Question for some of you?

I am thinking of buying a new Pentium 4 3.4ghz
to install in my computer I have now and also purchase another 512MB card to give my system a 1GB of ram. Now to the question, I have a few good computer skills and everything but some things I just need a little advise and help....ok..the question. Like I said I am thinking of purchasing these and installing them in my system....How hard would it be (for me) to install the new Pentium 4 and the 512MB card into my system myself? Should I do it or pay a computer wiz to do it?

You can't just plop in a CPU... you need the right kind of motherboard and the board has to support the particular CPU speed. I haven't bought a CPU without a motherboard since the Pentium 1 days.

OK, I done some checking and you are right, but I will be willing to purchase one of those as well....I kinda want to do a system upgrade without paying $2,000.00 to do maybe about 500 or 600 will be in my price range.....So..How hard is it to put a Motherboard in yourself or should I leave it to somone more computer smart!!!

And Jeff I think you misunderstood me, I already have a CPU...I just kinda want to update it, thanks for the imput on the Motherboard....I know what to look for!! *** Edited 1/24/2005 4:02:26 PM UTC by Evolution***

I didn't misunderstand anything. You said you were going to buy a CPU. You don't update it, you replace it. If you don't know what I mean then I would strongly suggest you let someone else do the upgrade.

Installing components in a computer can be intimidating but not terribly difficult. Most of the building can be done with nothing more fancy than a good ol' phillips screwdriver (Tom's Hardware has a good PC building guide). But Jeff is right, you need to do your homework to make sure that all the pieces you want to use are compatible. Most of this can be found out through the manufacturer of your chosen motherboard and cpu.

lata, jeremy

BTW: you can PM me if you have questions

Sorry Jeff, I didn't mean it to come out that way, I want to do this myself and I didn't mean to sound the way I did. I just don't see any reason to pay some Tech $46.00-$54.00 per hour to install this stuff if I can somehow do it myself.....But you did help me and point me in the right way to start and I do thank you again.

I meant to say I am going to buy a new Pentium 4 3.4GHZ processer and a 512MB card to install in my system...and again sorry Jeff I worded it wrong !!!! *** Edited 1/24/2005 6:39:19 PM UTC by Evolution***

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Jeff said:
I didn't misunderstand anything. You said you were going to buy a CPU. You don't update it, you replace it. If you don't know what I mean then I would strongly suggest you let someone else do the upgrade.

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First of all Jeff, cut some slack, you knew perfectly well what he meant. Second of All most CPU's brought brand new are not hard to install, the ones i've bough have picture by picture instructions, just be careful how you handle the equipment. Just one thing i suggest to prevent EMD (Elecro Magenetic Discharge) is to do it on a flat table or surface. Should be somewhat easy. *** Edited 1/24/2005 6:43:47 PM UTC by DC2Beltz3***

but odds are if his system needs a "boost", his Motherboard is out of date. You cannot just buy a CPU and expect it to work with an out-of-date motherboard.

The highest processor I could have gone with with my old mobo was "only" an AMD 3200+ due to bus speed and multiplier limitations.

Ok guys, let me lay it out for you. Right now I have a Sony Vaio 2.66Ghz 128GBhdrive 512MB Ram and a ATI 9200 card. First I want to update my processer to a new P4 3.4GHZ with H/T Technology and I want to add another 512MB card to get a 1G ram. Now all I want to do is take the old Motherboard out since Jeff said I would have to have a motherboard to take the new processer.

I have been looking on Newegg.com at the motherboards and the processer. Now what I want to do (if it can be done) is either me or someone more computer friendly than me to take the old motherboard out install the new one with the new P4 processor and the 512MB card. Now can this be done or I am just wasting my time and should just go buy a new Computer all together!!! *** Edited 1/24/2005 7:57:36 PM UTC by Evolution***

ok so what is the cost of the motherboard you are looking at that supports the P4 HT? and the brand? just wonderin, most likly you can do it yourself since the m/b will come with an instruction booklet, just remember if you screw teh motherboard in the case not to tighten the screws too hard!

Thank you, That was the answer I was looking for. Ok, the new Motherboard is $199.00 and the new P4 3.4GHZ Processer is $218.00 and the 512MB card is about $68.00.But again thanks for all the help from everyone. This is cheaper than ging and getting a new CPU and spending $2,000.00 or more!!! *** Edited 1/24/2005 8:33:20 PM UTC by Evolution***

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DC2Beltz3 said:
First of all Jeff, cut some slack, you knew perfectly well what he meant.

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No, I didn't smartass. I don't read minds.

You might want to check www.pricewatch.com and click on "motherboard combos with memory" as these are packages that combine the CPU (and a heatsink/fan), mobo and memory together without you having to worry about whether or not they all work together.

Personally I think you'd get more bang for your buck with an Athlon 64 rig, but that's just my opinion.

Ok, I will give that a look Jeff.Thanks

Oh Yea.....which AMD 64 would recommend? *** Edited 1/24/2005 9:07:53 PM UTC by Evolution***

A Pentium is definitely not simply a Pentium and a Pentium 4 is not a Pentium 4 and an Athlon XP is not an Athlon XP nor is a Sempron even necessarily the same chip with the same pinout. Despite the same name, they can all be very different beasts.

To upgrade your processor you'd have to know both the particular brand and model of motherboard AND which revision of the BIOS you're running on.

These days, I usually run to the local hack shop and buy the mobo, CPU, case and power supply. I'm too lazy and they're too cheap to spend time dinking around with if you ask me. And this is from a guy who used to build machines reviewed in the mags you read.

-'Playa

Also is your Vaio a "full sized" PC or is it one of the "narrow" form factors?

Oooh, that's right. A Vaio is not a Vaio either.

This is a full-sized Vaio PC had it for about 2-years and all I want to do is upgrade. I really don't want to go buy a new system just to upgrade. I have a nice 20" Flat Screen moniter so as you can see I just want to improve what I got instead of (like I have said before)spending over $2,000.00 on a new upgraded system when and if I can do it myself!!!

Evo: Please dont take it that I am picking at you ('cause I'm not) I just want to make sure you are clear. (as the family 'techie' I always ask these questions).

Why do you want to upgrade your system? That is to say, what is it that you cant do with your current system?

Additionally, what is so special about your old Vaio that you simply want to "upgrade" it rather than get build a system from scratch? Truth be told, you could likely build a system from the ground up, using your current hard drive, CD/DVD, monitor, memory (BTW, what speed is your RAM?), and video card for that $600 price range.

But what you want to get out of your new comp defines where you should (and should not) spend your money.

Not to be too pessimestic here, but there are other issues to consider when upgrading a machine like a Vaio. Sony, Dell, and others are notorious for using proprietary cases, so dropping in a new motherboard may be more difficult than you realize. Also, the Power Supply on that box is probably rated specifically for that config, so if you throw in a faster proc, more memory and eventually a high-end video card, you may run in to power issues.

Now you wonder why paying some dude $45-50 an hour makes sense....

Good point, Gary, my new motherboard requires both the 12v main power bus plus an additional power supply for the processor - my old Power supply didn't have that second power output.

Plus the new high end video cards - like my 6800 OC require a large PS - specs say 350watt, but to be reliable, many people have to use 450w *** Edited 1/25/2005 4:18:33 AM UTC by redman822***