What are my processor upgrade options? MB: ECS Elitegroup K7SEM

[cravincreeks]

Hello all,

I'm rather unexperienced when it comes to hardware and I'm thinking about upgrading to a faster processor (if possible). My main problem in doing so is that I don't know what types/grades of processors my motherboard is capable of handling.

My motherboard is an ECS Elitegroup K7SEM version 3.0A. (see

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?DetailID=193&MenuID=0&LanID=0)

I used the CPU-Z software (see

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php)

to gather the following data about my system:

Number of CPUs 1
Name AMD Athlon
Code name Thunderbird
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) processor
Family/Model/Stepping 644
Extended Family/Model 7/4
Package Socket A
Core Stepping A9
Technology 0.18µ
Instructions Sets MMX, Extended MMX, 3DNow!, Extended 3DNow!
Clock Speed 1327.5 MHz
Clock multiplier x10.0
Front Side Bus Frequency 132.7 MHz
Bus Speed 265.5 MHz
L1 Data Cache 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L1 Instruction Cache 64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Cache 256 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64 Bytes line size
L2 Speed 1327.5 MHz (Full)
L2 Location On Chip
L2 Data Prefetch Logic no
L2 Bus Width 64 bits


Ideally, I'd like to upgrade to a 2.2 Ghz processor or above. Is doing so possible with this motherboard? What spec's must my the processor have to be compatible with my system? Please be as specific as possible - I know very little about the details of processor specs.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

AZ

 

[felixc]

The quickest you can get is AthlonXPs with a front side bus clocked at 133MHz (coined as FSB 266MHz). I think that the quickest were at 2600+ models. You problem may be to find one such CPU, as those available presently are made for a 333 or 400 FSB mobo.

 

[paparazi]

cravincreeks
Google ECS
Motherboard
CPU support

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Support/CPU_Support.aspx?DetailID=193&MenuID=48&LanID=8

Looks like the fastest CPU supported is a rare Thoroughbred XP2.6+ (266 front side bus)
Alternately a more common XP2.4+ Thoughbred (266fsb) might be easier to locate.

Note* you may need to bios flash for the motherboard to recognise the faster CPU.
Again see bios revisions against supported CPU's, your might be new enough to recognise an XP2.4+ without flashing.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[paparazi]

cravincreeks
Google ECS
Motherboard
CPU support

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Support/CPU_Support.aspx?DetailID=193&MenuID=48&LanID=8

Looks like the fastest CPU supported is a rare Thoroughbred XP2.6+ (266 front side bus)
Alternately a more common XP2.4+ Thoughbred (266fsb) might be easier to locate.

Note* you may need to bios flash for the motherboard to recognise the faster CPU.
Again see bios revisions against supported CPU's, yours might be new enough to recognise an XP2.4+ without flashing.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.