swapping a 486DX-33 for a 486DX2-66

[batboy]

Ok, I'm working on some antique systems to give away for charity, I've given away two 133 MHz and one AMD 266 MHz systems already. Got another AMD 233 box almost ready too. But, I've also got a couple 486 boxes and parts from a third 486 box that I'm now trying to combine to make one or two running systems. Can I swap in a 486DX2-66 CPU in place of a 486DX-33? There appears to be no jumpers for multipliers, FSB, or voltage on the motherboard. I read at one place that the DX2 just runs twice as fast as the regular DX and all you have to do is drop it into the socket. That almost sounds too easy. Anyone that used to work on this old stuff remember what needs to be done to swap these chips?

[Bender]

I think you should be able to upgrade to the faster chip but you will probably have to have a chip puller. The old sockets werent ZIF.

[batboy]

The DX2-66 is mounted in a ZIF, but that mobo has serious problems. One of the other boards also has a ZIP, but I think maybe the third doesn't, can't remember for sure. This stuff is in the shop at work and I'm home right now. I have a buddy that does have a chip puller though.

I do know the DX-33 and the DX2-66 are both 33 MHz FSB. If I'm reading an article right, the DX2-66 has a built in 2X multiplier. Guess I can swap it in and try it. The worse thing that can happen is that it will only run at 33 instead of 66. Any other comments or suggestions?

[Snarkey]

I do a lot of that kind of thing. The wife works in substance abuse and the "graduates", well they've been out of touch with the world for quite awhile. I've put together some boxes for them. 486's (at least 66), pent100's-200's and the like. Older AMD's. Socket 7 stuff. Straight word processing, internet, e-mail. My goal is for very stable, no problem machines. Win95 on the 486's and 98 on the rest. No oc'ing. I start at spec and just throw in the next higher chip. Here's a site that can head you right. The homework is the fun part. Try "motherboards.org"

[batboy]

After serveral hours of research, I now know enough about 486 systems to be dangerous. The simple answer to my question of can I upgrade a 486DX-33 to a 486DX2-66 without changing any settings or jumpers seems to be... YES! The DX2-66 runs at 33 MHz bus (the same as the DX-33) and has an internal 2X multiplier (compared to the 1X multiplier of the DX-33). The voltage is the same and it appears to be a no brainer upgrade and a simple way to double the speed. Yippee!