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Four year old PC running on XP with AMD Duron Processor MMX , 600 Mhz.
I wish to install Photoshop which requires 800 Mhz.; Will it run OK or should I fit faster processor, and is it safe to do so?
Thanks
Tez

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Short answer: it can be possible, but compatibility and cost-effectiveness matter more than raw clock speed. Given 's IBM Netvista 2248 on an AOpen MK33, the board's socket, chipset and BIOS determine which faster CPUs (if any) will work. Photoshop's "800 MHz" is a minimum; real responsiveness also depends heavily on RAM and disk scratch space, so a small CPU bump often gives less benefit than adding memory or improving the scratch drive.

Practical checklist before buying a processor:

  • Identify the board socket and current BIOS version (look at the POST screen or Windows System Information / msinfo32).
  • Consult the motherboard/IBM CPU support list and BIOS update notes to see which CPUs are officially supported.
  • Confirm FSB and core-voltage compatibility; a mismatched voltage or FSB can prevent booting.
  • Verify heatsink retention and that the PSU can handle any higher TDP.
  • If the BIOS does not list the new CPU, a BIOS flash might add support but carries a real risk of bricking the board—use only official updates and follow instructions.
  • If the system won't boot after a swap, clear CMOS (jumper or remove battery briefly) before assuming the chip is bad.

Practical recommendation: for Photoshop on an older Socket-A machine, increasing RAM (to 512 MB or more) and assigning a dedicated scratch disk produces bigger, cheaper improvements than hunting for obsolete CPUs. As suggested, a low-cost motherboard+CPU+RAM bundle or a refurbished PC is often the most sensible path. Always back up data, label cables before disassembly, and verify any replacement part against the board's official support list before buying.

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Member Avatar for nizzy1115

your motherboard determins what processors your computer can handle. Photoshop is a pretty demanding piece of software requiring lots of ram and a fast processor to do anything efficently. It may be more woth your money to upgrade your whole computer.

If you wish to upgrade, tell us what motherboard you have, or if it is a store bought computer (ie. sony, dell, compaq, etc) tell us its make and model number and i will find out if you can upgrade and how fast it is possible to do so to.

Member Avatar for tez

your motherboard determins what processors your computer can handle. Photoshop is a pretty demanding piece of software requiring lots of ram and a fast processor to do anything efficently. It may be more woth your money to upgrade your whole computer.

If you wish to upgrade, tell us what motherboard you have, or if it is a store bought computer (ie. sony, dell, compaq, etc) tell us its make and model number and i will find out if you can upgrade and how fast it is possible to do so to.

Hi
It's an IBM Netvista 2248. with AMD Duron. The motherboard is given as AOpen MK33 (3PCI, 1 AGP, 3SDR)
I had an extra hard drive fitted a couple of years ago (20Gb) in addition to the paltry 10Gb. 320MB RAM. On XP.

Member Avatar for nizzy1115

I think you can upgrade to around 850-900 mhz amd athalon with that board (dont quote me on that because i havent found any crediable site that directly states this), but i think you will have a hard time buying a processor for this to upgrade because no one sells them anymore. I think your best bet will be to purchase a $70-80 motherboard and processor combo from a site like tigerdirect or newegg and get a stick of 512 ram for $30 and use your existing rom drives/graphics card/hard drives because it seems like this is one of those cases where upgrading is just not really worth it.

Member Avatar for tez

OK thanks for your help.
Tez

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