Hello all,

I am wanting to upgrade to a faster CPU on my old system for gaming puposes.
my PC specs are as follows:

Dell Dimension 4400
Intel P4 1.7Ghz, 478 Pin uPGA, 256KB L2 Cache
1G RAM
Motherboard: Intel Pendelton D845PT, 400Mhz FSB

A few questions:

1. I have researched some of my Motherboard's capabilities and Intel indicates I can only have a maximum CPU speed of 2.6Ghz, Does this mean I cant use a 2.66Ghz CPU?

2. Does the FSB frequency of the CPU need to match exactly to moterboard's FSB, or if the CPU I install has a faster FSB say 533Mhz, it will work, but just run at the lower 400Mhz speed?

3. I know that the lower case "u" in "478 Pin uPGA" stands for "Microprocessor", but will a CPU that reads just "PGA" or "PPGA" still be compatable with my current motherboard also?

4. A CPU I am currently looking into for my upgrade is a "Intel P4 2.66Ghz, 478 pin PPGA, 533 Mhz, SL6S3" will this work?

Thank you for replies!

Sorry for the delayed response.

Although the 2.6 limit should handle 2.66 and although in general the FSB is backwards compatible all these features become more critical as you max out a board's limitations.

Personally I would not do it as I do not see that Dell 4400 as worth upgrading.

I would start from scratch here. Of course RAM and hard drives; optical drives; PCI cards; etc. can be used in a new system.

A Pentium 4 2.4GHz socket 478 processor would give you a noticeable upgrade (I remember when I replaced my Pentium 4 1.8GHz PC with a Pentium 4 2.4GHz PC and it was definitely a lot better). Having said that, however, I'm inclined to agree with Jephree - it still wouldn't make a great games PC by modern standards unless you spent a lot on a high-powered graphics card to try and keep as much work as possible away from the processor. Brand new PCs are now running 3.2GHz to 3.8GHz Intel processors if they're to be used as gaming PCs.

You referred to the Dimension 4400 as your "old system". Therefore, you may want to consider using the new PC for gaming and then stick a 2.4GHz P4 into the 4400 and keep that for all other stuff.

Hello all,

Can anyone answer this:

My motherboard specs say it can only handle up to a 2.6GHZ processor. I currently have a 1.7 GHZ.

Do you think it would still handle a 2.66GHZ cpu too?

Thanks in advacne for replies,

Antman

thanks all,

I know upgrading a Dell 4400 isnt worth it, but Im only doing to play one new game that will be out very soon. The min cpu speed to play is 2.0 and my current 1.7GHZ cpu just wont cut it. This game will probably take me through at least the next 3 yrs. by then I will be in better financial standing to afford a very nice system.

In answer to your previous question, your motherboard will probably support a 2.66GHz if it has a 533MHz front side bus (FSB). I've come to that conclusion because a 2.6GHz processor running on a motherboard with a 400MHz FSB uses a clock multiplier of 6.5 (that's 2600MHz divided by 400MHz = 6.5 multiplier). To use a 2.66GHz processor, you can tell that you need a 533MHz front side bus because 2665MHz doesn't divide neatly into 400 but it does divide into 533 (2665MHz divided by 533MHz = 5.0 multiplier).

It sounds like your board only has a 400MHz FSB though.

Hope that helps

Thanks DJ! Yes my board only has 400FSB, so your information probably saved me some $$ in buying a 2.66Gjz processor. I will start searching for a 2.4 GHZ then, It may not be as fast but from 1.7Ghz Im sure I will not complain and It will run NWNII just fine, min is 2.0 so I will do Ok.

Originally Posted by DJNafey

In answer to your previous question, your motherboard will probably support a 2.66GHz if it has a 533MHz front side bus (FSB). I've come to that conclusion because a 2.6GHz processor running on a motherboard with a 400MHz FSB uses a clock multiplier of 6.5 (that's 2600MHz divided by 400MHz = 6.5 multiplier). To use a 2.66GHz processor, you can tell that you need a 533MHz front side bus because 2665MHz doesn't divide neatly into 400 but it does divide into 533 (2665MHz divided by 533MHz = 5.0 multiplier).

It sounds like your board only has a 400MHz FSB though.

Hope that helps

DJ, yes my motherboard is 400FSB but will a 2.4 GHZ work then?