Evergreen 486 Upgrade

Evergreen 486 Upgrade

Law firms everywhere are struggling with upgrading their existing hardware in order to make the switch to Windows 95/NT. Your partners may be whining that, "We only bought these computers three years ago, they have plenty of life left in them." Although firms that still have 386 machines need to put them out to pasture, those with 486 machines can consider replacing only the processor.

I recently ordered an Evergreen Technologies 486 Upgrade from Computer Discount Warehouse. The catalog promised this would upgrade my 486 DX/33 to a Pentium 133 MHz processor. The price was around $100, a pittance in comparison to the value I received.

The first step is to run the diagnostics disk included with the upgrade processor. This utility tests your existing processor to determine if it can be upgraded. You can also benchmark your system to determine how much your computer benefits from the upgrade. This upgrade can handle both socketed chips and those in ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) slots. If your 486 processor is soldered onto the motherboard, you are out of luck.

Before installing the Pentium upgrade, the jumpers should be checked. The manual is very clear and well-illustrated, explaining the various options. Installation of the new processor went smoothly. The computer started flawlessly and I immediately noticed the enhanced speed. According to Evergreen, a 486/33 upgraded to a 133 MHz Pentium will be over twice as fast. The Evergreen 486 Upgrade is a terrific alternative to the Intel OverDrive processor.

If your machine has less than 16 MB of RAM, even this upgrade will not help. Windows 95 is more sensitive to the amount of memory than the processor speed. For example, you can almost double the performance of a Pentium with 8 MB of RAM simply by increasing the memory to 16 MB. Upgrade both the processor and RAM and your performance can be boosted by over 200 percent.

Before you put those 486 PCs out to pasture, consider upgrading their processors. And at these prices, the partners in your firm will be happy.

Evergreen Technologies
(541) 757-0934
www.evertech.com

$129

Reviewed by J. Michael Jimmerson, attorney, author and technology consultant with Altman Weil Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Jun/Jul '98 Issue

Pros
Cheap and effective upgrade for outdated computers.

Cons
RAM still the biggest determinant in performance.

Verdict
Upgrades your 486 to Pentium speeds for a bargain price.