CPU Upgrade

[GeoffF100]

I have an old PC running Lubuntu. The current processor is a Pentium E2140, which has an LGA775 socket. The motherboard is an Intel D945GCNL D9784-102:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ThWNJowECI

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/suppo ... uide02.pdf

The compatible processors are:

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/suppo ... uide02.pdf

The fastest compatible processor is the Core 2 Duo E6700, which has a Passmark score nearly twice that of the existing processor. It is is possible to buy cheap second hand Core 2 Duo E6700s on Ebay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw= ... noapp=true

I have not observed the existing processor fan working. It may be faulty. The easiest thing to do might be to replace it. Here is Intel's installation / removal guide for the processor and cooler:

https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/ ... ssors.html

This cooler looks like a possible replacement:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-11-Rev- ... cpu+cooler

Does anyone have any experience of replacing old CPUs?

[Infrasonic]

The metal thermal pastes are worth looking at, much better performance than the standard cheapo stuff and will help get the maximum out of a budget CPU.

[GeoffF100]

Yes, I have done it several times, though not that recently. If you check and recheck the compatibility, there should be no problem. New CPU cooler is pretty cheap but don't forget the thermal paste when fitting it. One thing I would do is to check that the motherboard has the latest available firmware. Sometimes CPU compatibility depends on the firmware version. Having the latest version elminates that risk.

Thank you for that. I do not know how I would update the BIOS. However, both processors were released in Q1 2007, so I do not expect that will be an issue.

Has anyone used the cheap used CPUs from the far East? Are they any good?

I only paid £35 for the PC, and it included an ancient 17" LCD monitor that is fine for a second system and does not take up much space. It also has working mechanical mouse, but I had to replace the keyboard. The upgraded CPU will have about the same processing power as a Chromebook. I can afford to take some risk here. This is largely an education exercise.

[GeoffF100]

Intel says do not update the BIOS unless you are having a problem:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/downlo ... 4510J-86i-

[GeoffF100]

This link says that I need BIOS version 0010 or later:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/305 ... core-e6700

When I go into the BIOS, the first heading on the Main page is BIOS Version. It is blank, which is not very helpful. Processor Type and all the rest are populated.

[GeoffF100]

I found "Updating the BIOS with the Intel® Express BIOS Update Utility" on page 55 of the Intel motherboard manual:

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/suppo ... uide02.pdf

It is easy to find instructions for Windows, but I have been able to find any official instructions for Linux.

I found more adamant assertions from Intel that the BIOS should not be updated unless there is a problem. It looks as though the easiest thing to do is to put the new processor in and see what happens.

[GeoffF100]

I also tried:

sudo dmidecode | less

That said that the BIOS version and release date were not specified.

[GeoffF100]

I have ordered a Core 2 Duo E7600 from China for the princely sum of £7. I decoded to go with these people:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-E6700- ... Sw8d5ZSe7P

It is comming on a slow boat from China, so i may not get it until 7th October.

My game plan is:

* Wait for the new CPU to arrive.
* Remove the cooler and existing CPU.
* Install the new CPU.
* Replace the cooler, but do not bother with the thermal paste initially.
* Boot into the BIOS, check that the new CPU is recognised, and cut the power.
* Order a new cooler with built in thermal paste.
* Install the new cooler.
* Boot into Lubuntu and check that everything works.
* Order another 1 GB of memory to max out by filling the second slot.
* Install the new memory.
* Check that everything works.

Does that look sensible? I hope that I do not trash the machine. It is quite speedy browsing with Firefox as it is. If everything goes well, I might even add an SSD. There is a vacant floppy disc bay to accommodate it. There are 120 GB SSDs available for under £30, which is getting tempting, even for occasional use.

[ReformedCharacter]

I have ordered a Core 2 Duo E7600 from China for the princely sum of £7. I decoded to go with these people:

snip...

Does that look sensible? I hope that I do not trash the machine. It is quite speedy browsing with Firefox as it is. If everything goes well, I might even add an SSD. There is a vacant floppy disc bay to accommodate it. There are 120 GB SSDs available for under £30, which is getting tempting, even for occasional use.

According to this site:

https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/ ... oards.html

you need BIOS version 0021 or greater. Do you have any floppy disks?

RC

[GeoffF100]

No I do not have a floppy drive, and I am running Linux. There is no way of finding out what BIOS version I have, and the mother board manufacturer (Intel) warns about updating the BIOS when it is not necessary, and says that it is not possible to go back. There does not appear to be a download for BIOS version 0021:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/produc ... 1530984469

It looks as though BIOS version 0036 might be possible:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/downlo ... duct=50369

Free DOS was one suggestion I saw.

I think there is a good chance that the CPU upgrade will work without updating the BIOS. I am only risking £7. The existing CPU cooler appears to be faulty, so I should probably fix that anyway. I might be unlucky, and find that the BIOS recognises the new processor, but the machine will not boot into Linux, which case I will have to buy some thermal paste to restore the old processor.

