CPU Upgrade for 3000 J115 type 7387 - FSB speed question

[orac]

Hello

I have a Lenovo 3000 J115 type 7387 PC and wish to upgrade from the stock Semperon CPU to an Athlon X2 Dual Core.

The Lenovo support website (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67129) states that the stock motherboard "Supports AMD AM2 Athlon64 X2 processors with 1000MHz FSB and 1MB L2 cache".

Trouble is the AMD website (http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUFilter.aspx) shows that all AMD X2 processors have a 2000MHz System Bus.

 Is anyone able to explain this to me and whether an AMD X2 CPU will work with the stock motherboard?

TIA

Orac

[orac]

After some digging around it turns out AMD doesnt have FSB, as their CPU's have an intergrated memory controller. Rather they use the term HT/HyperTransport (or System Bus).

Why then does Lenovo say they support AMD AM2 Athlon64 X2 processors with 1000MHz FSB?

Does anyone know what HT speed Lenovo means?

TIA

Orac

[orac · Accepted solution]

FYI: Despite the lack of clarification (thyanks Lenovo), I installed an AMD Athlon 64 x2 2.4GHz CPU and it is working fine.

[evets]

Can you share wiith us on this? Did you simply replace the CPU and the new onwe was recognized? Which operating system are you uaing, XP, or Vista?

Thanks

[evets]

Maybe you could, also, share with us what the Lenovo support told you, to save some of us the time and not having to trouble their support staff?

What was the result of the 1000 vs 2000 fsb issue, for instance?  Which L2 did you have before, 512 or 1mb? What differences have you noticed?

I bought the same (J115-7387) PC and installed an nVidia GeForce GT8600 to use for a distributed computing project called folding@home. I have a Dell, with an Intel dual core 1.80, the same amount of RAM, and it out performs this Lenovo by a margin of 3 to 1. So, I'm thinking there must be some instructions in the MoBo chipset and/or Intel CPU that this doesn't have. 

Thanks again.

[orac]

Hi There

Lenovo Supoort did not provide any assistance at all - neither did other forum members.

I took a chance and installed an AMD (socket AM2) X2 2.4GHz CPU with 1MB L2 Cache.

Cost $60 and has made a HUGE difference.

Am running Vista Home Basic.

Also upgraded to 2GB 2400 Dual Channel Ram (2x 1GB DiMMs) and this also made a BIG difference ($45).

The performancscore improved dramatically in Vista.

Am now waiting for my PCIe video card.

It's pretty appalling that venders are sending Vista PC's out with such low stock spec's. With these upgrades it has become a competent little mid range machine.

Hope this helps.

Orac

[evets]

Yes, that helps, thanks. I have the same cpu, but it's a 2.0 ghz (3800) and 1 gb ram. It's a dog in the peformance department, but then, I paid $210.00 for it. LOL So I got what I paid for, I guess. 

I really did think, though, that it perform at least as well as my 1.80 ghz dual core Intel does, but it doesn't, not even close. 

BTW, I just bought 2 nVidia (by EVGA) GeForce 8600 GT pci-e cards for $49.95 each at Fry's, if that helps you.

Thanks again, and good luck. 

[orac]

sounds like a good price on the cards - but i stay away from Invidia. I have had alot of problems with their TV output. Instead I use ATI, and while their Catalyst Control Center app is a bit bloated, it allows me to control the TV outputs the way I want.

Yup - you do get what you pay for eh.

Happy Computing.

[office]

I also have a 7387-9HU desktop & had same question.  My old system had a Sempron 3400+ cpu with Vista Home Basic.   I bought an AMD Athlon 64x2 3000 from Newegg.ca and it just dropped right into place.   I used the old cpu cooler with new thermal compound and have had NO problems.  The fan was dirty so a good cleaning before re-install and right back in.  The system recognized the new cpu and automatically loaded new drivers.  This upgrade took my old clunker into a new age.  Defrag used to take 3.5 hrs and now 67 minutes.  Logging on to internet was an exercise of frustration- now less than 2 seconds.   The old problem of frame freeze then wait... wait... wait  has completely disappeared and surfing the net- NO MORE NOT RESPONDING... This cpu is lightning fast even with old motherboad Nvidia 6100.  That's my next upgrade.  Hope this helps all you Lenovo Fans...

[office]

I also installed 4 GB of RAM  (from Lenovo was cheapest) and loaded BIOS upgrade from Lenovo before installing new memory  then installed AMD Athlon 64x2 3000 cpu.  Absolutely no problem.  Forgot to mention this in last comment.