Processor replacement quiz!

[fimbles]

Hey.

As my pc gets towards its twilight years and battlefield 2 makes it smoke slightly, im considering upgrading my processor from the crappy 2.8 ghz celeron to something a bit more powerfull..

Thing is though im a bit thick and i am not sure which processors i could use?

Ahhh the specs..

2.8 ghz celeron (=crap) processor
512 mb ddr ram
ati radeon 9600 pro 256 mb ( slightly crap also )

My motherboard model is
Columbia V (GA-8SIML-NF5) Ver 2.0
Columbia V (GA-8SIML-NF5) Ver 2.0
Type: µATX motherboard
Manufacturer: Gigabyte

Any suggestions would be great.. also some indication on how hard this is to do would be cool!!

Thanks in advance

 

[bushwhacker]

ohh boy, eight-six your motherboard and processor and go to nice ASUS P5P800-E and the Intel 3.2 GHz HT with 2MB L2 cache (very nice less than $375)

 

[JMMD]

I would recommend another 512MB of ram as well.

 

[DonNagual]

Thing is though im a bit thick and i am not sure which processors i could use?

According to HPs website your motherboard supports:

CPU Support

* Socket mPGA 478B
* Supports Intel P4 FC-PGA2 (Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array), 1400 MHz to 2800 MHz.
* Warning: not all the above processors have been qualified.
* 100 MHz (x4 = 400 MHz) data bus support (Quad-Bumped technology).
* 133 MHz (x4 = 533 MHz) data bus support (Quad-Bumped technology).

 

[fimbles]

Thanks for the replys..

Quiz part 2

Is this hard to do or is it just a matter of swapping the bits and peices round and switchng back on?

Also is it worth upgrading the motherboard aswell or should i just go for the pentium4 2.8 ghz? (which i think is the limit?)1400 MHz to 2800 MHz.)


I dont realy think ill be needing any more slots for a while.

 

[DonNagual]

Found you a good list of what you can slide in there:

http://tw2005.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/CPUSupportList/CPUSupportList_GA-8SIML (Rev 2.0).htm

Looks like the 400Mhz Northwood P4s are your best bet.

The process is fairly simple if you are technically inclined. Here is a basic description of the process:

http://compreviews.about.com/od/tutorials/ss/DIYCPU.htm

As to your question of whether or not it is worth the upgrade....
I think you'd notice the difference if you upgraded it, but it all depends on how much you can get the CPU for.

For BF2 you'd also need to get yourself a newer video card (as you already know) and at least a gig of ram for that game... cha ching.

 

[fimbles]

Donagual!! you are a star! thank you for your time googling this stuff!!
Everyone else thanks also!!!!

Since this post i have beeen offered a pentium 2.8 ghz as a pose to a celeron of the same speed for 70 pounds! good deal??????????

Same motherboard... is it worth upgrading??


Is 8x AGP worth the cost? (as a pose to 4)??

 

[sllewe]

Since this post i have beeen offered a pentium 2.8 ghz as a pose to a celeron of the same speed for 70 pounds! good deal??????????

Not bad. Northwoods are no longer being made, so they are a pretty rare find, and when you do find them, they are ussualy a bit pricey.

Same motherboard... is it worth upgrading??

Not really. It would allow you to get a different video card, and CPU (more recent) but if you want to keep your old parts, replacing a mobo just for better performance (other then OCing) no.

Is 8x AGP worth the cost? (as a pose to 4)??

Simply put, you would not notice the difference. And snice agp 8x is backwards compatible with 4x. No.

Sean

 

[fimbles]

Thank you!!

Sorted..

Pentium 2.8 it is..

Or northwood..( if i can get one cheap!)

 

[sllewe]

Wait...is the 2.8 P4 your talking about a northwood core? Was i wrong?

 

[fimbles]

Erm..


The northwood , up to a 2.6 ghz woulg go in..(i think?)
Or a intel pentium4 2.8 ghz..


(Think ill be looking at the intels though.. moneys a bit tight at the mo!!)