CPU Replacement - Socket 775

[ForestHIllsRob]

What determines whether the CPU can be upgraded?

I have an Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHZ, Socket 775 on an ASUS motherboard. For general use, including my business as a CPA/Tax adviser, the Pentium is great. I'm not into gaming other than than the three major Train Sim programs.

The option of buying a new computer, and being stuck with Vista, doesn't work for me, even if a dual core or quad core would make Train Sim run perfectly.

Thanks,

Robert

[Hawk]

Basically the motherboard determines the upgrade ability of the CPU, but it will have to be a socket 775 CPU.
You need to check the motherboard specs.

[ForestHIllsRob]

Motherboard Specs

Basically the motherboard determines the upgrade ability of the CPU, but it will have to be a socket 775 CPU.
You need to check the motherboard specs.

Hawk:

What MOBO specs are relevant? The CPU socket is 775, and the computer is an HP purchased in 2004.

Thanks,

Robert

[Hawk]

The MB specs should tell you what the fastest processor speed it's compatible with. There is more than one processor that fits a 775 socket.
Do a Google search for your MB and see what you can find.

[ForestHIllsRob]

CPU Replacement

The MB specs should tell you what the fastest processor speed it's compatible with. There is more than one processor that fits a 775 socket.
Do a Google search for your MB and see what you can find.

Hawk:

Here's the specs:

# ASUS PTGD1-LA Socket 775 ATX MB w/P4 3.4GHz

# General Features:
# Supports Hyper-Threading Technology
# Supports up to 3.4 GHz CPU
# Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.4 GHz pre-installed
# Socket 775
# ATX Form Factor
# 800 MHz Front Side Bus
# Supports up to 4GB DDR266/333/400
# One FDD connector
# RealTek ALC650 8-channel audio with Intel High Definition Audio CODEC
# Supports 4 Serial ATA devices
# Realtek RTL8101L LAN
# 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet controller

Is this compatible with today's processors, i.e dual core and quad core?

Thanks,

Robert

[Hawk]

# Supports up to 3.4 GHz CPU
# Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.4 GHz pre-installed

There's your answer right there. It already has the top processor that MB supports.
In other words, you can't install a faster processor (CPU) without a new MB.

[chucksc]

# Supports up to 3.4 GHz CPU
# Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.4 GHz pre-installed

There's your answer right there. It already has the top processor that MB supports.
In other words, you can't install a faster processor (CPU) without a new MB.

More than likely because HP may not have updated the bios to support newer/faster processors - however you should check that out with HP just in case they have...

FWIW 775 is still a current Intel mobo spec and with the appropriate bios and components on the board will support up to a 3.2 ghz quad (Mine does) but note that is all dependent on what is on the motherboard and what is in the BIOS so check with HP

[Hawk]

Thanks for the help Chuck.
Maybe that will point him in the right direction.

[kevinculla9]

What determines whether the CPU can be upgraded?

I have an Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHZ, Socket 775 on an ASUS motherboard. For general use, including my business as a CPA/Tax adviser, the Pentium is great. I'm not into gaming other than than the three major Train Sim programs.

The option of buying a new computer, and being stuck with Vista, doesn't work for me, even if a dual core or quad core would make Train Sim run perfectly.

Thanks,

Robert

hmm odd you ask this question i built the computer at my store, and that has a p4 3.4 in it....runs all of the train sims just fine as well as all of my work software and even newer games like COD4 im kind of confused as to y you want to upgrade??

Granted my quad core on my gaming system is a whole lot faster.....any way motherboard and chip combos can be had for decent money its all in what you are trying to accomplish.....and BTW Vista is a joke im not very happy with it at all......thats my $.02

[ForestHIllsRob]

CPU Replacement vs. Video Card Replacement

hmm odd you ask this question i built the computer at my store, and that has a p4 3.4 in it....runs all of the train sims just fine as well as all of my work software and even newer games like COD4 im kind of confused as to y you want to upgrade??

Granted my quad core on my gaming system is a whole lot faster.....any way motherboard and chip combos can be had for decent money its all in what you are trying to accomplish.....and BTW Vista is a joke im not very happy with it at all......thats my $.02

Kevin:

Actually, I mentioned the CPU upgrade because many posts here have mentioned the advantages of the new CPU's. Also, I never get the frame rates others mention, both in MSTS and Rail Sim.

