Windows 10: Want to Upgrade a Pentium D 920 (Presler) to a Core Duo 2 Quad ?

I read the "Read Me" txt file from the zip file, it seems fairly easy to do.
At the end, it gives the series info for the exact computer models this update applies to:

Computer Models:

FX510 Series:

1008695 - Gateway FX510S
1008696 - Gateway FX510X
1008697 - Gateway FX510XL


I'll give this a shot on the weekend and let you both know how it worked.

Can you explain what is the difference between doing a bios/firmware update to doing a bios flash?

 

Hi Jack , a bios update or flash is the same thing , personally I have never had an issue with a bios update failing (touch wood) but it can happen but is usually due to something like a power outage during the 3 min flashing process , If you aren't familiar with the settings in the current bios write them down or take pics with your phone and reset everything after the Flash. Usually after a flash it is good to pull the CMOS battery for 5 mins and then boot it up , go into the bios and "Load optimized defaults" , then reboot and go back into the bios and reset the bios up like it was before from the notes or pics.

The instructions etc in the Zip are actually pretty good , perhaps print before hand if it's your only computer incase you need to troubleshoot.

Couldn't hurt to email Gateway and ask about C2D or C4D Chips on that MB , certainly my old Q6600 is still doing okay if you can find something like that , my Brother just picked up a Q9650X I think it was for the same reasons you are thinking.

 

I just want to let every know that when I tried updating to Windows 10 64 bit on the other side of my partitioned drive where Windows 7 32 bit resides, the process wouldn't go forward because Microsoft is saying I do NOT have a product key for the update to Windows 10 64 Bit, I can only upgrade to Windows 10 32 Bit... Si Decided to keep Windows 7 for old times sake, and being I have Windows 10 Pro Current on my other side of the Partition, I am okay with that.

I really am so eagerly wanting to upgrade this Pentium D to a Core Duo, but I get so many conflicting reports, one that sticks out in my mind, is the best processor I can replace on this Mobo is a Pentium Extreme Edition, or any of the higher level Pentium D's Intel came out with. I am kind of sad, because the new MSI GT 730 with GDDR5 really took a lot of the power away from the processor D, and is/was a real snappy upgrade for just 20 USD. I can see where the Pentium D fails, in applications, multitasking, it just doesn't have enough power for me to say this is where it should be. Oh well, I can live with it, if I have to, but if I only knew for sure a Core Duo (any of them) would work, I'd do it in a heart beat!

 

Just to say as well, there is NO Gateway support anymore. Any of the support driver updates I posted on here in screen shots, if you want to email Gateway, you can't. They all revert to ASUS. So in reality, I don't see where anyone can actually say whether this Mobo is okay to upgrade the processor to a Core 2 Duo, or a C2D Quad. I've searched, believe me, no one, no where has heard of a watonsville 2 motherboard made by Intel's 975X.

 

I am surprised too that nobody has tried what you want to do , maybe not possible ?

Why not try emailing some of these Resellers on Ebay etc and pose as a C2D Owner needing a replacement MB, wonder if it will work ?

Or get another cheap MB too , my brother recently got the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L for the same reason as you

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=2629#sp

I still have a UD3P running too

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=3137#sp

 

Maybe that is my only option for me. Like I say, I cannot seem to find it now, but I did see the highest level Processor support on my current motherboard from an unofficial website stating the Pentium Extreme Edition. Than CPU-World states different, and lists all the C2Ds it can support, but I think that was for the LGA Socket 775, nothing about my bios and specific Watsonville 2 Intel 975X. Must be so few out there, so long ago, everyone by now has bought a new Desktop. I just hate to give this one up now being it does work pretty well with a nicer graphics card designed to enhance even processor's lagging performance. Oh well, thanks for those links, maybe I might consider a new mobo.

