CQ5210F with M2N68-LA (Narra5) CPU Upgrade

[4tun81]

Hello,

CPU Upgrade Information for Compaq Presario CQ5210F Desktop PC using a M2N68-LA (Narra5) mb shows:
NOTE; Only socket AM2+ processors are supported with this motherboard.

• AMD Phenom II Quad-Core
• AMD Phenom II Triple-Core
• AMD Phenom Quad-Core (A) 9xxx series (AM2+)
• AMD Phenom Triple-Core (T) 8xxx series (AM2+)
• AMD Athlon X4
• AMD Athlon X3
• AMD Athlon X2 (B) (AM2+)

This is very confusing. It says that only AM2+ processors are supported, yet the cpu that shipped in the system is an Athlon II X2 (Socket AM3).

No other Athlon II X2s are listed as a viable upgrade option. (What it shipped with)
No Athlon II X4s are listed as an upgrade option

Is this perhaps what the list means?

It will take any of the following provided it's 95Watt or less(AM2+ or AM3);

• AMD Phenom II Quad-Core
• AMD Phenom II Triple-Core
• AMD Athlon X4 (Perhaps this should be listed as Athlon II X4)?
• AMD Athlon X3 (Perhaps this should be listed as Athlon II X3)?

And it will take any of the following in 95watt or less and AM2+ package only;

• AMD Phenom Quad-Core (A) 9xxx series (AM2+)
• AMD Phenom Triple-Core (T) 8xxx series (AM2+)
• AMD Athlon X2 (B) (AM2+)

I understand we need to swap out the 250watt power supply, especially when we upgrade the video.

I would really appreciate some help from the experts. Don't want to have my brother buy something that's not going to work for him. I have been building pc's since 1988, but I'm really confused as to what to buy. Maybe a complete list of cpus, or some simple rules, core type, wattage, etc.... My son's is threatening not to visit him anymore until he upgrades his pc! lol

Many Thanks!

[Cloud_Strider]

To ensure that the processor purchased will be compatible, I would stay with the series listed in the processor upgrade information section. 

While it is possible that processors not on the list (the list is what has been tested to work), I cannot guarantee that the motherboard or the BIOS will support any other processor. 

I didn't really find others that had attempted to upgrade to a processor not listed in the upgrade section.  The Phenom II Quad-Core is what I use in a system at home and it has worked fine for my needs.  Before upgrading the processor,  be sure to upgrade the BIOS if one is available.  You probably were aware of that, but wanted to mention it in the event that someone may be viewing and not know that. 

[CrowdedCranium]

Wahoo, the Phenom II BE works fine.  But, Bios says it is an unidentified AMD processor. 

It has it right at 3.00Mhz.

How about it HP, throw us a bone.  How about a decent update to that lamo phenix bios.

Let's see, George Bush was still president.  Ahaaaa!  It is George Bush fault this Bios has no update to reflect the now dead end available line of Phenom II family of CPU.

I mean really, I grant you I did buy one of your CQ5210f, but that does not mean I am a complete moron.  Sort of.  How about an update with the poop on memory timing, voltages, those little things most people that can find the BIOS expect.  And certainly a list of CPU from the now dead end phenom line.  They will not be adding to the list.  You will not need to update that again. procrastination paid off.

However, I am sure the plan was just dump this crap on the market and suggest they buy a new one next year.

[4tun81]

    Thanks for the replies guys, what I ended up doing was dropping in a 650 watt power supply and a GTS 250.  That really livened things up.  The processor at that point didn't really seem to be holding back things in regards to frame rate in games, so I never bought another CPU.  Windows experience was originally showing the weak link in the system as the video at 3.2.  After the upgrade the video score jumped to 6.0 with an overall score of 5.9 (weak link disk drive). 3dmark 2k1 hit about 25000, so all in all, not too shabby for what it was.  My brother called me the other day and said the sound had gone out and the system is not too stable anymore.  Motherboard, power supply, and fans are clean and everything is spinng well.  My guess is the motherboard is finally going out, maybe a bad cap.  Probably time for a new motherboard.  Just hate to loose the windows 7 license.  I think the motherboard has to be an exact match to keep the license, although I'm not entirely sure.  If we can't keep the license, I'll probably just build him a new machine.

Thanks!

[4tun81]

CrowdedCranium,

    If he does decide to try and get a match for the motherboard that, Phenom II BE will probably be on thhe shopping list as well.  Thanks for the info!

[CrowdedCranium]

Your not entirely screwed, should a cap pop? You can replace it.  Or, you can buy an M2N68-LA for a hundred bucks on Ebay.  Or, a 970 series in the $50.00 range new.  As to loosing license. No, Microsoft was struck with a plank and a resounding "down boy".  But, there are some steps you MUST take before swapping out a mainboard.  Especially when dumping an antique nvidia chipset for the AMD 970 or 990 series.

Try a few search terms in BING like "change motherboard", "update motherboard", "upgrade motherboard".  I found several articles on the subject.

This one mentions a number of things to do along with using SYSPREP, which is one of those microsoft tools nobody ever mentioned before and sort of hid under the napkin.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/making-sure-windows-7-will-boot-after-changing-the-motherboard/

Good luck, I have been looking at Gigabyte and weighing 970s in the $50 range against 990s in the $150.00 range.  along with whatever DDR3 memory you pick up to populate the replacement mainboard card.

[Fongolitus]

lol! I replaced 9 capacitors on one of those boards, it's been stable for over a year!