Dimension 2400 upgrade

[dlakers8]

im new here so hi to everyone.
im working on upgrading my old dell dimension 2400, (yes i know it may be better to purchase a new one, but its something i want to do)

i have already ordered a few things, but am doubting one of my purchases:
i ordered 1GB of PC2700 memory, having upgraded 1GB of memory last year, which will have me at 2GB total (the max from what i understand)

the second purchase, which i AM doubting i bought off ebay, which is a Pentium 4 3.0gHz that i understand is a prescott and has a 800 fsb which may be a problem.
i guess my mistake was i was paying more attention to the socket 478 rather than the other details and after more research i realize this may not be acceptable.

Im not really sure about the return policy off ebay, but is there any way i can make this CPU work by lowering the bus speed in the BIOS or something?

Thanks if anyone could help.

UPDATE:
i just restarted my computer on jumped into the BIOS and from what i saw under the CPU setting was that i could change it between Normal and Compatible. Anybody know if this is the answer to my problem?

Note- did not change or save any changes to the BIOS

 

[dlakers8]

can i please get someones advice?

 

[Ruthe]

Sorry you had to wait ... if you still need help. This is knotty (for me anyway), and everyone here is a volunteer. Most of them never even get a thank you.

But I looked at
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/index.htm
and looked at the tech overview and tech specs.

I did not see the motherboard listed. However, I see that your problem is the FBS. I take it 533MHz just doesn't cut it.

but Intel has some nice pages that may help
to match board and processor
http://processormatch.intel.com/COMPDB/default.aspx
and from this site you can ID the processor, look at their forums.
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/
and here to get to more things
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-023105.htm

I believe you will just be wasting the power of the P4 if you install it. But I do not know for sure. I think your best bet is to look in the Intel Communities or Google front bus speed
http://www.directron.com/fsbguide.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front-side_bus
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/motherboard4.htm

BTW, I applaud upgrading old machines. Better than in landfills.

Good luck.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

Your motherboard has an 845GV chipset, which limits it to 400MHZ and 533MHz FSB CPUs with 512KB or lower L2 cache. So the Prescott CPU you bought won't work. The board probably won't even POST with it.

 

[dlakers8]

it may have been somewhat late...but to you both..thanks anyway for advice. Ruthe, those are some good websites so i'll probably bookmark a few if i ever find myself needing them.

Just for an update on my trouble, i was able to return the Pentium 4 3.0 Prescott and after further research I ordered a Pentium 4 3.06 Northwood with a 533mhz fsb.(the best possible processor for this type of computer) you were both correct and the 800fsb was a problem. (i never even tried to install it in fear i might damage the motherboard)

After receiving the new and correct Pentium 4, i went to Radioshack for some thermal compound, and went about installing the new processor. To my pleasure everything worked flawlessly, and combined with the maximum of 2GB RAM, and a new NVIDIA Geforce 5200 video card, my computer is running smoother and more efficiently than ever. (In the BIOS I was even able to enable Hyper Threading, for enhanced processing)

I guess the only thing left to upgrade is the sound card, but that can wait.
actually dont laugh, but i even installed a floppy drive, (it worked surprisingly, considering the age of it) as i had an extra one sitting in a closet for years from on old computer, and i figured it couldnt hurt. however i did need to mold a bracket, cause dell doesnt provide it, and i decided to waive buying one, but dont worry its screwed in and professional esque, but i dont recommend this for those not knowing what to do

Anyways, hope this thread helps any future Dimension 2400 upgraders.

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

You're welcome, thanks for taking the time to report back.