[GeoffF100]

Here are some suggestions that might work:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/121358/ ... ing-ubuntu

[GeoffF100]

The second answer on the askubuntu link gives me the information that I was missing:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... oards.html

It would appear that I can use the iFlash BIOS update to create a bootable DVD:

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/suppo ... ctions.pdf

I had not noticed the BIOS versions on the processor compatibility list. It looks as though updating the BIOS is a good idea.

My processor has been shipped. The delivery estimate is given as 27 July to 7 Sept. Splendidly vague!

Thanks for all the help.

[GeoffF100]

One last thing. Make sure you know how to recover if the firmware flashing fails. Good luck.

The instructions say that there is a jumper on the mother board. If I get a power cut while I am flashing, using that appears to be an alternative method of flashing the same update.

[GeoffF100]

It looks as though I need a floppy disc to use that method. It looks like I am going to have to come back to this.

[ReformedCharacter]

It looks as though I need a floppy disc to use that method. It looks like I am going to have to come back to this.

While you waiting for your CPU to take the slow boat from China you could prepare a CD to do the upgrade.

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/suppo ... odSpec.pdf

Flash Memory update utility, which requires creation of a boot diskette and manual rebooting of the system. Using this utility, the BIOS can be updated from a file on a 1.44 MB diskette (from a legacy diskette drive or an LS-120 diskette drive) or a CD-ROM.

RC

[GeoffF100]

Than you for that. The link looks useful. I cannot find any explicit instructions to update the BIOS from a CD that do not also require a floppy, but I have not had time to search thoroughly and read everything carefully. What I have read is very confusing. The PC came loaded with Windows 7 Starter, and I noted down the OEM product key. It hardly ran with 1 GB, but I can add another 1 GB sooner rather than later. Loading Windows 7 to do the BIOS update might be the easiest course of action, but there might be problems with that too!

[GeoffF100]

I successfully installed a second 1 GB of RAM. I now have 2048 MB with dual channel operation.

I then went down a false trail. I installed Windows 7, and ran the Version 0036 Express BIOS Update NL94510J.86A.0036.EB, and got the error message:

“The BIOS You Are Trying to Update to Is Invalid for Your System”

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... oards.html

My BIOS does not show a BIOS ID Code. I appear to have an unsupported non-retail motherboard.

Having done all of this, I noticed that my Pentium E2140 requires BIOS version 0021 or greater, and so does the Core 2 Duo E6700. I should not need to update the BIOS after all.

https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/ ... oards.html

While I had Windows 7 installed, I ran the Windows Experience Index and got:

Processor 4.3
Memory 4.8
Graphics 3.3
Gaming graphics 3.2
Primary hard disk 5.9

Base score up to…

2.0 – suitable for basic computer tasks
3.0 – suitable for Aero and basic level Windows 7 features
5.0 – suitable for new Windows 7 features and multi-tasking
7.0 – suitable for high-end and graphics-intensive experiences

See https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-t ... ximize-it/

Not too bad, even for Windows, but a faster processor would be good. An SSD would be good too, despite the relatively good score for my old hard SATA II drive.

A good educational exercise, even though it was not immediately fruitful.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/ssd

Go on, you know you want to...

[ReformedCharacter]

My BIOS does not show a BIOS ID Code. I appear to have an unsupported non-retail motherboard.

If you note down the serial number on the motherboard and Google it maybe with the word 'Intel' (or post it here as it appears) you may be able to identify the board.

RC

[GeoffF100]

My BIOS does not show a BIOS ID Code. I appear to have an unsupported non-retail motherboard.

If you note down the serial number on the motherboard and Google it maybe with the word 'Intel' (or post it here as it appears) you may be able to identify the board.

RC

I have no problems in identifying the motherboard. It is an Intel D945GCNL D97184-102. It says so on the board, and in the BIOS. The BIOS version is blank though. When I tried to update the BIOS, I got an error message. The description of the error message says:

"Be sure you download the correct BIOS for your board. View a list of BIOS ID Codes, which also includes inks to Download Center. If your board isn't on the list, you most likely have a board a computer manufacturer. Contact your computer manufacturer for support."

The BIOS ID Codes link says:

"The first two sections of the BIOS version indicate the BIOS ID code (in the example above: BIG4110H.86A). This ID code must exactly match one of the BIOS ID codes listed below. If they match, you have an Intel retail desktop board and Intel offers product support.

If the first two sections do not match, your desktop board was manufactured for a specific third-party manufacturer. You should contact that manufacturer for help with your board."

I do not expect that Stone computers is interested in providing free support for a ten year old second hand PC. As I have said, I should be able to update the processor anyway, but there is no guarantee that it will work. The used processor that is on its way from China may be a dud anyway.