Motherboard Assistance updating

[CONTE_TIR]

Ok, so here´s the deal:

I want to add more RAM to my PC, cause it´s kinda old, and I just have 256Mb, now, the RAM I can only use in this motherboard is DIMM SDRAM PC100/PC133 and I know that sux, so I´m thinking that I need to upgrade my motherboard so I can use DDR or DDR2, right?, and maybe changing to a faster cpu.

Now, I was reading something here and there, and I still have this question:

If I have a Intel Pentium 4 cpu that runs at 1.70GHz, can I use that same cpu in my motherboard upgrading?, I mean, as far as I understood, the pentium has this thing about 478 pin and 775 pin and something about mPGA, and while I was looking for some motherboards, some of them say stuff like they can take a pentium 4 cpu until 3.8 or 3.4,etc, and they say something like socket 478, or some stuff like that, and I guess that If a motherboard is designed for Intel pentium 4, then u can put in any processor PIV until certain point, right? or I´m understanding everything wrong.

Well, I´m asking this, beacuse I really need to have more and new RAM for some of my applications and that sometimes I need to open a lot of stuff at once and the computer speed goes down like crazy, but I don´t have the money to buy the motherboard + 1GB RAM + new cpu, say 3.2 - 3.4 GHz all at once, so I want to buy the motherboard and RAM and in one month or 2 buy the new processor, but I need to know if my possibility of adding my actual cpu to the new motherboard can be done, and then put the new cpu later.

So, if u guys can help me out explaining the things I need to know if I can do this , and If I´m going on the right track and If u could recommend some models for the motherboard, the RAM and some processors too, then that would be just great. If u could recommend me some hardware that I could check out and that u know its hi-quality but not that expensive, I mean, not the cheapest, but nor the highest tech so I have to sell my whole computer just to buy RAM ^_^

Well, thanks a lot and please let me know.

Conte_tir

final note: Oh!, I forgot, do I have to change my power supply too?¿, thx.

[pop pop]

The first question is what motherboard/PC do you have right now?

You have a P4 @ 1.7? I don't think so. The only current Intel chip at 1.7 that I know of is a Pentium M, and I doubt you have that. I forget PIII speeds now, maybe that's what you have.

Next, what do you primarily use your computer for? What do you want to use the upgraded PC for? What is your budget?

[CONTE_TIR]

ok, I´m sorry but I don´t really get what u mean mmm...here:
"The only current Intel chip at 1.7 that I know of is a Pentium M, and I doubt you have that. I forget PIII speeds now, maybe that's what you have."

what I think u are saying is that I don´t actually have a Pentium 4 in my PC, but instead a pentium III, and if that´s the case, well I desagree, u can check this page and look at some P4 processors, their speeds and pin and other stuff, that´s why I think I can actually use my actual cpu P4 at 1.7Ghz on a more advanced motherboard that I can put a P4 at 3.4Ghz in the future for example:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/scr...+on+selections

I use my computer for playing and the use of applications like photoshop CS which now I want CS2, but can´t because it would be really slow, and software I wanna use like 3D max or stuff like that, which I can´t cause the lack of memory.

the budget isn´t that important, it goes up and down, but that´s why I need some advice on products and prices, so I can now know how much would I need to start doing that stuff and to see if it´s a good plan or I´ll just have to wait more time, cause if I can do that, I can start working with these programs right now instead of keeping on the waiting cause the cpu speed is still acceptable, but as I mentioned, I really need the RAM, and eventually add the other cpu.

[pop pop]

Ohhh, they did make P4s at those speeds. Well, we still don't know your mobo. I presume you are using XP as your OS. If you don't want to make the plunge right now about all you can do is add RAM. RAM is insanely cheap in general (1GB is about $80), but the savings don't really translate as much to PC100/133 just because it's so old. If I was only going to add RAM, I would add another 256MB stick like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820136009

To be absolutely safe, you could go to Crucial.com and use their configurator to get RAM that is garranteed 100% to be compatible with your mobo/PC.

Bringing your RAM up to 512MB will help, but because it's PC100/133 you'll spend more on it in relative terms. Plus the CPU speed being what it is and the FSB being 400, well...I wouldn't try more than 512. You could give that a shot and see if it helps.

As for the next path you're interested in--keeping that CPU and buying a new mobo--that might bring in some configuration wrinkles I'm not comfortable with. Newegg does not even list any socket 478 mobos with a 400FSB. Maybe Saphalline will chime in.

