Question about dual core upgrade

no i wouldn't think you would have to. whether or not you would have to update your bios so your CPU is properly recognised i cannot answer but xp will not need reinstalled AFAIK. then again i have never tried it.

The question is, can you still find an X2?

for my 939, I did have to update the bios, but it's not hard usually. You need to goto the manufactuers website to support or downloads and bios for your particular motherboard and read the bios notes for the versions available to see which versions support X2, and compare that to your current version, because it might be already good. You won't need to mess with XP. But when I did the upgrade a year back, I did also download a cpu driver (good for power savings) for it from the AMD website. btw, I went from a 3000 to a X2 4200, and in spite of massive multitasking, I never maxed out the 4200.

StevefromLA, do you overclock?

The answer to your question, as has been said, is no. I'd like to add, that your San Diego core 3700 is probably the best single core processor AMD has ever produced, and is the same core as the FX-57 @ 2.8Ghz. Since your question refers to an X2...it never ceases to amaze me that once again, no one has mentioned AMD's well kept secret CPU...the Opteron!

X2 Manchester Core 4200, 4600 & 5000 = 512Kb L2 Cache - fair choice.

X2 Toledo Core 4000, 4400, 4800 & FX-60 = 1Mb L2 Cache - good choice.

Opteron Denmark Core 165 thru 185 = 1Mb L2 Cache - best choice.

Although the dual core 165's thru 185's are marketed as Denmark cores, CPU-Z will identify them as Toledo cores, which is the same core as the X2 4000, 4400, 4800 and FX-60. Essentially, the 939 X2 4400 @ 2.2Ghz is the desktop counterpart of the Opteron 175 @ 2.2Ghz. The Opteron 1xx series have 1Mb L2 cache per core, and they use standard DDR unregistered, non-parity memory, so the only difference other than price, is that the Opteron is a server / workstation class processor.

Opterons are more stringently fabricated, tested, selected and binned for stability, and are yielded from "cleaner" silicon semiconductor material. They operate at lower voltages and temperatures per clock, as compared with their X2 desktop conterparts, which make the Opterons the best overclockers. The 170 is statistically the highest overclocker, often achieving 50% on high end air cooling.

The overclocking limit for clean 90 nanometer dual core AMD's is about 3.05Ghz. Of course, they're all unique, and there are always exceptions. My previous rig was an Opteron 170 @ 3.0Ghz. It's an excellent CPU, and an inexpensive equivalent to the 2.8Ghz FX-62 Flagship chip. Opteron 170's are currently selling for $188.99, the X2 4400's are $199.99, and the Opteron 175's are $228.00.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103586

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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103584

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Just another vote for the Opteron upgrade. I have a 180 sitting on my desk waiting to replace my AMD 4000+. I was looking for a 4800 X2 a couple of months ago but couldn't find any and found the opteron to be priced as well. (for a better chip). Careful on the AMD X2 you are finding most are for AM2 socket not 939. Good luck.

to gain your trust i was going to give you a puppy but you already have one.

are you saying the OP would be wise to do a reinstall, why.