Upgrading a stock HP computer.

[XxDaRkReAp3rxXdOtCoM]

My dad has an HP computer that is in need of some hardware upgrades. The model # is m7060n. I was thinking a new processor (Q6600) and some new ram (not sure what kind). Does anyone know if the board would support a Q6600 or is BIOS flashing needed (if it's even possible to do it on an HP which I doubt). CPU-Z tells me the current processor is a P4 620 (LGA 775, so the socket is correct). I talked with HP tech support and they weren't helpful. They just said the 550 and 650 were the only 2 processors usable and the memory standard was DDR2 400 (PC2 3200). Do you think I could maybe use DDR2 800 or 667 or 533?
Thanks everyone,
~XxDaRkReAp3rxXdOtCoM

 

[Chadwick]

I'd say the 2 best "bang for the buck" upgrades for you would be:

EVGA 6200 Video Card (256MB, PCI) $59.99 (Without $25.00 MIR)
& Some
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 400 $24.99

Shipping should be about $7.00 for each item so the total cost will be $85ish and with a possible $25.00 back on the MIR
I personally don't believe it would be worth upgrading your CPU on that motherboard. If you wanted to go quad core you'd probabaly want to look into building a new rig.

 

[HardwareGuru]

That HP system mobo uses an Intel 915G chipset. This chipset supports 800/533mhz FSB processors. You are pretty much stuck and can't upgrade to a Q6600 cpu which has a 1066mhz FSB. On the memory, it supports both DDR ram as well as DDR2 ram. DDR ram being support for DDR 333/400mhz and the DDR2 will support 400/533mhz ram only.

 

[tiraides]

The computer uses the Intel 915GV chipset, which doesn't support any of the Core 2 series processors (including the Pentium Dual Core series, which are actually crippled Core 2 Duo chips). It does, however, support DDR2 400 and DDR2 533 -- and your computer can use up to 4GB of memory. However, as Chadwick alluded to earlier, you only have PCI slots -- not PCI Express -- for upgrading.

If you want a faster system for your dad, the best thing you could do is save up for a new rig.

 

[XxDaRkReAp3rxXdOtCoM]

Thanks everyone for all the help, that's what I originally thought. Also my dad's like 50 years old, he doesn't play any games on his PC whatsoever. I guess some extra ram won't hurt. Thanks again everyone

 

[tiraides]

Buy your dad a new 2x1GB DDR2 533 kit (like this Crucial set) and be done with it. It would offer the most immediate improvement, and it won't cost you an arm or a leg.

 

[Chadwick]

Buy your dad a new 2x1GB DDR2 533 kit (like this Crucial set) and be done with it. It would offer the most immediate improvement, and it won't cost you an arm or a leg.

Best deal for ya right there DarkReap3r.

One other thing you could do is probably give the innards a good dusting. My father sent me over to work on his old Dell and I was amazed (and disgusted) at how much dust was caked in there. I could only guess at how much everything was overheating even more than the usual Dell. I like to use an air mattress pump due to the fact that it works just as well as those consumable over-priced dust cans.