[CONTE_TIR]

yeah, u know?, I thought about only upgrading RAM, but I mean pc100/133 is really old tech, so that´s why I think it´s good time to change to DDR or DDR2 and change processor too, and changing to a better motherboard gives me the option of seeing some changes in graphics too, cause this motherboard has AGP X4 , and my video card can take up to 8x, so I guess that helps too, and yeah, I know about the 400FSB and that actual processors need 800/533FSB but I think (I know I´ve seen, or else we would need to call mythbusters) some motherboards that say they are 400/ 533 /800 FBS or something like that, at first I didn´t understood really well what that meant, but after all this, I came to understand that there was the chance/possibility to have a P4 processor from different speeds on a motherboard, that´s why it comes to my original question again:

Is there the possibility of having my actual P4 processor be used in a more advanced Motherboard which then I can upgrade the cpu in a near future?
I feel like there´s really a chance of making that happen, but u know, because I´m not really an expert in hardware, that´s why I come here and look for answers.

You see, I would really love to start using those programs earlier, and beacuse of those changes, do I have to change the power supply too?, cause I guess that would add something else to buy.

So , really guys, if anyone knows about this weird stuff I´m trying to accomplish here, it would be really nice to understand how things work and have an answer and know about models and prices and solutions.

U know,about the crucial.com thing u talk about, yeah, I did the test a while ago, like 2 months, and it came up with the same thing, that I need to change to another motherboard, in fact, I think that´s why all of this started haha!.

[jlreich]

There are motherboards out there that support 400/533/800MHz FSB. Newegg just doesn't list them this way, but if you click on the manufacturers link it will give you more info. So you can do what you are wanting to do.

But socket 478 is old technology. Not much in the way of an upgrade path. Also if you are wanting to use the latest graphics programs like CS2, going to socket 775 is going to give you much better upgrade options and much better performance for high end graphics.

My suggestion is for the newer technology. And no it doesn't have to the best or most expensive out there. I understand what you are wanting to do, but I think there are better alternatives. It just doesn't make sense to base a core system upgrade on the ability to use an old CPU till you can get a new one.

If you still want to go with 478 that's fine, but you still need to give us a budget for us to properly advise you either way you go. Also current system specs/model so we know if your PSU can handle what we recommend, and what other components you will be reusing.

Also just so you know, if you plan on keeping you AGP card, going from 4X to 8X AGP slot most likely will not make a difference that you will notice.

[CONTE_TIR]

There are motherboards out there that support 400/533/800MHz FSB. Newegg just doesn't list them this way, but if you click on the manufacturers link it will give you more info. So you can do what you are wanting to do.

But socket 478 is old technology. Not much in the way of an upgrade path. Also if you are wanting to use the latest graphics programs like CS2, going to socket 775 is going to give you much better upgrade options and much better performance for high end graphics.

My suggestion is for the newer technology. And no it doesn't have to the best or most expensive out there. I understand what you are wanting to do, but I think there are better alternatives. It just doesn't make sense to base a core system upgrade on the ability to use an old CPU till you can get a new one.

If you still want to go with 478 that's fine, but you still need to give us a budget for us to properly advise you either way you go. Also current system specs/model so we know if your PSU can handle what we recommend, and what other components you will be reusing.

Also just so you know, if you plan on keeping you AGP card, going from 4X to 8X AGP slot most likely will not make a difference that you will notice.

u know? that sounds all good and nice, and well yeah, now u give me a doubt about buying or just waiting more time, the thing is that I have right now $200, that´s why I wanted to do this the way I thought it would be faster to star off, and I was kinda happy cause I just spend the last hour looking for motherboards and found that detailed thing about 400/500/800, so now I know it´s supported, but now what u say sounds logical, soooo, I guess that now it depends on what can u recommend me, u know getting the best performance with certain budget.

So, let´s say I end up having $500-$600, and forgetting about that cpu usage thing,let´s buy all new, what kind of thing u recommend buying?, u know I want 3 things:

-motherboard for P4(that I can use to upgrade other stuff in the future, like RAM, cpu , video card)

-RAM (I guess DDR2 is better than DDR, right?, I guess that I really need to have 1GB so it can last long, so that goes for the motherboard)

-CPU P4( something that goes over 3 Ghz , and I don´t know that much about HT tech, but seems to be pretty cool thing, and doesn´t seem to be expensive, right? ^_^)

So, any suggestion, please let me know.

um, and for the PSU, I think that is the power supply unit, right?, um, seems like I can´t tell you that right now, but if I need to buy another, or if you could tell me what kind of thing I´m supposed to be needing, let me know.

and if I have to spend a little more of the already said budget, then let me know too, so I can see what to do about that.