 

The product key wouldn't be the issue. It has never been permitted to install a 64 bit version of Windows as an upgrade over a 32 bit version. A Windows 10 license will work for either bitness, but you'd have to go to X64 as a clean install.

Gateway sold themselves to Acer. Acer seems to offer zero support for old Gateway 2000 models, though. Acer has forums with some discussion of Gateway models, but their search engine didn't show anything for the FX510X. You may be SOL in finding any BIOS updates, should you need one.

Sorry about that.

 

I did try to do a clean install of Windows 10 Home 64 Bit, as my Windows 7 edition is Home 32 Bit on that side of the partition. It wouldn't allow the key numbers to validate, or to continue, stating I do not have the proper license for this version of Windows 10, or something similar to that, can't remember verbatim. . It is fine, I have Windows 10 Pro in well working order, and a Windows 7 Home Edition in well working order, I can live with that, both 32 bit.

I found this link, and I didn't find it off the Gateway site, but through a post made by someone else on another forum. It looks like my Motherboard will not support a C2D - the best I can see is a Pentium Extreme Edition.

Gateway Support - Specifications

Oh well, at least I finally found out... Saying so with sadness!

 

So knowing I have only several options to replace the Pentium D 920 I have installed now, would it really be worth upgrading to an Extreme Edition of that family of processors, Presler?

Intel® Product Specification Comparison


No more free Updates by the way, to Windows 10, end date was July 29, 2016

 

Your MB is already registered for Win10 , so you are ok ..... , they were also pretty good about updating the licence for me via Phone support for a dead MB , not sure if that will change now Win 10 is no longer free.


It would depend at what cost the EE CPU is obtainable for , it runs faster but also alot hotter so you may need a better cooler too. It does not appear to use SpeedStep or Idle States (Turbo Mode) , probably since it was designed for Servers running 24/7 , though that isn't necessarily a bad thing , it just means more heat , so a good cooler and case fans are a must.

You maybe able to get a whole Computer of this age from a Rebuilder for a similar Price as the CPU or 2nd hand on CL or similar , so I'd look at all your Options 1st ......

I know you have an emotional attachment to the Old Girl under your Desk *Smile so maybe that is the deciding factor ?

KB

 

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "my MB is already registered for Win 10"? I take that to mean, being I have a partition drive with Windows 10 Pro on it on one side, I can still update the other side where Windows 7 is residing to Windows 10 for free still? I think that is what you mean, correct me if I am wrong.

I agree, I might as well hang it up on upgrading the Pentium D, I don't think I'll ever notice anything worth the performance upgrade, not like I am gaming, and even if I was, these processors really cannot handle it. I think what I might do, keep this as is, I am happy with it after upgrading the GPU with a descent MSI GT 730 with GDDR5, it did the trick to make an overall snappier PC from before. I am going to build a new i7 core Desktop, using Gigybyte's Mobo, maybe a GTX 950, a cheap windowed box, something that the Mobo will support DDR4, and see if I can buy the other parts on sale off newegg. I think I can do all that fror around $500-600... Not bad if I catch all the sales.

I really am attached to this older PC though, had some great times on it, used it A LOT, amazing how well it just keeps plugging along after 10 years. The only thing I can upgrade cheap and might have some improvement still, get an SSD in there. It supports it by Crucial. I just wish I can get 64 Bit, I know that would over all help being I can utilize the full RAM capacity, 8 GBs. That would majorly improve this and have it last another 2-3 years, a 14 year old PC, amazing!

Thanks for the tips!!!

 

Yes your Free Win10 Digital Entitlement is already activated at Microsoft on that WatsonVille MB , so even with a Clean install you can't lose it, you can change/fix just about all components except the MB without having to re-activate.

If you Build a new Computer , even if you have a Win7 license to Upgrade , I am not sure if it will be free anymore , so you may need to add $100-200 to the build cost if you have to pay for Win10 , though you can use your paid for Win7 of course.