What video card do you have in your p4 computer? I'm running the 8500GT, which I purchased when I was much less computer savvy. The 128 bit memory bus is probably the issue. I'm thinking of going to an 8800GT, but I would also need a psu upgrade, as I currently have an Antec 350 watt unit.

Robert

[saxmusickman]

Chipset

In addition to your socket number (i.e. 775), your type of Chipset will also determine what type of processor you can use. While it may be the same pin number, older chipsets will not support Dual or Quad Core procs. If I have read my PC mags correctly, there were two socket types for the Pentium 5 procs - 478 and 775. The 775 was introduced as the P4 was being phased out in favor of Core Duo procs, and only the last of the series of P4's (and Extreme editions) were LGA 775 compatible.

Even if you could, you probablly wouldn't want to jam a dual or quad core proc into and older 775 board. As I said above, the Chipset (the north and southbridge chips that control things such as memory interface and data-flow across the board) probablly would not support the procs top speeds on the Front Side Bus. For exm, my older computer had a Pentium 4 Prescott processor that ran on a board with an 800Mhz front side bus. Thats the max for that board, so it wouldn't do my Q6600 any good in that board, as it can run as fast on an FSB as fast as 1333.

Best thing to do is just build a new computer, starting with the mobo and working up from there. Even though in this economy your cash flow may not be all that good, believe it or not, you could probablly build my computer (Q6600 proc, ASUS Board, 3GB RAM, 1.2 TB Storage) for about half of what I paid this time last year). Memory prices are awesome right now, and I checked out a Q6600 at Frys last week for about $250.

[kevinculla9]

Kevin:

Actually, I mentioned the CPU upgrade because many posts here have mentioned the advantages of the new CPU's. Also, I never get the frame rates others mention, both in MSTS and Rail Sim.

What video card do you have in your p4 computer? I'm running the 8500GT, which I purchased when I was much less computer savvy. The 128 bit memory bus is probably the issue. I'm thinking of going to an 8800GT, but I would also need a psu upgrade, as I currently have an Antec 350 watt unit.

Robert

I am running an 7950GT in my p4 computer.........

on my gaming system i ran an 8800gt until i recently just purchased an 9800GX2......the 8800GT is an awesome card for the money i loved it 100% but yeah you will definelty need a bigger PSU.........

your best be t if you want to upgrade to a dual or quad core is to get a new motherboard....unfortunatly to get full benefit you will need , CPU,Board,Memory, Power supply.......so its pretty much a whole new system...........i just built one for a friend for about $800 with a core2 Duo it was pretty fast and completely upgradable down the road......any way hit me up i'll help you the best i can!!!

[kevinculla9]

.....is your board PCI Express? if not an 8800GT isnt gonna work for you

[saxmusickman]

One last word

This is getting off topic here, but this is really important if you decide to build a computer that you are going to use for gaming.

Do not, I REPEAT DO NOT, put Windows Vista on your computer. I have had this OS since 6:00am the day it was released, and I can tell you straight up that it's not worth the time and energy that you are going to have to expend to get it to run right on ANY computer system. Program, Driver, and Hardware inconpatibilities, as well as new problems that pop up on a week to week basis as you download new hot-fixes and updates will drive you mad! (aka the COM Surrogate error). My biggest beef with Vista though is how much it slows down gaming performance. I can run my route, the W&A, on my Vista rig with an 8500GT video card and get stuttering and poor framerates during the run (yes, I have the latest and greatest of EVERY driver for my system). I can then dual boot and run the same route in Xp, and it's smooth as glass, forwards and back.

Windows is a resource hoggin piece of crap, basically a Windows ME, version 2. Grab you a copy of Widows XP professional while you can!

[daniellouwrens]

Hi

the ASUS site has an excellent support section where you state your MOBO and it tells you which CPU's are compatible, I had a P5SD2-X MOBO with a 3.2 HT installed and was able to install a Pentium D (Dual core) Extreme edition 3.2.

regards

Daniel