NOTE: oh yeah, I forgot, I would be re-using, well, my HD (only 40GB ), my Nvidia FX 5500 (and oldie one, but still makes the job done), my CD-RW and DVD RW drives, floppy drive (yeah, I still use floppy sometimes ), and I guess that would be it, unless my PSU doesn´t have to go away.

CONTE_TIR

[pointone]

Let us know what you do / plan on doing with your computer so we can help you pick out the best possible parts. Is it just for web browsing, word processing, etc.; gaming; 3D modeling; server; etc.

If you want a gaming machine, you might want to look into AMD CPUs, as they're currently the better performers on that front.

[CONTE_TIR]

Let us know what you do / plan on doing with your computer so we can help you pick out the best possible parts. Is it just for web browsing, word processing, etc.; gaming; 3D modeling; server; etc.

If you want a gaming machine, you might want to look into AMD CPUs, as they're currently the better performers on that front.

dude, I said previously that I use it for playing, but on graphic programs too, and AMD doesn´t sound bad, but I think I prefer a pentium, and some of the tips previously mentioned:

Also if you are wanting to use the latest graphics programs like CS2, going to socket 775 is going to give you much better upgrade options and much better performance for high end graphics.

So, let´s say I end up having $500-$600, and forgetting about that cpu usage thing,let´s buy all new, what kind of thing u recommend buying?, u know I want 3 things:

-motherboard for P4(that I can use to upgrade other stuff in the future, like RAM, cpu , video card)

-RAM (I guess DDR2 is better than DDR, right?, I guess that I really need to have 1GB so it can last long, so that goes for the motherboard)

-CPU P4( something that goes over 3 Ghz , and I don´t know that much about HT tech, but seems to be pretty cool thing, and doesn´t seem to be expensive, right? ^_^)

So, any suggestion, please let me know.

I would be re-using, well, my HD (only 40GB ), my Nvidia FX 5500 (and oldie one, but still makes the job done), my CD-RW and DVD RW drives, floppy drive (yeah, I still use floppy sometimes ), and I guess that would be it, unless my PSU doesn´t have to go away.

what do you think?, give me your ideas.

[saphalline]

Whew! You guys gave me a looong thread to read before I could make any comments!

Silly pop pop! Yes, they made P4's all the way down to 1.3GHz, although these were only given to launch parter OEM's like Dell and HP. Resellers were given 1.4GHz P4's as the minimum. The P4 first debuted in 2001, so it's a bit of an oldie now, but Intel keeps cranking away at it and making it better, so I guess I can see how you would be "lost in time" with the P4.

As for the PIII, that went all the way up to the vapor-ware 1.53GHz version, but I've only ever heard of people verifying the existence of the 1.4GHz PIII-S version. Useless knowledge about CPU's, perhaps, but I've got tons of this sort of data trapped in my head...

EDIT - Ok, changing recommendations because it's late and I forgot something really important about the P4 1.7. Namely the fact that it was only ever made with the Willamette core, and not the Northwood core. This brings about an unfortunate situation.

CONTE_TIR - I'm afraid the only hardware magic that I can weave for you is to recommend either sucking it up and buying some more SDRAM for now, or saving up some more money for a total core upgrade (including the PSU). Or both.

The problem is that while your P4 1.7 may indeed be Socket 478, and not Socket 423 (in which case you'd be totally screwed!), the core revision of the 1.7GHz speed version is such that it's incompatible with the later Socket 478 chipsets. And I don't think that upgrading to one of the older chipsets can technically be called "upgrading" at this point. Yes it would let you use cheaper DDR RAM, but that's about the only benefit. The bad part is that you'd be making a half-step up when your system is currently about 5 steps behind! That's not cost-effective at all!

My suggestion to save you some money while at the same time improving your performance, allowing you to use DDR RAM, and not forcing you to upgrade every single main component you have is to buy a new Socket 478 Celeron D core. That way you could keep your vid card at the very least, and it would save you money on the CPU since Celeron D's are much cheaper than P4's (relative to your budget).

If you want to go forward with this, or if you have a completely different idea, let us know and we can work from there. And sorry for my previous incorrect info (if any of you read that while I was typing this fix).

[jlreich]

I figured that 1.7 wasn't a Prescott core, just hadn't looked it up yet.

Anyway CONTE_TIR, Saphalline is the master at putting together a good cost to performance machine. Just let him know which way you are wanting to go. Or if you have any more questions just say so. I know we have kind of jumped all over the place on this one.