CPU upgrade not detected.

Mista_C

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Every other version of Windows can do it, so I see no reason why Windows 10 can't see a new processor without any extra effort, though it can only report what it gets told.

It's more than likely the motherboard can't use the processor properly, though normally in that situation it shouldn't come on at all. A BIOS update, if available, should fix this.

The issue I've seen has nothing to do with the BIOS and has been seen in previous version of Windows since at least Vista. A quick Googling came up with this...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/930861 wrote:

This problem occurs because the system does not detect that a new processor has been installed.

Device Manager reads a registry string to display the processor information. This registry string is populated by the processor when the processor driver is installed. Because the system does not detect that a new processor had been installed, the system does not install a new processor driver. Therefore, the registry string is not updated. Device Manager reads the registry string information for the previous processor.

This problem occurs because the processor driver class installer may not be invoked in the system if the processor is physically replaced with a different processor that is similar to the previous processor. When this problem occurs, the processor description under Processors in Device Manager may not be updated. This problem is only cosmetic, and it does not affect the performance of the computer.

Xbigman wrote: »

OK I uninstalled the cpu driver and restarted. On restart I just end up with the windows 10 symbol (4 blue squares).

Did you give it time for Windows to recognise and install the CPU during boot? Did it hang or did you just reset it?

Xbigman

I've spent a couple of hours on this. I tried everything I can think of and in the end reinstalled the duo cpu and then everything started up ok. Back in went the Quad core and I can't get anything but duo core performance. The bios says its a quad and CPU Z says its a quad but there's only 2 cores in use.

The duo is back in now and the thermal paste is gone. I'll research a bit more but thats it for now.

Many thanks everyone.


Darren

Cycrow

I wouldn't worry about your motherboard not being compatible. If that was the case, the pc wouldn't even POST.

How do you know you are not getting quad core performance when the quad is installed?

have you tried running any cpu benchmarking software to actually test it ?

virgo17

Just a long shot as everything else seems not to have worked.

Assuming the motherboard IS compatible with the new processor, have you tried resetting the BIOS to default settings and rebooting?

Just the remotest chance that the BIOS isn't communicating correctly with the OS.

Worth a try as a last resort.

Scotlands_Lite

TBH it seems a bit of a sideways upgrade, unless you're sure the apps / programs you use can benefit from the extra 2 cores...try comparing both cpus side by side at


http://www.cpu-world.com/

...what's the exact model no. of your Dell PC?


As far as getting all 4 cores of the quad cpu to properly enumerate in the OS, another thing to check is MSConfig, under the advanced boot options...


http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-update/msconfig-the-system-configuration-tool/273dea8e-4cbe-47e9-8489-f400e879ce17

Xbigman

I ran CPU Z which is what I'm basing my belief that only 2 cores are in use on. Of course cpu Z may be testing two cores because the OS is telling it there are only two cores to test. However, when I run the diagnostics the memory tests are carried out by four cores.

It has occurred to me that as I still have the HDD I took out with Vista on it I could put that back in and determine if the OS is the problem one way or another. That might be an option when I have the time in a few weeks.

As for the CPU itself, I did look up some CPU comparisons which concluded the quad core was not that much better than the duo. Those comparisons were made back in 2009 before multi core technology really took off. On more modern applications the quad is vastly superior (50% better performance overall).


Darren