Upgrading a 478 CPU

[wilska]

I run a P4 Northwood 2.4Ghz 533fsb Socket 478 processor. I have been looking around ebay to upgrade it to something faster and came across P4's with 800fsb. According to my Dell Dimension 8250 documentation, my motherboard runs at 533fsb.

Now if I were to install a 800fsb cpu into a 533fsb motherboard, would the system be stable or declock itself to run at 533fsb?

 

[unibrow1990]

It will saty at 533, the FSB is controlled by the motherboard so changing the CPU can't change it. You should really ook at upgrading to a newer Socket as a P4 is really dated at this point. You can get a cheap AMD dual core and motherboard combo for less than $200 that will give you a massive performance boost over any pentium 4.

 

[wilska]

Hmm, I am just looking to make tiny upgrades to my computer right now. If I had to spend $200, I would just save up and build something that will last me a while. Thank you for the info though

 

[Mussels]

if you buy an 800 FSB CPU for a 533 board, it just wont work. it will NOT downclock, only RAM does that.

 

[BradleyKZN]

The mussels has a very valid point

 

[hat]

Meh... dell. That computer is old enough to not even bother with upgrading anymore. Just build an entirely new computer and set that one aside as your secondary computer, or wipe out the hard drive and sell it if you have no use for a second computer. You can get a decent new computer (just the tower, but you already have monitor/mouse/speakers etc) for around $400.

 

[craigo]

Hi wilska,

I think your best upgrade path for the dell would be RAM rather than CPU... your rig in its highest spec came with a 3.06ghz P4... I doubt youd see a huge benafit for your cash
and the 850e chipset will not support 800 fsb so that limits your choices in CPU..that rig will support a max of 2 gig RD ram...you will have to hunt far and wide..but it is possibe to find...try posting in the wanted to buy part of this forum ..you never know your luck.
Happy Hunting,
Craig0.
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/mature/?iid=SEARCH

 

[Blacksniper87]

Sorry if this is trolling but i recken screw upgrading annd just save for a while and see if you can just buy a new machine

 

[Mussels]

Sorry if this is trolling but i recken screw upgrading annd just save for a while and see if you can just buy a new machine

nah, not trolling. you're actually offering constructive criticism in direct reply to his questions on what he can do to upgrade.

Considering that he's on 478, he can upgrade to just about anything - even something as cheap as an AM2 system with a 4400+ dual core and 2GB of ram on a 780G based board (using onboard video), would utterly destroy his current PC for very little dollar cost.

 

[Error 404]

It is seriously not worth considering upgrading that PC, I use mine as a media centre. I would never think of using it as a main PC.
You would be wasting money by upgrading this, save up and build even a low end PC. An E1200 would easily kick that Dell's ass!
You'll also have a very hard time looking for RDRAM, I once considered upgrading the RAM in mine but then I saw the price and my face was -->

Then I got my current PC as my main gaming comp, and it is brilliant.

 

[icon1]

Sorry if this is trolling but i recken screw upgrading annd just save for a while and see if you can just buy a new machine

same thoughts here.. would be better to save some cash for a moment then buy a whole new rig later.. a cheap amd/intel dual core with ddr2 rams setup will eat the P4 S478 at anytime without throwing up some serious $$$.. in my little opinion

 

[InnocentCriminal]

All depends if wilska can hold out and if the funds are available. It's definitely worth weighing up the pros and cons of upgrading your current PC and then compare the costs to building a new PC.

That's what I would do. You never know, you may find a bargain on the WTB sub-forums that can help kick start a new system.

 

[Mussels]

All depends if wilska can hold out and if the funds are available. It's definitely worth weighing up the pros and cons of upgrading your current PC and then compare the costs to building a new PC.

