Acer Travelmate 3000 - upgrade CPU to 64 bit processor

Hi,

I just inherited an Acer Travelmate 3000 notebook. It is running Windows XP Version 2002 Service Pack 3. My daughter needs a notebook for her Jr. High Band classes. She is supposed to purchase SmartMusic software and use it for daily practice feedback.

Is there any way to upgrade the CPU in this notebook? I have NO experience and would prefer to hire a technical person to do this for me - how much would I anticipate spending on 1) parts, 2) labor? How do I determine which CPU to purchase?



SmartMusic specs are: Windows® XP
•Pentium® 4 or Athlon® 64 class processor or higher*
•512 MB RAM
•DirectX® 9 or later compatible sound card


TravelMate 3000 Series Specifications
Part Number: TravelMate3000 TravelMate 3000


Feature Description
Part Number Varies by model
Processor / Speed Intel Pentium M (730 or higher) at 1.6GHz or higher
2MB L2 cache
Core Logic Chipset Intel 915GM Express
System Bus Speed 533MHz
RAM / Max RAM 256 or 512MB / 2GB
DDR2 400/533MHz soDIMM (Dual channel supported)
Video Subsystem Intel 915GM integrated
supporting up to 128MB shared video RAM
LCD Properties 12.1" WXGA TFT
1280 x 800 x 16.7 million colors
Hard Disk Drive 40GB or higher ATA/100
Floppy Disk Drive No floppy
CD-ROM Drive External IEEE 1394 DVD/CD-RW Combination Drive
(varies by model)
Battery, Primary 53W Lithium Ion 6-cell primary & 22W Lithium Ion 3-cell secondary
6.5 hour battery life with secondary battery
2.5 hour rapid charge, 3.5 hour charge-in-use
Sound Subsystem Audio system with built-in speakers
SoundBlaster Pro and MS-Sound compatible
S/PDIF support for digital speakers
PCCard Support 1 Type II PCCard slot
Pointing Device Touchpad
Peripheral Subsystem 3 USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, VGA, FIR
1 Microphone/Line-in, 1 Headphone/Speakers/Line-out
4-in-1 card reader (MS, MS Pro, MMC, SD)
Modem 56K ITU V.92 PPT approved
Wake-on-Ring ready
Ethernet 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, Wake-on-LAN ready
Intel PRO Wireless 2200BG - 802.11b+g Wi-Fi certified
Dimensions / Weight 11.7" x 8.3" x 1.28"
3.08 lbs (with primary battery)
AC Power 100-240V AC AutoSensing Adapter
Environment
Shock
Operational/Non-Operational 5 G max. pulse / 40 G max. pulse
Vibration
Non-Operational 5-27HZ, 0.16" p-p, 2g peak, 27-500HZ
Temperature
Operational/Non-Operational +5ºC - +35ºC / -20ºC - +50ºC
Humidity
Operational/Non-Operational 10% - 90% / 10% - 90%
Altitude
Operational/Non-Operational 10,000 ft / 40,000 ft
Operating System Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
or Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2
(varies by model)
Warranty Limited 1-year warranty

 

Sorry, Pentium M can't be upgraded to a 64-bit CPU. However, the SmartMusic software doesn't seem to need a 64-bit processor for use.

It's quite rare to come across software that only works on 64-bit computers and while the software requirements mention some 64-bit capable processors (actually not even all Pentium 4 CPUs are 64-bit), it doesn't actually say that you need a 64-bit CPU nor 64-bit version of Windows.

In short, you don't need a 64-bit processor to run the SmartMusic software.

 

I thought "64 class processor" meant 64-bit...
So does my Acer notebook meet the system requirements for SmartMusic?
System Requirements - SmartMusic interactive music software

 

How much RAM does your notebook have installed? You can check by right clicking "My Computer" on the desktop and click Properties. The number should be listed in MB or GB.


Regarding the CPU, they probably should have written:
"Pentium® 4" or "Athlon® 64" class processor or higher

Basically "Athlon 64" is just the name of an older model of CPU, just like "Pentium M." Pentium M is often faster than that of a Pentium 4, so you should be fine.

 

504 MB RAM

 

504MB of RAM should be fine, and same for the sound card.

 

Thank you VERY much for sharing your knowledge with me. I was having a hard time believing the school would suggest software that required such updated computers. I'll buy it and install it.

THANKS!