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Processor Upgrading FAQ

General Information

1. What is this FAQ about?
2. Should I trust the information on this page?
3. What other legal stuff needs to be mentioned?
4. What is the *BEST* first step in upgrading a processor?
5. How can I contact the original computer or motherboard manufacturer?
6. What other sources of information are there for upgrading my particular brand of computer?
7. Where can I find more information on processors?
8. What about dead links?

1. What do all those processor names that I find in my manual mean?
2. What is the difference between the Intel 486DX and 486SX?
3. What is the difference between the Intel ODP and ODPR processors?
4. Will a Pentium processor work in my 486 motherboard?
5. What are the differences between a Socket 5 and Socket 7 motherboard?
6. Will my computer require a BIOS upgrade to make it compatible with the new processor?
7. Do I need to upgrade my BIOS to make it compatible with MMX, 3DNow!, or SSE?
8. Are BIOS Upgrades Safe?
9. What are the general procedures for installing a processor?
10. Is a processor upgrade my best choice?
11. Would a motherboard and processor upgrade be a better choice?
12. Why does my AMD or Cyrix/IBM processor not run at its advertised speed?
13. Is there any difference between the Cyrix and IBM versions of the same chip?
14. I've heard of 'remarked' chips. How can I tell if mine is legitimate?
15. What kind of heatsink should I get for my processor?
16. What's Overclocking?
17. Does my processor have bugs?
18. Do I need to reinstall my operating system after upgrading the processor?
19. What does Windows 95 identify my processor as?
20. Is it possible to mix steppings in a dual processor environment?
21. What's the difference between an Intel boxed processor and an OEM version?
22. Can I run my K6-233 processor at standard voltage?
23. How do I get a sticker for my PC?
24. How can I future-proof my current PC so it will handle upcoming CPUs?

Processor Upgrades

1. What does it take to upgrade my 486 to an AMD 5x86-133 processor (X5)?
2. What does it take to upgrade my 486 to a Cyrix 5x86 processor (M1sc)?
3. What does it take to upgrade my 486 to a Pentium OverDrive processor (P24T)?
4. Upgrading with the AMD K5 (SSA5/5k86).
5. Upgrading with the AMD K6, K6-2 (Chompers), and K6-III (Sharptooth).
6. Upgrading with the AMD Athlon and Sempron (K7/K75/Thunderbird/Palomino/Thoroughbred/Barton/Thorton) and Duron (Spitfire/Morgan/Applebred).
7. Upgrading with the AMD Athlon 64 (Clawhammer/Sledgehammer/Newcastle/Winchester/Venice/Orleans/Lima), Athlon 64 FX (Sledgehammer/San Diego/Toledo), Athlon 64 X2 (Manchester/Toledo/Windsor/Brisbane), and Sempron (Paris/Palermo/Manila/Sparta).
8. Upgrading with the AMD Phenom X3/X4 (Agena).
9. Upgrading with the Cyrix/IBM 6x86 (M1) and 6x86L (M1L).
10. Upgrading with the Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX (M2).
11. Upgrading with the IDT Winchip (C6) and Winchip-2 (C6Plus).
12. Upgrading with the Intel Pentium Classic (P54C).
13. Upgrading with the Intel Pentium with MMX (P55C).
14. Upgrading with the Intel Pentium OverDrive (P5T/P54CT/P54CTB/P6T).
15. Upgrading with the Intel Pentium Pro (P6).
16. Upgrading with the Intel Pentium II (Klamath/Deschutes) and Pentium III (Katmai/Coppermine/Coppermine-T/Tualatin).
17. Upgrading with the Intel Celeron (Covington/Mendocino/Coppermine-128/Tualatin/Willamette/Northwood/Prescott/Cedar Mill/Millville/Conroe).
18. Upgrading with the Intel Pentium 4 (Willamette/Northwood/Prescott/Cedar Mill), Pentium D (Smithfield/Presler), and Pentium Extreme (Gallatin/Prescott 2M/Smithfield/Presler).
19. Upgrading with the Intel Core 2 Duo (Conroe/Wolfdale), Pentium (Conroe), and Core 2 Extreme (Conroe/Kentsfield/Yorkfield/Harpertown).
20. Upgrading with the Rise mP6.
21. Upgrading with the VIA Cyrix-III (Samuel) and C3 (Samuel 2/Ezra).
22. Aren't there adapters that can fit newer processors into older motherboards?

Socket Upgrades

1. I have a 486-based motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
2. I have a 273-pin Socket 4 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
3. I have a 320-pin Socket 5 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
4. What the heck is a Socket 6 Motherboard?
5. I have a 321-pin Socket 7 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
6. I have a 387-pin Socket 8 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
7. I have a 242-lead Slot 1 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
8. I have a 370-pin Socket 370 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
9. What about Slot 2?
10. I have a 242-lead Slot A motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
11. I have a 462-pin Socket A motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
12. I have a 423-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
13. I have a 478-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
14. I have a 754-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
15. I have a 940-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
16. I have a 939-pin motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
17. I have a 775-ball Socket T motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
18. I have a Socket AM2 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
19. I have a Socket AM2+ motherboard. What can I upgrade to?
20. I have a 775-ball Socket 775 motherboard. What can I upgrade to?

Processor Identification

1. Identifying the AMD K5
2. Identifying the AMD K6
3. Cyrix 6x86/6x86L Notes
4. Identifying the IBM 6x86 Ceramic Pin Grid Array
5. Identifying the IBM 6x86L Ceramic Pin Grid Array
6. Identifying the IBM 6x86MX Ceramic Pin Grid Array
7. Identifying the Intel Pentium Classic Ceramic Pin Grid Array
8. Identifying the Intel Pentium Classic Plastic Pin Grid Array
9. Identifying the Intel Pentium w/ MMX Technology Ceramic Pin Grid Array
10. Identifying the Intel Pentium w/ MMX Technology Plastic Pin Grid Array
11. Identifying The Intel Pentium Pro
12. Identifying The Intel Pentium II

Remarked Processors

Mixed Dual Steppings

Fixes and Updates to this FAQ