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Please Help Choosing the Right CPU

Tags:
  • Motherboards
  • AMD
  • BIOS
  • Windows
  • Phenom
  • CPUs
  • Radeon
Last response: in CPUs
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September 21, 2014 1:57:26 AM

Hello. I am trying to upgrade an older system. It is basically this system, but I have upgraded the PSU to 550w and the graphics card to an AMD Radeon R7 265. I am running Windows 7 64-bit.http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c01717858-20%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&sp4ts.oid=3883914&ac.admitted=1401479176569.876444892.492883150

The most powerful CPU that is listed as being supported on that page is this, the AMD Phenom X4 9950. http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Black-Power-Socket/dp/B001F4UV6I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410981898&sr=8-2&keywords=AMD+Phenom+Quad-Core+%28Agena%29+9950, but I've heard that this system doesn't run 125w processors very well even though it is listed as being able to go up to 125w. So I did some research and found this processor, the AMD Phenom II X4 945, which is faster and versatile since it fits into either AM2+ or AM3 sockets. http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Socket-Quad-Core-Processor/dp/B002XNBQJQ

I'd rather go with the AMD Phenom II X4 945, for obvious reasons, but I need to know whether it is alright to upgrade my system to the 5.13 BIOS. If I type my system into www.hp.com and put in windows 7 64-bit, it does not list any BIOS indicating that the current BIOS I have, which is version 5.11, is the latest one. Now, if I type in my system but instead put Windows Vista 64-bit, there is a BIOS update listed as 5.13 which says it includes the ability to run newer AM3 processors.

My question is do I need to upgrade the BIOS to this 5.13 version even though it is not made for my windows? Or would this possibly damage my system? Should I just try to run the Phenom II 945 with my current bios first and see if it works before changing BIOS? Help!

Thanks in advance,
Tony

More about : choosing cpu

a b V Motherboard
a b à CPUs
September 21, 2014 2:01:54 AM

A bios update is needed but it is also quite dangerous in that you can damage the motherboard (brick it) if it goes wrong. Make sure you know what you're doing first by researching bios updating. It won't effect windows that's just hp having a rubbish website. You're lucky you can run the phenomenon just check it is the 95w because there is also a 125w with the same name but a different model number
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September 21, 2014 2:08:43 AM

Oh, alright, I figured that different versions of BIOS were written depending on your operating system. So, what you're saying is, for example, the 5.11 BIOS for windows vista 64-bit is the same one as the 5.11 BIOS for windows 7 64-bit, correct?
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a b V Motherboard
a b à CPUs
September 21, 2014 2:10:30 AM

Yes the BIOS is not related to Windows in any way. Sometimes there is a program that windows can run to update the BIOS but the bios itself is part of the hardware and doesn't care what operating system you run
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