AMD Phenom X4 9100e upgrade

[jakethegriff]

Hello,

I have an old DX4200-09 that I'm using as an HTPC and Web Browser. I'm trying to just get a slightly faster CPU without swapping the motherboard - as the CPU usage is around 98-99% when doing a secondary task like ripping a DVD or compressing a video format.

I've recently Added 2x 4gb RAM just because it was cheap, and also added a 4tb WD blue Internal HDD for movie storage. So I think now is a good time to swap out the CPU for something a little beefier.

PC Specs - https://www.cnet.com/products/gateway-dx4200-09/specs/

Mobo - http://www.ascendtech.us/gateway-dx4200-09-motherboard-4006272r_i_mb64gatdx420009.aspx

Mobo Info: "Socket AM2 - Data Bus Speed 3600 MHz - Chipset Type AMD 780G - Supports AMD® Socket AM2+ (940 pin), AMD Phenom™ (95 W), Athlon™ 64 X2, Athlon 64, and Sempron™ processors Four DIMM slots support up to 8 GB of DDR2 800 / 667 MHz memory "


I understand its old, I understand it's outdated, I understand I'd be better off "saving and building new" but that's not what I want to do - I like getting my monies worth and trying new things - I'm a novice in computer builds so there's no saying I'm not going to build a new one in the near future. This is just what I currently have to work with, and I'm having fun swapping parts, and trying new hardware to improve the life of it. I do absolutely 0 gaming on it, I use it only for Plex, itunes media management, and occasional web browsing.

I'm just looking for insight regarding a CPU upgrade with my exisitng MOBO to speed it up slightly. Through major deduction, and vigerous internet searches. I have found that I can potentially Replace the existing X4 9100e with a AMD Phenom II X4 945 - As it is also 95w and compatible - however -the most recent thread is over 5 years old...

I've read the PII 920 & 940 were AM2+ - whereas the 945,955 and 965 are AM3 - While they are a different socket they are still backwards compatible with Am2+ motherboards I just wouldn't get ddr3 support on a Am2+ mobo but they work fine with ddr2.

Does this information still hold water? - Any suggestions here?

 

[junkeymonkey]

I guess as long as its a cpu gateway has listed on its upgrade list ? you run a risk of there propritory bios not supporting any cpu you decide to use in it

looks like gateway don't even list or support ithem DX series anymore

go to here

http://www.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/dx-series/dx-series

select models and get nothing ??

http://www.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/models/dx-series


none of this seems to work like I tried that Gateway Hardware Reference Guide on your model

http://www.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/drivers-downloads


thing is these computers from dell acer hp are just use and abuse for what there worth and throw in trash when played out then run to Wal-Mart and buy there latest better one , repeat

 

[junkeymonkey]

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/upgrade-options-for-this-gateway-dx4200-09.2210143/

that cpu he used seemd to work but you see it as Bios & Windows say unknown CPU

the bios did not have the correct microcodes for that cpu ??? that just the risk you take


he did not post back but maybe all was good ??

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/292338-28-dx4200-processor-upgrade

 

[jakethegriff]

Thanks for that reply. I had landed on that thread recently as well. in regards to the non-recognition of the CPU that may become an issue in my situation- however I would have to get a little more understanding/know-how of that, as I'm not truly sure what that would mean or how to fix.

Subsequently - I also found this thread
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3320961/Re:_Gateway_Dx4200-09_Upgrade

Which answered a few questions I had in regards to some upgrades - but no mention of the BIOS /Windows recognition.

FWIW - I'm also looking into a compatable PSU upgrade too, just to keep this thing on life support, and potential to power a bigger/upgraded/newer CPU - Edit - Disregard that - I'm looking at the 95w CPU as that is the most my Mobo will support.

 

[jakethegriff]

Forgive me for subsequent post, but I seem to have found a solution, regarding the information I'm asking about.

"A Phenom 9750 2.5 is as high as you can go according to the gateway site unless they have a bios update for your board ,AMD makes a 95 watt phenom II x4 945 it's a 3.0ghz thats what i'm using and I went from a x2 6000+ to this with a bios upgrade, check thier support site"

So - since there is no BIOS upgrade available for my dinosaur - I Believe the Phenom 9750 2.5 (95w) is the piece I'm looking for, to accomplish the result I'm seeking.

Theoretically speaking- If I am to install this AMD Phenom 9750, and say it does not work - is it a fair assumption I can re-install my original CPU with no issue?

 

[spdragoo]

Well, if it's strictly the 95W Phenom/Socket AM2+ chips, then probably the best you'll be able to do is the Phenom X4 9650 (2.3GHz). Won't be a super great upgrade, but it might help a bit with the CPU usage. You could even try maybe a Phenom X3 8850 (only 3 cores, but clocked at 2.5GHz).

That being said...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/292338-28-dx4200-processor-upgrade: Supposedly some of the AM2+ boards would support AM3 CPUs with a BIOS upgrade. Don't know if there's a BIOS upgrade available, though.

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/upgrade-options-for-this-gateway-dx4200-09.2210143/: Seems to indicate that, whether or not you update the BIOS, they expect any of the 95W CPUs to work. If that's the case, you could maybe try the Phenom II X4 925 (4 cores, 2.8GHz per core, triple the L3 cache of your Phenom), or even play it more safe with an Athlon II X4 650 (4 cores, 3.2GHz clock, but L3 cache is disabled).

