used to describe stampede
"She'd have a fearsome reputation if she left any survivors.."

[pentachris]

Backing up just a bit, a K6-3/400 outperforms a K6-2/550 because of its significantly larger and speedier cache. If your old K6-2 fried and you needed to replace it, I'd suggest you consider the slightly more expensive K6-3. But since you're upgrading out of desire for improved performance and not necessity, I'm in agreement with the others - your money would be better spent as part of a broader system overhaul.

Just thought I'd throw that in, FYI.

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...
If my computer were the eighth dwarf, it would be Dumpy.
-Chris

[fenrir]

I'm just curious as to why it was better?

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'The Dance of Angry Feet'-used to describe stampede
"She'd have a fearsome reputation if she left any survivors.."