Can the CPU in a prebuilt be upgraded without needing to but a motherboard/at all?

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Singularity_iOS

Singularity_iOS

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My Grandparents bought a El Cheapo computer that is a utter piece of garbage. It has a Intel Celeron for christ sake. It runs like garbage and Amazon is currently selling Core 2 Duos for a massive 76% off at about $45. I was thinking up getting one to put in this PC to get it moving a bit. For what they use the computer for a Core 2 Duo would be plenty, but this Celeron is just running like garbage. Would a Core 2 Duo work fine in this computer? Also, how would I find out the exact specs of this PC like what motherboard it has. The PC in question is a Acer Aspire M1800. I have never upgrade a prebuilt so I'm asking here before I buy the CPU.
 
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Karadjgne
If you Google 'nvidia 7050 chipset cpu support' you'll find a pdf file from nvidia that has the exact listing of exactly what cpus are supported by your motherboards chipset. It shows that your board ha support for most lga775 cpus with the exception of the Q series (Yorkfield), core2 extreme, and any of the core2 quads except for the q6600 and q6700.

Basically, the only core2quad will be the Kentsfield q6600, the Yorkfields are not supported, Wolfdales, Conroe and the other Kentsfield cpus being pentium 4, pentium D, and core2duo.
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Singularity_iOS

Singularity_iOS

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Yes I noticed that too, but acording to the specs sticker and System Info, its not. They may have made a different unknown model with a Celeron. Pics for proof.
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Actually taking a 2nd look at this pic, it says it has DDR2 and the Celeron model does not match up with what System Info says. Would this also cause problems?
 
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Singularity_iOS

Singularity_iOS

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So would this CPU work fine with this PC? I'd rather not purchase it and find out it isn't going to work. Thanks in advance
 
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Karadjgne

Karadjgne

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You'll have to look up the specific motherboard spec sheet to see exactly what chipset you have and exactly what cpus are supported. I have an lga775 motherboard that will not support a lga775 q6600, simply because it's a 915 chipset, and the q6600 requires at least a 965 or better.
 
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Singularity_iOS

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Will I be able to find out what the motherboard is by using some software? Or will it be written on the motherboard itself? Sorry but im really nooby about this stuff. I mainly only know my build and don't have much experience with upgrading pre-builts.
 
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Karadjgne

Karadjgne

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Pre-built pc's are just that. A pc. They upgrade or break same as a custom pc. They just tend to be a little more limited due to budget restraints when built, so may have issues being upgraded with wide open powerful components. So while physically any lga 775 cpu will fit in the socket, its entirely probable that having a low end chipset will be a limiting factor in exactly how powerful the cpu or ram can get. Some of the gaming chipsets have the capacity to handle 1066 or even 1333MHz ram so consequently they'll handle the more powerful cpus like the 9 series core2quads. Some, like my 915 chipset, are limited by both bios and chipset to handle nothing more than a core2duo or pentium D. Looking up the motherboard spec sheet will give you the chipset, and looking up that chipset will give you the cpu possibilities.

Just gonna take some research, its not hard info to find
 
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Karadjgne

Karadjgne

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If you Google 'nvidia 7050 chipset cpu support' you'll find a pdf file from nvidia that has the exact listing of exactly what cpus are supported by your motherboards chipset. It shows that your board ha support for most lga775 cpus with the exception of the Q series (Yorkfield), core2 extreme, and any of the core2 quads except for the q6600 and q6700.

Basically, the only core2quad will be the Kentsfield q6600, the Yorkfields are not supported, Wolfdales, Conroe and the other Kentsfield cpus being pentium 4, pentium D, and core2duo.
 
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