A SSD would help , but is likely to be using sata2 on that old MB ( hopefully?) and not Sata3 but it will still be faster than a HDD for the OS and your Programs , then you can still use the HDD for data and doing backup Images of Windows etc. get a 256GB if you can afford it , then you won't end up having to deal with space issues that can happen on 128GB drives .

 

You know, thanks for reminding me of that, I forgot that its the Motherboard that holds the activation keys, and everyone (not you) was telling me to buy a new mobo so I can put an C2D on it, just realizing if I had ever gone that route, I need a new MS OS Software License. Glad I never went that route. So putting in an Extreme Edition processor won't affect my already purchased license with MS, or any other upgrades of changes as long as I don't swap out that mobo. I sort of knew that but wasn't thinking clearly about it.

Even on that other partitioned side with Windows 7 32 Bit (Paid for license) OS, I can still upgrade for free to Windows 10 64 Bit? I have the latest Media Creation Tool, I downloaded a new one last week just in case I changed my mind and did a clean install on Windows 7 partition. Why is it when I press on the Windows Update icon on the lower right hand side, the windows comes up, "Sorry, but Windows is not free anymore"?

Yes, I figured in the price of Windows 10 Home edition (Although I like Pro better for networking), included in that 500-600 USD figure for an i7 core machine. It takes a bit of time, but you can get a lot of stuff on sale here and there, new, as I built PCs before for friends.

I need to get the coolant gel you put on top of the new processor. I also found used ones (Extreme Edition) on eBay - used for 40-60 USD. Hard to believe those are still going for over 200 USD band new, and near 900 - 1000 when they were first released.

 

The free upgrades to win 10 ended on Friday night ( the 29th July) but you can still use the Win7 license Key , you just can't get Win 10 Free any longer. ( unless M$ change their mind? )

You could try putting Win 10 on the New MB , you'll likely have to phone into to activate it ( it's only on one computer if asked) and you may get lucky saying the MB died and you had to replace it . ( may not work if you wait to long ) Use the same win7 key you already upgraded to win10. you can then clean install win 7 back on the Old Computer with your copy that you didnt upgrade.


It is likely better to watch the Sales , buy components a bit behind "the last and greatest curve" and when you can afford it ,and Upgrade to a more modern system with USB3 , Sata 3, SSD's etc. and keep the old girl under the desk as backup and for plying the Internet doing research to fix/build the new one . Most Monitors have at least two inputs , and you can even use a KVM if you don't ant two mice and keyboard on the desk.

 

I forgot to ask, I bought a USB 3.0 PCI card at bestbuy, it was just 12 USD, I wasn't sure if I can achieve a real 3.0 data transfer, but using the PCI slots that are left (I have 2 open) I think they can deliver the faster data transfer. Let me know if that was a good or stupid move, than I'll just resell it on eBay for 20 USD, lol.

I like that, believe it or not, I have done so doing the phone activation for Office 2013 on the partitioned Drive where Win 7 resides, and they activated it, of course all those crazy numbers was a pain, but worth it. I don't feel I was doing anything wrong, being I just wanted it on both OS on the same PC/Machine. Good call on doing that, and doing so right away. I do believe MS will do a free upgrade once again, after seeing there are quite a few who didn't want to do the upgrade, but might want to after buying a cheap new laptop (there are a myriad of them out there without a graphics card that are dirt cheap i5 machines), and once people start to like Win 10, who knows...

I wish I could upgrade this old laptop I also still use, a Gateway M460 with a single core Centrino M 750 (Dotham) with just 2 GB of DDR2 at 333 MHz... She still plugs along, can play videos still off the net, but def nothing hard core gaming for sure... I still use it because its my only machine in the house with Windows 8.1 version 6.3 9600 build, and its Pro, so I can network with all my other Pro machines, including old Betsy Pentium D! However, I know that is an impossibility, but wish it could be done. I actually LOVE Windows 8.1.

Thanks for the tips!