Upgrade CPU

[elandur]

I have an HP Pavilion, 690-0024.  Installed CPU is 2400G.  This is not on the list of approved Windows 11 CPUs.  According to documentation, this system should accept Ryzen CPUs with a 65 watt TDP.  Can I install a Ryzen 3600 with appropriate BIOS update?  Ryzen 3600 is a 65 watt TDP processor.  Current BIOS is reported as F.22.  There are two bios updates listed for my computer in the HP online documentation:  F.36 RevA (8 Sep 23) and F.60 RevA (25 Aug 23).  I don't know what benefits either provide or if they will enable me to use a Ryzen 3600 in this machine.  Information I have from 4 years ago says I can upgrade to a Ryzen 2600 or 2700.  Can I use a 3600 with bios upgrade?  The TDP for the processor is the same and the socket is the same.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Below is the link to the product specs for your PC:

HP Pavilion 690-0024 Gaming Desktop PC Product Specifications | HP® Support

Motherboard specs link:

HP Desktop PCs - motherboard specifications, Sunflower | HP® Support

The best processor you can upgrade to would be the AMD Ryzen7-2700 which is on Microsoft's list of supported W11 processors:

Windows processor requirements Windows 11 supported AMD processors | Microsoft Learn

This is the applicable BIOS update for your PC's motherboard SSID:

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop 690-0024 Software and Driver Details

I cannot find any discussions where anyone has installed anything better than the Ryzen 7 2700 in your PC, so anything beyond that is most likely not going to work.

If you are interested in installing W11 on your PC as is, you can read this discussion for how I upgraded several HP and Dell notebook and desktop PC's that did not meet the W11 hardware requirements to W11 22H2/22H3.

You have to use the version of the Rufus utility that I zipped up and attached in the discussion (v3.18).

Re: Issues upgrading to windows 11 - HP Support Community - 8517912

If the in-place upgrade fails, you should be able to clean install W11 using the bootable W11 installation flash drive you made with Rufus.

[elandur]

Thanks!  It is what it is I guess.  To update the BIOS, do I just execute the download and hope it goes ok?  Is it possible for it to brick my computer?  I noticed that there are a lot of revisions to the BIOS listed.  However, they don't say exactly what it is that is changed.  Interesting that I can't simply substitute another 65Watt TDS processor, since it is the same socket and all.  Does HP hardwire a list of acceptable processors into their BIOS?  Guess I will have to go with the 2600 or 2700 then.  Better than the 2400G in any event; I will get 2 GB of RAM back, although that was more important before I upgraded the RAM from 16 to 32 GB.  🙂

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Yes, you simply download and run the exe file, cross your fingers, and hope it works.

Some things you can do to improve the chances of not having a failed BIOS update:

Unplug anything connected to the PC other than the keyboard, mouse and monitor.

It is recommended to temporarily turn off Windows defender.

Watch this video for additional information:

Update Your HP Computer BIOS from Windows | HP Computers | HP Support (youtube.com)

And yes, updating the BIOS runs a risk of turning the PC into an expensive doorstop, which is why it is probably better to go with a sure thing and not update the BIOS, or save your money and use my workaround to upgrade to W11.

Other than the processor fitting in the socket, that specification is the least important aspect of what processors the PC will support.

Other factors are:

If the BIOS has the microcode to support the processor.

If the chipset supports the processor

And as you mentioned, if the motherboard supports the wattage of the processor.

We know that last aspect is a yes.

I was disappointed to see that none of the BIOS updates on the support page for your PC had any information on what they did.

Now if you want to see the release notes for the current and previous BIOS updates copy the download links to notepad, change the .exe to .html and you will be able to see the release notes.

I converted the latest 2 BIOS update exe file links to info links, and here is the link to the release notes:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp149001-149500/sp149071.html 

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp146501-147000/sp146846.html 

[elandur]

Thanks again!  I had forgotten about the chipset.  IIRC, there was a chipset upgrade from the second to third generation Ryzen.  Likely my computer will not support that.  Thanks for the links!  Unfortunately all they really said was "security update" which can mean most anything.  Could be that it is something really important and I should do it.  Hard to tell really.  I have until next year to worry about Win 11, so no hurry right now.  I might just see if I can pick up a 2600 or 2700 at a good price and update.  I have been considering doing that for awhile anyway.  The cooler I have now should (hopefully) work.  Not much room in the case for anything much bigger.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime. 

Glad to have been of assistance. 

If your PC is running fine, I wouldn't take the risk updating the BIOS. 

The CPU cooler your PC has will support the Ryzen 7 2700.

No need to look for a better one.