Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
10 Posts
0
10815
December 1st, 2009 00:00
E521 processor upgrade... PSU upgrade... ???
My setup: E521 AMD Athlon X2 3800+ (2.0 GHz)... 3gb ram... Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3... most current BIOS upgrade... Win7 Professional
I know i've seen NUMEROUS threads about upgrading this particular system (E521) which i've read through, and I now have a general idea of what route I want/can go. I just have a few additional questions.
- My video card does not use a separate power connection so the standard PSU works fine right now. If I upgrade to the Athlon X2 6000 (3.0) 89Watts, do I need to upgrade the PSU even though my vid card uses low power?
- I can't seem to find a X2 6000 89W anywhere in stock (there IS a used one on ebay but that's it...). Newegg and Tigerdirect have the 125W versions only. IF this is my only choice (the 125W), what wattage should i upgrade my PSU to?
- Now, since I would possibly be upgrading the PSU, would it be more cost effective for me to go with a faster processor? 6400? recommendations?
thanks...
jsktx
729 Posts
0
December 1st, 2009 08:00
It's pretty well documented on this site that the 125W processors are not recommended in the E521. They produce to much heat for the heatsink/fan assembly that comes with the E521. Without making modifications to the mounting brackets you can't install an aftermarket heatsink/fan to support the 125W 6000+ or 6400+ (This has actually been done by another member HERE). Unfortunately the 89W 6000+ Windsor is no longer made. So I'm afraid your only option is eBay.
dfarrales
10 Posts
0
December 1st, 2009 19:00
After checking the archives I just wasn't sure if the 125W was gonna work... thanks for clarifying.
The 89W versions are going for $120+ on eBay. Now I'm thinking of settling for something a little less... like the 5600 Brisbane 2.9GHz (65W) - these should work fine on the E521, right?
Newegg has two listed and I don't know what the difference is other than the price and the "+" symbol at the end of the less expensive 5600...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103279
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103234
Can someone help enlighten me as to what the difference is? I also noticed one descrip says OEM and the other says RETAIL.
Thanks again.
jsktx
729 Posts
0
December 2nd, 2009 08:00
Both of the 5600+ processors from newegg are the same. One is boxed with a fan and the other is not. As for them working with a E521, well it's hit and miss. Some people get them to work others do not. It appears to be tied to what BIOS you have. Those with an older version of the BIOS seem to get them to work, while those with newer BIOS don't. Sorry I can't give you a better answer, but most Brisbanses came out long after the E521 was produced.
kcaravelli
7 Posts
0
December 22nd, 2009 04:00
It sounds like a new build might be in order. I too have a E521 and I am finding it more xpensive to upgrade than just buying a new system.