CPU Support

Well without knowing which CPU you have here it's very hard to suggest anything but to look on the Supported CPU List available here

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=YYermRswb7n46yAX&templete=2

When the Page opens select the Supported CPU list Tab and look for whatever the CPU that you actually have. If it is not there then this M'Board [b]Does Not[/b] support that CPU Family.

While you may have a 775 CPU that in itself doesn't mean that this ASUS M'Board can use it.

Col

The CPU's Socket type and the revision (this is the compatable part below) with this program. Then check the socket type and allowable revisions on the new MB.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Your link for the P5QC and the P5QL PRO shows;

Intel? Socket 775 Processors for Intel? Core?2 Extreme/ Core?2 Quad/ Core?2 Duo/Pentium? dual-core/Celeron? dual-core/Celeron? Processors
Compatible with Intel? 05B/05A/06 processors
Supports Intel? 45nm Multi-Core CPU

Thanks for the reply

Actually i only planned to buy one of these board, so now i have two options left, first is to replace my CPU along with M'board & RAM, and second is to buy another type of board which can support my CPU. then later i'll change my CPU & M'Board when feasible.

i also consider the gigabyte board before buying new one

Reagrds

For the very best performance possible Install 4 GIG of RAM in either 2 X 2 GIG Sticks or 4 X 1 Gig Sticks and you'll get the fastest performance possible and much cheaper than changing the CPU for only a marginal improvement.

After you have the 4 GIG of RAM if you are using a 32 Bit OS it can only use something like 3.2 GIG but by installing 4 GIG in the above configuration you will be running at the Max Memory Load that a 32 Bit Os can use but in Dual Chanel Mode. After that to get better performance your only option is to increase the speed of the CPU but adding the RAM first will give you the best results and increase performance more than changing the CPU with less RAM

Only thing here depending on the M'Board being used is that you may have to go to a specific RAM Speed if you want to fit more than 2 Sticks. Some M'Boards in this range do not like having all of their RAM Slots Populated with the common RAM they only like specific RAM when all Slots are in use. It's a bit of a nuisance if you are not prepared for it but if you know first and buy accordingly it will save you money in the long run and not leave you with RAM you have to remove and keep unused. ;)

Col

Personally i use 2 X 2 Gig Sticks and while the 32 Bit OS's can not use it all you get the best performance possible with a very little waste of money or at least buying what is not being used.

Depending on the OS in use here the most it can use is somewhere around 3.25 GIG but with Dual Chanel M'Boards you can not install that amount of RAM and keep the Board in Dual Chanel Mode so if you try anything else you are taking a Performance hit which seems counter productive to me at least.

I have set up hundreds of Customers with 4 GIG or RAM in their computers and never had a problem, even within the last month I got a customers ASUS NB that came standard with 1 GIG of RAM and replaced that with 2 X 2 GIG Sticks and he insisted that I had changed his computer with a different model because his was not that fast. When he first brought it over he was insistent that he wanted XP loaded as Vista was just too slow and it wouldn't play a DVD.

That particular NB took 25 Minutes to reboot from Windows to when Windows was open and usable and I was tearing my hair out trying to make it work better by optimizing the OS but it was a loosing battle. So when I spoke to it's owner his first comment was that I wanted to load XP didn't I? But when I just said no not at this point in time I just think that more RAM would be better so he went with that idea and is now ecstatic. Now it reboots in under 4 minutes.

As for Desktops with 4 RAM Slots you can fit 2 X 1 GIG Sticks and 2 X 512 MEG Sticks to give a total of 3 GIG but the OS can still support slightly more RAM and if you where to use a 1 GIG and a 512 MEG Stick in the remaining 2 slots to get somewhere near the Maximum RAM load that a 32 Bit OS can support you lock the system back to Single Chanel Mode and it's much slower. Personally with the cost of RAM these Days it's just easier to fit 2 X 2 GIG Sticks and let her rip. You'll not be disappointed in the slightest. ;)

If this is of any use with every new system that I supply now with a 32 Bit OS they go out with 4 GIG of RAM installed. I will not supply any new system with less these days, depending on the M'Board being used. I have supplied a couple of the Three Chanel Systems with a 32 Bit OS installed and these go out with 3 X 1 GIG RAM Kits fitted but they where all Stop Gap units where the owner was waiting for better 64 Bit Support and when they transfered to a 64 Bit OS they went with considerably more RAM and where more than happy with the results.

Col