CPU support & memory - Want to upgrade, but possible?

[bigbootyjj]

Hello to those whom may help. OK I was looking online and came across a guy that is offering me 23 PC's (HP Compaq DC5700) that I assume were used for business and are just being replaced. I'm interested but all would need to be upgraded. Obviously I can do a lot to make them better, but one particular issue is boosting their GHz. So, I wanted to ask how (or "if") I am able to replace the PROCESSORS in each of the computers? And if so, what is the max I can take them to? I'm not going to make these all for gamers or anything...but I would definetly want to make these a little faster. As of now they are all only 2.13Ghz and that's not gonna cut-it with the software that's out there now.

Also, any other suggestions on what I can/should do to bring these up to par? Obviously I will being adding and upgrading  memory cards to the PCs as well.

Thanks,

John

[mdklassen]

Your computer:  https://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/c00808962

>> As of now they are all only 2.13Ghz

Presumably: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Processor (2.13-GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 1066-MHz FSB)

Your processor can be "maxed" out:

• Intel Pentium 4 661 Processor (3.60-GHz, 2-MB L2 cache, 800-MHz FSB, hyperthreaded)
• Intel Pentium D 945 Processor (3.4-GHz, 2x2-MB L2 cache, 800-MHz FSB)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Processor (2.66-GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 1066-MHz FSB)

Note that all the supported processors are either "hyperthreaded" or "dual core", which will "double" the processing power.

For an "everyday" computer, I think that your current dual-core processor will be fine, e.g., web-surfing, E-mail, word processing.

> I will being adding and upgrading memory cards to the PCs as well.

The maximum RAM is 4GB:  DDR2 Synch Dram PC2-5300 (667-MHz) Non ECC (4 x 1GB)

Either 32-bit Windows (which will use 3.2 GB) or 64-bit Windows (which will use all 4.0 GB) will work.

Suggestion: measure, measure, measure, before spending anything on "upgrades".

P.S. Do they come with any "used" disk-drives?  5400 RPM, or 7200 RPM?

[bigbootyjj]

Hi mdklassen. The hard drive for all the PCs he's selling are al removed...probably for security purposes. So I'd just buy my own if I was to go about getting any of these.

One thing you pointed out which I thought was interesting was that through one website selling these computers  I asked via chat was the memory cards -  they told me that this system can handle 4 X 4GB (that's 16GB RAM he told me!). I was a little stunned when I heard that. You claim 4 X 1GB, correct? Quite a difference there.

Overall, I suppose one of those two 3+ GHz's  Intel Pentium Processors would work, but with only 4GB max memory I really don't think it'd be worth the time, money and hassle getting all this. Something to think about.

John

[mdklassen]

Presumably, those PCs were OK, performance-wise, for several years.

If you are looking for "appliances" -- basic computers that run Windows, process E-mail, and web-surf -- these computers will do the job.

Important question: do these PCs each come with the original Microsoft decals, with a legible 25-character product-key? If yes, then you can legally reinstall that version of Windows.  Otherwise, install UBUNTU, for free.

Can you find a bunch of "pre-owned" disk-drives (100 GB to 500 GB) at a low price?

It would be expensive to purchase 23 brand-new disk-drives, unless you can "recapture" that investment as you sell each "refurbished" PC to a buyer.

I would not upgrade the CPU, unless the buyer of a unit agrees to pay the extra cost.

If the computers have 2GB to 4GB of RAM, install the 32-bit version of Windows.

Windows will use 3.2 GB.

Since more than 4GB is not supported by the hardware, do not install the 64-bit version of Windows.

[bigbootyjj]

Hi mdklassen. I'll never know about the product keys and it won't matter cause after giving it some thought I'm probably going to skip this particular buy all together for a few reasons. Mostly because I don't like resorting to 32-bit versions and just 4 GB of RAM...it's just not enough these days for them to really sell I think. I'd end up getting stuck with a mess I think 

What I would have done was install a solid state drive (SSD) just for the Operating System and then a purchase the best priced SATA drive I can find at the size which was asked by the specific buyer(s)...wherever I can find it (used, new, my closet, etc). And the asking price would coincide with what he/she wanted. This was all just an idea.

One thing I'd like to thank you for is the topic of UBUNTU. I never really looked into what exactly that word was lol. But now I know via your reply. Thanks for telling me about it You can probably guess how I've always "aquired" my Windows version which I would install for computers of the past. Now in the near future I will not have to go about that process...and I look forward to doing the proper way. It's something new to try and learn too :manvery-happy:

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

> Mostly because I don't like resorting to 32-bit versions and just 4 GB of RAM.

> It's just not enough these days for them to really sell I think.

Your thought is correct -- buyers are "brain-washed snobs".

They think that they need Intel i7 with 4 cores and 8 threads, and 16 GB of RAM, and 4 TB of disk-storage.

However, what they really need is an "appliance", like a toaster.

They don't need to toast 8 slices at once, with built-in timer set to start toasting at 7:05 AM.

So, I think that a computer with 32-bit Windows 7, dual-core 2.13 Ghz processor, 3 or 4 GB of RAM, and 250 GB of disk-space, is a perfect "appliance" for E-mail and web-surfing.

Amortize its cost ($125 ?) over the 2.5 years before Windows 7 hits its "sunset", and you have a high values, at a low cost/month.

With 4 GB of RAM, Windows (32-bit) will use 1.0 GB for itself, leaving 2.2 GB for applications.

The motherboard may "borrow" the top-most 0.5 GB of the 4.0 GB of RAM to be used as "video-memory".

[mdklassen]

> ... after giving it some thought I'm probably going to skip this particular buy all together.

I understand.  Maybe, take a different approach: find a non-profit group that is looking for "appliance" computers, because they don't have any.  Some of them may be able to issue a tax-receipt for your "gift-in-kind".

Also, Microsoft has a "Charitable Donation" program -- non-profits can obtain licenses for Windows and for Office for about $50 USA per item -- a great discount on the retail pricing of those products.  So, you could install Windows 10 and Office 2016, once they have purchased those licenses.