upgrading a processor is easy right?

[pockrunk]

i have an older Sony Vaio Desktop PCV-RS320 with a 2.6ghz Processor. its stock from the factory. I would like to find an upgrade but have never really messed with processors before. i also have an ASUS board with a 3.0ghz processor and i swapped them but it didnt boot up so i guess its the wrong pin type socket etc?

what can i upgrade to? i want to max it out! all i can find on NCIX.com is duo cores and quad cores.

the sad part is that this was my girlfriends computer and she absolutely will not let me sell it lol. but she will let me upgrade it. "but honey its SOOOOO OLD!" and i cant afford a newer computer right now :/

thanks in advance!
matt

[Geek-9pm]

Are your serious?
When you got our system, did you plan an upgrade path?
IMO, there is no piecemeal** upgrade path for a Sony
No joking, here is the best upgrade path for you.
1. Sell your Sony.
2. Build you own from recommendations of our experts.

  ** piece·meal/ˈpēsˌmēl/
      Adjective: Characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time.
      Wikipedia - Dictionary.com

[pockrunk]

Thanks for the reply!
I see your standpoint and a piecemeal is what it is. so youre saying there is no upgrade for this processor? there must be!
I value your opinion but there must be a way to squeeze more life out of this thing. Its in excellent shape and runs almost everything i want it to.

[Computer_Commando]

Processors are generally NOT upgradeable on branded computers because they tailor that particular BIOS for that specific CPU & the BIOS will not recognize anything except that one CPU or maybe one close to it in the series.  Put the old CPU back in the Vaio & hope it still functions.  Just saying it's a 2.8GHz is not enough.
See if you can find what you have here:  http://www.cpu-world.com/info/charts.html

[Salmon Trout]

I value your opinion but there must be a way to squeeze more life out of this thing.

Some computers don't have a realistic/cost-effective upgrade path. This is one of them. Get over it.

Its in excellent shape and runs almost everything i want it to.

So why do you want to monkey with it? Leave it alone. It's fine (by your own admission).

i cant afford a new machine for a while

This is the heart of the problem. You are suffering from boy's toy inferiority complex. Your girlfriend sounds like a sensible lady.

and i want to atleast make this one better while im stuck with it!

Buy this 2003 vintage Pentium 4 some more RAM maybe? if it isn't maxed out... You can fit 4 x 512 MB in there... but the mistake was made at purchase time. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Unfortunately, cost-cutting measures such as integrated graphics and a slow memory hamper performance. Righting the configured wrongs, as well as adding a display (Sony sells that separately), will add to the VAIO PCV-RS320's $1,099 price, making comparable alternatives from Dell, Gateway, and HP more attractive.

[pockrunk]

Processors are generally NOT upgradeable on branded computers because they tailor that particular BIOS for that specific CPU & the BIOS will not recognize anything except that one CPU or maybe one close to it in the series.  Put the old CPU back in the Vaio & hope it still functions.  Just saying it's a 2.8GHz is not enough.
See if you can find what you have here:  http://www.cpu-world.com/info/charts.html

much appreciated opinion

Salmon trout you take the time to quote peoples words to make them eat them? on a forum? pretty sad.
ur negative judgment of me personally and my girlfriend wasnt called for. just asking about computers, not if you think my girlfriend is a "stand up lady" or some slick remark about some inferiority complex you well worded and threw at me? dude chill....
its obvious im a beginner with computers, not money.

[Salmon Trout]

Salmon trout you take the time to quote peoples words to make them eat them?

Only the foolish ones. Get 'em down! They are delicious! And good for you. I gave you the only realistic upgrade advice you're gonna get.

You can fit 4 x 512 MB in there

[pockrunk]

Only the foolish ones. Get 'em down! They are delicious! And good for you. I gave you the only realistic upgrade advice you're gonna get.

thanks but will it run slower of faster with too much memory installed. i currently have 2.5gigs installed and its running fine. does exceeding 2gigs slow it down>? 2.5 is showing up in my system just fine.

[rthompson80819]

You can't have too much RAM memory, but many mother boards and operating systems can only support a limited amount.  Over the years some processors could easily be upgraded, but only a very few.

[BC_Programmer]

thanks but will it run slower of faster with too much memory installed. i currently have 2.5gigs installed and its running fine. does exceeding 2gigs slow it down>? 2.5 is showing up in my system just fine.

How would having too much memory slow it down?

[Salmon Trout]

i have an older Sony Vaio Desktop PCV-RS320 with a 2.6ghz Processor. its stock from the factory

i currently have 2.5gigs installed and its running fine.

Since "stock from the factory" it had 512 MB these two statements cannot both be true. Also the specifications state "Max RAM 2 GB"

Product Features

    * Sony VAIO PCV-RS320 Desktop
    * 2.60-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM
    * 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

    * Hardware Platform: PC
    * Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4
    * System Bus Speed: 800 MHz
    * Number of Processors: 1
    * RAM: 512 MB
    * RAM Type: DDR SDRAM
    * Max RAM: 2 GB
    * L2 Cache: 512 KB

[Salmon Trout]

Even adding an entry-level graphics card would go a long way toward speeding up this system.