The thing to remember is that these chips are old -- yours (& the best AM2+ upgrade) came out almost 9 years ago, with the AM3 chips coming out about 7-8 years ago. That's going to make them hard to find. PCPartpicker only shows 2 chips with a price listed (http://pcpartpicker.com/products/cpu/#k=3); of those, the 1100T won't work (125W chip), but the 960T might be an option (95W, it's basically a 1075T with 2 of the 6 cores disabled), but even that will run you ~$124USD.

 

[junkeymonkey]

by the time you do all this you may as well just built a good rig with new today stuff

maybe a nice m-atx haswell ..

I had a few old parts around like that and picked up this board on the cheap

http://www.asrock.com/mb/NVIDIA/N68C-GS%20FX/index.us.asp?cat=CPU

nothing fancy but supports a lot of cpu's and has ddr3 and ddr2 memory slots so one or the other can be used depending on the chip used

only disadvantage is you would need a clean copy of windows as well [ I loaded Linux on that anyway ] works great for what it is

I guess if you can get the cpu's you want to try real cheap off e-bay and you see guys claim they got them working in there DX4200 ? give it a try , it will work as expected or it will not . if not shrug shoulders and move on to something else / better ??

in the end your pretty much doing all this with non support from gateway at your own cost and risk anyway

now cant say on a PSU sometimes they can use a proprietary plugs on them prebuilds and a standard ATX psu may not work or plug in to the board correctly

example
http://www.techspot.com/community/topics/warning-dell-pc-owners-read-this-before-replacing-your-powersupply.55531/

so you will need to do some home work on that as well

 

[jakethegriff]

Thanks - It seems as though Ebay has plenty of inventory at variable sub $50 prices for both the 9650/9750 95w quad cores - and within that price it's worth a shot in my opinion.

I don't want to try a Phenom II as I read multiple accounts stating the MOBO I have won't accept a Phenom II.

Regardless - my MOBO is not supported any longer - so it's a moot point. I also realize i'm sounding like quite the apprehensive user here and reluctant to move on to newer hardware - I'm just trying to prolong the life of this for as long as I can - as it serves it's purpose as an HTPC and streaming tower. I do know I'm trying to hot rod an outdated machine, but it gives me something to do, with little to no extra money spent for now. In the end - it still works as is with the current CPU - i just have to watch the multitasking. Thanks again for the replies. i'll report back, should I choose to purchase one on ebay, and roll the dice.


Regarding the PSU - A thread I posted a few replies up, shows a successful 950w psu upgrade, so another dice roll - later on down the road

 

[junkeymonkey]

just don't know I don't think anything you do will be worth the gain if any real noticeable overall . like that deal I did above all I had invested is 40 bucks in a ''new'' motherboard and with real support on it

with it I can use any of my older am2 cpus and right up to my am3+ 6100 [that cpu was listed as good on the cpu list when I bought it ] now why its not on there now ? a few guys with that board noticed that as well ,
the old cpu list as it was when I bought it
http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASRock/N68C-GS_FX.html

and with the cpu's I can swap out I can also swap out between ddr3 and ddr 2 memory pre cpu I use in it . so with that I get a lot of coverage with it right out of my junk box of parts


I guess in the end all you can do is what you feel is best for you , your not doing this for me or anyone else

 

[jakethegriff]

Interesting enough... I might dabble into it. I have a W7 disk, that I could use. I'm going to delve into some youtube tutorials, and more forums posts on replacing something, such as the MOBO, and swapping parts, and see if it's something I'll want to attempt to do, within my case i have.

Thanks

 

[junkeymonkey]

I have a W7 disk, that I could use

as long as its a retail and not a oem you can reuse it oem's are tied to the motherboard it was first installed on and not easy transferable , may as well say non transferable

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157679

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=2MN-0004-00002&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&ignorebbr=1&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo


ddr3''L''

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231735&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&ignorebbr=1&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

ddr4

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232241

may as well go for the ddr4 and keep newest tech and I thing overall better with use of skylake anyway


that's just for fun on the latest for cheap


as for your reuse of your case it should be a M-atx from factor

I have used m-atx boards in HP cases

 

[jakethegriff]

Yep - it's absolutely not an OEM disc. It's an acquired disk.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813157648

This I assume would be the HDMI version? VGA would be out of the question for my application, as I have it hooked through my Receiver via HDMi.

 

[junkeymonkey]

true good point on vga use today

its now you support there needs not them supporting yours as it use to be

instead look at 9 series haswell they got good DVi-I on them and vga compatible with a cheap adaptor


well ???? it does show a d-sub on that board you posted ?? that's interesting cause this stuff I thought did not carry analog signal natively ..hmmmmmmm.....

maybe they started to get enough complaints over this lot of guy buying these new vid-cards to find out there old vga monitors are not going to work with out a active adaptor converter

nice catch though

 

[junkeymonkey]

sorry power went out due to storm

another thing is if you look d-sub/vga for display is blue colored that is black ?? has the same 15 pin count ? don't know hard to trus this new stuff on old tech as that

another thing to look for HTPC use is the amd fm platform there poplar for that use and they still have support for OS's back down to windows xp

where them skylakes is pretty much you got to use win-10 and haswell pretty much 7 and above

for a example

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/FM2A88X%20Extreme4+/?cat=Download

and you would get a stronger CPU for a bit less $$ then intel [stronger then what your using now not stronger then intel ]