Another quick question CPU swap.

[Boss]

Yeah all I had ordered a CPU upgrade for my PC AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 and was trying to find info on if I could swap it out or if I would have to do a fresh start with windows and all? I know it will work with my MB and thats all I could find ppl talking about is if they where doing a CPU/MB swap would they have to reinstall windows.

Secondly with the Windows 7 beta is there any limitations on it? I ask b/c I remember when I reinstall XP I have to call a number and it gose through a menu asking if I have made upgrades.

[Fizzler]

If you swap the M/B you should reinstall the OS. If you are just swapping the CPU than you do not need to.

The only requirement for Win7 Beta was having a key which you get when you download it. I can not remember when it will expire but it was well out there. Eventually you will have to upgrade it to the full version. Installing the RTM over the beta is not straight forward there was some fancy work around. So yes you can install Win7 Beta no problems (if you can still get a key) but you will eventually have to install the full version and that may or may not require a full install.

[Boss]

Great news thanks a lot. Yeah just wanted to know about Win 7 in case I had to do a reinstall.

[Aragent]

Yeah all I had ordered a CPU upgrade for my PC AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 and was trying to find info on if I could swap it out or if I would have to do a fresh start with windows and all? I know it will work with my MB and thats all I could find ppl talking about is if they where doing a CPU/MB swap would they have to reinstall windows.

Secondly with the Windows 7 beta is there any limitations on it? I ask b/c I remember when I reinstall XP I have to call a number and it gose through a menu asking if I have made upgrades.

Windows 7 Beta has ended. so no use to install Beta, However if you have Windows 7 RC then its good till some time next year well after it hits the stores.

[sujanne]

How much CPU power is enough for a netbook or laptop? I know about Core 2 Duo. I have Quad Core on my PC. But that's about it. For a netbook, or a small laptop, how much Intel do you need? There are so many different models and classes, I can't tell. I need enough CPU to have several IE windows open, handle a fast internet connection, and use Word and Excel. Also, the ability to watch streaming video and audio would be nice, but not necessary.
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[jak3676]

Sujanne - do you mean how much processing power to you need to do what you listed but not multibox games? If so the answer is very little. For standard office stuff, even very heavy use of standard office stuff, any of the current or last generation dual core CPU's will be fine.

Personally, my laptops have a T5500 a dual-core Pentium E2100 (I think?) and a T7300. Asside from gaming I can't really tell much of a difference in routine office stuff. I would avoid the pentiums (no relation to the old desktop processors) and celeron chips though, they just strike me underpowered CPUs.

Even for gaming, I used to use the T5500 for WoW (single boxing) and it did fine matched to an 7900gs video card. It's about 3 years old now so it's showing some age, but I can play WoW nicely - just have to turn down the gfx seetings a bit with a native 1920x1200 res display.