Hi im running an intel celeron processor on an sf2/661fx motherboard the processor is 2.6ghz 448pin,i have software i need to run but it wont work with a celeron processor,it says pentium 4 ,ive checked the specs on the motherboard and it says the max approved processor is pentium 4 ht,can anyone tell me what i need in order to change my system to work from celeron to p4.thanks

You'll need a new processor (and a new heatsink rated for the new processor would be a good idea at the same time). Your options are to go for a similar speed but in a Pentium 4 chip (i.e. a Pentium 4 2.4GHz or better) and to buy a used one off of Ebay or another auction site or from your local computer repair shop that might sell used/refurbished parts.

Alternatively, find a new processor compatible with that motherboard. However, as your motherboard only support socket 478 processors and not the latest socket 775 style processors, you might find it difficult to locate a vendor selling new processors in the correct size and shape to fit your motherboard.

The manual shows how to fit the processor: http://64.124.27.138/ecs/manual/mb/eng/p4/SF2_22.pdf

The fact that it support Pentium 4 and Pentium 4 HT (Hyper-Threading) processors with up to an 800MHz front side bus (FSB) speed is good as this increases your options for which processors you can use. Unfortunately, however, the manual doesn't say specifically which speeds of processors have been tested or are supported on that board. The ECS web site does have a 'CPU support' page but your specific motherboard model isn't listed. A similar motherboard using the 661FX chipset is listed however and that one supports up to a 3.2GHz or 3.4GHz Pentium 4 HT processor. For a relatively low cost, that would be a BIG upgrade from your 2.6GHz Celeron

I hope that helps.

Here's the page that I was referring to: http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Support...uID=48&LanID=8