Upgrading old CPU. Compatibly question.

[jhill005]

I recently found my family's old HP Slimline s3400f that I've been tinkering around with a bit and have decided to turn it into my first Linux machine. So far I've upgraded the PSU from 160W to 350W, added a GeForce GT 710 graphics card and of course an SSD. I want to upgrade the CPU too, but I have a compatibility question. Right now the system still has the stock AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ CPU and stock M2N61-AR (Acacia) motherboard. According to the motherboard's specs the CPU upgrades must be Athlon 64 X2 with Dual Core technology, Athlon 64 or Sempron. All three up to 65W.

 

The CPU that I am most optimistic about for better performance and compatibility is the AMD Athlon II X2 270. It is a Athlon X2 and is 65W. This would give me 3.4 GHz opposed to the 2.7 GHz from the stock CPU. However, the 270 is socket AM2+ while the motherboard is only a socket AM2. I believe the two are compatible, but I don't know how much of a performance benefit it would really be in that configuration. The 270 can be purchased on Ebay for less than $15 so even marginal improvements would likely be worth it in my case.

 

Would the AMD Athlon II X2 270 be compatible with my motherboard?

Are there any better options out there for me?

[sky_shark_101]

11 minutes ago, jhill005 said:

I recently found my family's old HP Slimline s3400f that I've been tinkering around with a bit and have decided to turn it into my first Linux machine. So far I've upgraded the PSU from 160W to 350W, added a GeForce GT 710 graphics card and of course an SSD. I want to upgrade the CPU too, but I have a compatibility question. Right now the system still has the stock AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ CPU and stock M2N61-AR (Acacia) motherboard. According to the motherboard's specs the CPU upgrades must be Athlon 64 X2 with Dual Core technology, Athlon 64 or Sempron. All three up to 65W.

 

The CPU that I am most optimistic about for better performance and compatibility is the AMD Athlon II X2 270. It is a Athlon X2 and is 65W. This would give me 3.4 GHz opposed to the 2.7 GHz from the stock CPU. However, the 270 is socket AM2+ while the motherboard is only a socket AM2. I believe the two are compatible, but I don't know how much of a performance benefit it would really be in that configuration. The 270 can be purchased on Ebay for less than $15 so even marginal improvements would likely be worth it in my case.

 

Would the AMD Athlon II X2 270 be compatible with my motherboard?

Are there any better options out there for me?

It is compatible but you would not benefit from the increased front side bus speeds that AM2+ offers and would be limited to DDR2 memory. I still think you would see a big enough improvement to justify $15.

[Labeled]

the lowest socket the athlon II's supported was AM2+, while the motherboard you have only supports 939, 754, AM2.

 

You best bet is just a athlon 64 x2 6000+

[Pasi123]

Almost all of the better AM2 Athlon 64 X2 CPU's have higher TDP than 65W. Athlon 64 X2 5600+ seems to be the best one that has a 65W version.

[jhill005]

2 hours ago, sky_shark_101 said:

It is compatible but you would not benefit from the increased front side bus speeds that AM2+ offers and would be limited to DDR2 memory. I still think you would see a big enough improvement to justify $15.

Awesome, thanks for the help!

[jhill005]

2 hours ago, Labeled said:

the lowest socket the athlon II's supported was AM2+, while the motherboard you have only supports 939, 754, AM2.

 

You best bet is just a athlon 64 x2 6000+

This is unfortunate. I was under the impression AM2+ and AM2 were compatible. Thanks.

[jhill005]

1 hour ago, Pasi123 said:

Almost all of the better AM2 Athlon 64 X2 CPU's have higher TDP than 65W. Athlon 64 X2 5600+ seems to be the best one that has a 65W version.

It seems the website I was using provided the wrong information on the 65W. I looks like I can get a 5600+ for cheap, but I don't think it will provide much of an upgrade over my current CPU. Thanks.

[Stefan Payne]

3 hours ago, jhill005 said:

Would the AMD Athlon II X2 270 be compatible with my motherboard?

Are there any better options out there for me?

No, it would not be compatible or work with the Board, without a BIOS Update that mentions Support for "AMD Phenom". That is the minimum and even then its possible that it doesn't work. It won't work. Its not the same Socket either. Athlon II are AM3 Socket CPU, wich is backwards compatible, but only a few highest end Boards dic come with BIOS Support for Phenom.

 

Here a Link to the Board.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01321559

[Stefan Payne]

3 hours ago, sky_shark_101 said:

It is compatible 

You have any proof of that claim?

A Link to a BIOS supporting the CPU??

[jhill005]

So it seems the AMD Athlon II X2 270 is a no go. I will have to go with one of the others suggested in the thread. It is now between the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ and Athlon 64 x2 6000+. There is a 5600+ 65W version, but the lowest version of the 6000+ is 89W.  Will that be okay since I've already upgraded my PSU? Or does have something to do with how much power my mobo can handle? Sorry for the noob question.

[sky_shark_101]

10 hours ago, Stefan Payne said:

You have any proof of that claim?

A Link to a BIOS supporting the CPU??

It was based on the information the OP provided. As AM2 can support AM2+ providing it did not exceed 65W. This has now said to be wrong information on the processor. Also I do not have experience with the bios of these boards and that was an oversight on my part I will do more diligence in future.

[Stefan Payne]

13 hours ago, jhill005 said:

So it seems the AMD Athlon II X2 270 is a no go. I will have to go with one of the others suggested in the thread. It is now between the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ and Athlon 64 x2 6000+. There is a 5600+ 65W version, but the lowest version of the 6000+ is 89W.  Will that be okay since I've already upgraded my PSU? Or does have something to do with how much power my mobo can handle? Sorry for the noob question.

Why not look for more modern Motherboards and throw the old one out?

A Standard ITX Board should fit. Maybe even a lowest end µATX Board??

Than you don't have the Problem of the old Board and the 5600+ is only a minor upgrade from the 5200+ - not really worth it. Neither would have the Athlon II.

[jhill005]

15 hours ago, Stefan Payne said:

Why not look for more modern Motherboards and throw the old one out?

A Standard ITX Board should fit. Maybe even a lowest end µATX Board??

Than you don't have the Problem of the old Board and the 5600+ is only a minor upgrade from the 5200+ - not really worth it. Neither would have the Athlon II.

It's looking like that would probably the best option if I want to upgrade the current system. However it is a pretty small case and I may just leave everything as is and start a completely new build. 

[trevb0t]

4 minutes ago, jhill005 said:

It's looking like that would probably the best option if I want to upgrade the current system. However it is a pretty small case and I may just leave everything as is and start a completely new build. 

Kill it! Kill it with fire and rebuild from the ashes!

A Ryzen based system that would outdo infinitely could cost less than 500 USD.

[Stefan Payne]

6 hours ago, jhill005 said:

It's looking like that would probably the best option if I want to upgrade the current system. However it is a pretty small case and I may just leave everything as is and start a completely new build. 

Yeah, the Problem with ITX is that you can (almost) get a Board with PSU for the amount of money that a decent ITX Board cost more over even an ATX Board. The difference is that most ITX Boards come with WLAN. But that's not worth 40€ for less Slots and connectors...

 

 

But the next big thing is close, though it might make sense to build something with a low cost CPU such as the Athlon 200GE to have something to update the BIOS of the older Board with and upgrade to Ryzen 3000.