That's what I would do. You never know, you may find a bargain on the WTB sub-forums that can help kick start a new system.

he can get the fastest CPU that ever existed in 478, and it would still get whupped by a budget new CPU. He then has to worry about ram (DDR2 is dirt cheap these days)

 

[Blacksniper87]

he can get the fastest CPU that ever existed in 478, and it would still get whupped by a budget new CPU. He then has to worry about ram (DDR2 is dirt cheap these days)

That was my opinion even 200 bucks could get him a new system (US dollars not our poor aussie dollars)

 

[Bokteelo]

nah, not trolling. you're actually offering constructive criticism in direct reply to his questions on what he can do to upgrade.

Considering that he's on 478, he can upgrade to just about anything - even something as cheap as an AM2 system with a 4400+ dual core and 2GB of ram on a 780G based board (using onboard video), would utterly destroy his current PC for very little dollar cost.

I have a 4200+ I'd let go of for like $30, just to cover lunch for 2-3 days. ^_^

 

[Mussels]

I have a 4200+ I'd let go of for like $30, just to cover lunch for 2-3 days. ^_^

your CPU, combined with the following

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161677

Under $150 USD, for the core components of a new system that blows his old one away.

Edit: and if he doesnt run a gaming grade video card, he has so many cheap choices in case + PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000090007 1295819208

 

[Chloe]

if you buy an 800 FSB CPU for a 533 board, it just wont work. it will NOT downclock, only RAM does that.

not true. if the cpu is a northwood core, it'll step down. but not to 533. it'll only be running at 400mhz fsb, but it'll run

 

[Mussels]

not true. if the cpu is a northwood core, it'll step down. but not to 533. it'll only be running at 400mhz fsb, but it'll run

got any links to back that up?

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

Yeah I did the same thing on a buddies old rig. Installed a P4 3.0C 800FSB and it did work on a 875P Motherboard.

Intel 875P chipset
AGP 4x/8x slot (1.5V only) with fast write capability
Supports 533/800MHz Intel NetBurst micro-architecture bus
Supports up to 4GB of DDR333 or DDR400 SDRAM memory
Supports single/dual channel memory configuration
Supports ECC memory

http://www.hardwarezone.com.au/reviews/view.php?id=704&cid=2&pg=5

Ohh 1 other thing. I wouldn't recommend upgrading this ancient rig. Time to purchase a new one. The gains you will get even from a New extreme budget build will blow your current rig out of the water.

 

[newtekie1]

I've seen people trying this work one of two ways when tried:

1.) It doesn't work, the computer won't POST due to the BIOS/Motherboard not supporting the CPU.(This is by far the most common)


2.) It works, and the processor runs at the lower FSB speed, and hence a slower speed overall. Usually, this leads to a pointless upgrade, because a 3.6GHz 800FSB processor will only be running at 2.4GHz in a 533FSB motherboard, and usually the processor originally in the motherboard was already pretty damn close to that speed.(It seems like in the current situation, 2.4GHz would be no upgrade at all since you already have a 2.4GHz processor.)

Considering that he's on 478, he can upgrade to just about anything - even something as cheap as an AM2 system with a 4400+ dual core and 2GB of ram on a 780G based board (using onboard video), would utterly destroy his current PC for very little dollar cost.

Building a cheap AM2 or even Socket 775 system would definitely destroy his current sytsem. With the x2 5000+ going for $55 on newegg, a cheap 780g motherboard, and some DDR2 RAM shouldn't cost more than $150, especially if he is willing to buy used off the forums.

 

[craigo]

on an Intel board like the one in that dell the FSB will clock back.

if someone came onto a car forum asking about a better carberettor for thier old 4 cylender vehicle would you tell them to discard thier car and buy a brand new one because its faster?

 

[Mussels]

on an Intel board like the one in that dell the FSB will clock back.

if someone came onto a car forum asking about a better carberettor for thier old 4 cylender vehicle would you tell them to discard thier car and buy a brand new one because its faster?

if it was cheaper to buy a new car... yes

 

[craigo]

some people would prefer an old bmw over a new hyundia

 

[Mussels]

some people would prefer an old bmw over a new hyundia

were talking P4s here on 478. at best they're motorized scooters.

 

[craigo]

that is a $2500AU dell system.. (when it was new)

edit: regardless it was a tech question not a should i buy a new rig post.