EggXpert

I have a HP pavilion with the following specs.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&docname=c00585745&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

 

Is there a good processor that someone can recomend that would work with this mother board? I want to upgrade my processor, but I am not sure if there is one that will work.

Any help with this would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks.

I am hesitant to touch this, as it is an OEM PC, and they tend to do screwy things with hardware.

The motherboard under the hood is an Asus P5LP-LE, but there is a very real possibility that it is a locked down version that will only work with a limited number of processors.

It comes with a Pentium D that has a FSB (front side bus) of 800 MHz, so if you can find anything that fits those two criteria you should be safe.  Beyond that, it's anybody's guess.

Is there any perticular reason you want a new processor for this machine?

Honestly, you would probably better off saving for just a little bit longer and getting a new motherboard/processor (the egg often has combo deals for stuff like that) and a new case.  The cost really wouldn't be much over what you are able to spend now, anyway, and you'd have a more open platform that you can build off of in the future (plus, a much better platform for gaming).

Guardian:

I am hesitant to touch this, as it is an OEM PC, and they tend to do screwy things with hardware.

The motherboard under the hood is an Asus P5LP-LE, but there is a very real possibility that it is a locked down version that will only work with a limited number of processors.

It comes with a Pentium D that has a FSB (front side bus) of 800 MHz, so if you can find anything that fits those two criteria you should be safe.  Beyond that, it's anybody's guess.

Is there any perticular reason you want a new processor for this machine?

Honestly, you would probably better off saving for just a little bit longer and getting a new motherboard/processor (the egg often has combo deals for stuff like that) and a new case.  The cost really wouldn't be much over what you are able to spend now, anyway, and you'd have a more open platform that you can build off of in the future (plus, a much better platform for gaming).

The  Asus P5LP-LE motherboard comes with an Intel 945P chipset. I've never seen an OEM motherboard actually limit the kind of CPU you can install via the BIOS. Limitations are usually based on the generation of the motherboard. The 945P chipset supports the Intel Pentium D (800 and 900 series), Intel Pentium 4, and the 65nm Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs (E6400, E6600, E6700, X6800) which have an FSB of 1066. The 2nd generation 65nm processors with a 1333mhz FSB such as the E6750 and E6850 will not work on this motherboard. 

However, it might be a bit difficult for you to find the mentioned supported processors at decent prices, since they would be now over 2 years old.  I would recommend buying a low end mATX motherboard, an E7200, and 2GB of DDR2-800 RAM as an upgrade solution. This should cost you around $200.

Let me know if you'd like to go that route and I can offer you some suggestions as to specific hardware. 

You have the same processor that I have in my gaming machine.  The Pentium D 920, for me, is a overclocker's heaven, going past 4 GHz, but I know for a fact that HP locks their BIOS from any type of modification apart from setting the time and setting the boot drive.  You should do what I am doing, I am saving up my money for a few months to build an Core i7 machine.  A jump from a Pentium, skipping the Core 2 brands, and going straight into an i7 would be very noticable.  Plus, as you save your money, the price will be dropping at the same time.  If that is not in your bag of things to do, you could always swap the motherboards instead of the CPU, and overclock your current Pentium D 920 with the new motherboard, that is, if the heatsink has a fan.  I know some HP computers that don't have heatsink fans. 

jbaumgartner136:

You have the same processor that I have in my gaming machine.  The Pentium D 920, for me, is a overclocker's heaven, going past 4 GHz, but I know for a fact that HP locks their BIOS from any type of modification apart from setting the time and setting the boot drive.  You should do what I am doing, I am saving up my money for a few months to build an Core i7 machine.  A jump from a Pentium, skipping the Core 2 brands, and going straight into an i7 would be very noticable.  Plus, as you save your money, the price will be dropping at the same time.  If that is not in your bag of things to do, you could always swap the motherboards instead of the CPU, and overclock your current Pentium D 920 with the new motherboard, that is, if the heatsink has a fan.  I know some HP computers that don't have heatsink fans. 

 

That's a good idea too. I wouldn't worry about the heatsink on this HP if you're planning on installing a first gen Core 2 Duo, as the power draw will be about half, and as such will run half as hot. I would still save up money for a Core i7 in a few months though as the best option, assuming DDR3 prices drop significantly.

Thanks for all the sugestions.

I was thinking about a new motherboard, but I was hoping that I could go without changing the one I have since I just installed vista a few months back. But If I need a new one then I guess I have to get one. So if you have any specific hardware sugestions I'd love to hear them. Basically waht would you do and get within reason.

 

Thanks

 

No need to go high end on a motherboard, here is a reasonable one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135092

What speed is your RAM?  Your Nvidia 8800 GTX will work just fine in that board.  Nice graphic card.