Need some advice on CPU upgrade

It is starting to be old. You might consider getting a new motherboard/cpu/ram combo, cause it will be hard to find any LGA 775 processor.

You should also keep in mind that your BIOS version must be at least version 0312 for you to install the Intel Pentium D 950 CPU!

No problem! I am always glad to help!

Well, you can find the BIOS version somewhere in your BIOS (it's different for each BIOS)! When your computer starts up it should give you a button to press in order to enter the BIOS (the screen with the button can last from less than 1 second to around 10 seconds and comes up immediately after starting up the PC and before getting to the Windows loading screen with the Windows logo). Once you see the button, you should keep tapping it very fast until you enter the BIOS! In most cases the button is either F2 or DEL! You should keep tapping it from the very moment you start up your PC until the BIOS opens up!

In most BIOSes, you'll be able to see the BIOS version on the MAIN BIOS screen (f.e.: http://www.playtool.com/pages/biosfiddling/bios1.jpg). As you can see on this picture the BIOS version is on the absolute left down corner of the screen (written in grey as v2.51 on the blue line which has the form of a rectangle and goes from left to right through the entire screen)! But yet again, each BIOS is different and this is just one of many examples which might not exactly be your case!

If you want to install the Intel Pentium D 950 CPU, you'll have to update your BIOS from here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/11738/eng/GC11010N.86A.0313.EXE&lang=eng&Dwnldid=11738&DownloadType=BIOS&OSFullname=OS+Independent&ProductID=2229!

Here are some instructions on how to update your BIOS:

Instructions to update the BIOS for Intel® Desktop Boards with Award* BIOS:

1. An MS-DOS startup diskette will be needed. If necessary, one may be created in Microsoft Windows* XP using the following steps:

a) Insert a blank floppy diskette into the floppy diskette drive. WARNING: Any data on this diskette WILL BE DESTROYED!
b) From the Windows XP "Start" menu, select "My Computer".
c) Right-click on the icon for the A: drive, and select "Format..." from the menu.
d) Click the box labeled "Create an MS-DOS startup disk" and then click the "Start" button. After the format process is complete, proceed with the instructions below.

2. Download and run the BIOS update file to extract the files needed to update the BIOS. The file will be named "GC11010N.86A.xxxx.EXE", where xxxx is the version of the BIOS.

3. After running the BIOS update file, copy the following files to the floppy diskette created in step 1:

GC_xxxx.BIN (where xxxx denotes the version of the BIOS)
AWDFLASH.EXE
AUTOEXEC.BAT

NOTE: Overwrite the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the floppy diskette if prompted.

4. Insert the diskette into the floppy drive of the system to be updated and turn it on. The BIOS Flash Utility will start automatically after boot.

5. After loading the BIOS update file, the BIOS Flash Utility will prompt you "Do You Want To Save BIOS (Y/N)?". Pressing "Y" will make a copy of the existing BIOS before updating, pressing "N" will skip this step.

NOTE: Making a copy of the BIOS will require free space on the floppy diskette approximately equal to the size of the BIOS update file (GC_xxxx.BIN).

6. A second prompt will display: "Press 'Y' to Program or 'N' to Exit". Pressing "N" will exit without updating the BIOS. Press "Y" to proceed with the update.

7. When the update is complete, remove the floppy diskette and press the "F1" key as prompted by the BIOS Flash Utility.

8. The system will reboot and the BIOS update process is complete.

In the unlikely event that a flash update is interrupted it is possible the BIOS may be left in an unusable state. Instructions for performing a BIOS recovery are included in BIOS Update Using BIOS Flash Utility.


Additional Notes





Downgrading the BIOS to an earlier version is not recommended and may not be supported. An earlier BIOS version may not contain the support for the latest processors, BIOS fixes, critical security updates or support the latest board revisions currently being manufactured.


Update the BIOS on your computer only if the newer BIOS version specifically solves a problem you have. We do not recommend BIOS updates for computers that do not need it. You can view all new BIOS fixes in the Release Notes.


Before initiating a BIOS update, be sure to read and precisely follow the instructions included in the Readme. You may wish to print the instructions for easy reference.


If a BIOS update process is interrupted, your computer may not work properly. We recommend the process be done in an environment with a steady power supply (preferably with UPS).

If you don't have a PC with a floppy drive, you won't be able to update the BIOS of the T3508!

You may try running the GC11010N.86A.0313.EXE file, despite the fact that you don't have a floppy drive and a floppy, but if something happens while the BIOS is being updated your PC will most likely have to go to the repair shop afterwords for BIOS restoration!

If you don't want to take the risk of updating your BIOS without having a floppy drive and being able to use floppies, I'd advise you to buy your Pentium D 950, go to a PC repair service and ask the guys if they can install you the Pentium D 950 and update your BIOS to the latest version, so that your CPU is supported! I am definite that they will agree for a small price! You can get your Pentium D 950 for $87.00 from here http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00457705W/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new!

I'm happy to know that you're interested in hardware! Wish ya luck with the new build! I'm going to go to sleep now, because it's 02:33 here in Bulgaria which is in Europe!