I am planning on getting a new case for my computer. While I love my computer I am hating the white case. I am already reading up on how to build computers as I want to tempt to change everything over myself. And as I am reading I am thinking that if I am going to change the look I want to treat my computer and upgrade something else. So my question is, is it possible to up grade your processor without replacing the whole mother board? It is currently a P4 want to upgrade to a dual.

Yes.

CPUs are easily upgradeable, you just have to make sure the socket type is the same and how fast a cpu your motherboard will support.

Thank you. Is there times when you can't?

The machines will rule us all one day

And how would I go abouts finding out what my mother board will support?

I think you are right!

look up your computer model online, a lot of times a website will tell you exactly what it is. then you go to newegg.com and look for the right processor socket type and there you go.

My computer does not have a model number it was a custom built. Well if it does have a number then I am not sure where to find it.

actually one other thing, if your computer is kinda old your better off looking for a new one. circuit city has a nice intel core 2 quad with 2 gigs of ram, 320 gig hard drive and a 21' flat screen for under 700$

right click on my computer, go to properties, system info and run a check on the type of processor it lists. you can find it from that too.

Thank you, but my computer is not THAT old. I just got it last year. I originally bought it with plans to up grade myself. As I want to learn.

I already know what type of processor I have, but thank you.

well it's not the age i'm looking at, it's the cost. granted computer parts fall in price pretty quick but the cost of replacing things to make it up to date can easily far outweigh the cost of just buying one.

if your gonna build your own i would recommend planning it out and doing it from scratch not starting out with one thats already done. you'll end up replacing things you just bought a few months ago to get to the next step of upgrades.

go to newegg.com and just look at the parts they sell and get aquanted with them and start thinking of what you want to do, how you'll use it and such. newegg is probably the best anywhere to buy parts and they have absolutly everything you could possibly need. plus they also have a wish list section where people will publically list what their buildign to give you ideas

I thank you for your suggestions. But there is not much I really want to upgrade. I am not about to go out and spend money on all kinds of computer parts when I really have no clue what I am doing in the first place. I much rather use what I already have and build on from there. Or change as the case maybe. And if that means just doing it step by step then I will. I have already done a few up grades myself.

Hey there w2as:

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

This handy little utility will tell what kind of motherboard you have, who made it, what socket type it is, revision, the type of memory it supports, and other useful information. From there you can look up what your motherboard supports at the manufacturers website.

Have fun!