Processor upgrade?

[steadyeddie]

Hi all, hope you can help.
Freind of mine has just been given an old PC and wants to know if he can upgrade the processor. The information he has given me as reported by CPUZ is as follows;
AMD Sempron 3200+
Manila
Brand id 6
Socket AM2 (940)

Motherboard
ACER EM61SM/EM61PM

I've read that it can be difficult finding upgrade information from ACER but i've fired off an e-mail to them to see if they can help.

There are two things really confusing me. The first is that ACER list the spec of this machine on their website as a Sempron (939).
The second is that he tells me there is 1.5GB of DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM in it. Again ACER lists it as DDR 3200 and Crucial confirms this.
Link to the ACER spec
http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/desktop/0000/Acer/AspireT160/AspireT160sp2.shtml
I'm hoping to get a physical look at the computer tomorrow to see whats really going on.
In the meantime any comments or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

[steadyeddie]

Just a quick update.
The confusion was down to my friend giving me the wrong model number, it's actually the Aspire T180.
http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/desktop/0000/Acer/AspireT180/AspireT180sp2.shtml
Acer replied to my mail but wouldnt give me any information regarding upgrades.
So I would really appreciate any help/advice regarding the processer upgrade, What would be a good upgrade? Would the cost be worth it for the performance improvement?
Thanks

[gshv]

It seems that your computer uses socket AM2, and people in other forums reported success with Athlon 64 X2 4600+ and 5000+ processors. Your friend's CPU is probably SDA3200IAA2CW or SDA3200IAA2CN, so it has F2 stepping. I would recommend to stay with this stepping, i.e. get *CS and *CU processors, like ADA4600IAA5CU and ADA5000IAA5CU. The fastest processors with F2 stepping are probably ADA5200IAA6CS and ADO5200IAA6CS. If Athlon 64 X2 5000+ is supported by your board, then ADA/ADO5200IAA6CS should be also supported.

Gennadiy

[steadyeddie]

Gennadiy
Thanks for the reply, unfortunately most of it went over my head!!
Would you be able to show me some examples of processors from retailers?
And how would I know if it was compatible with the board if ACER wont give me information?
Thanks

[gshv]

4600+:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon%2064%20X2%204600+%20-%20ADA4600IAA5CU%20%28ADA4600CUBOX%29.html

5000+:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon%2064%20X2%205000%2B%20-%20ADA5000IAA5CU%20%28ADA5000CUBOX%29.html

5200+:
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Athlon%2064%20X2%205200%2B%20-%20ADA5200IAA6CS%20%28ADA5200CSBOX%29.html

These processors are obsolete, and therefore they are not carried by big and well known stores. You can search in Google shopping or some other price search engine (like pricewatch) for OEM or box part numbers. You can also search for them on eBay.

Gennadiy