Compatibility Question

CrimsonChaos

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Mar 28, 2005
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Thanks! Do you know if I can send the processor back to Newegg if it turns out it's the motherboard that is broken (and not the CPU)?
 

DaveSimmons

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Aug 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: CrimsonChaos
Thanks! Do you know if I can send the processor back to Newegg if it turns out it's the motherboard that is broken (and not the CPU)?
Restocking fee, 20%?

What is your main use for the system? It might be better to get an Athlon 64 CPU, motherboard, and some DDR RAM instead of replacing the relatively slow 533FSB P4 CPU.

Also, is your RDRAM speed 800 or 1066? My memory is fuzzy on this, but if you only have PC800 RDRAM you might need to be buying a 400FSB CPU instead of 533FSB.
 

CrimsonChaos

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Mar 28, 2005
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Thanks, DaveSimmons!

If I send it back I get charged 20%??? That stinks.... what if is never opened?

Well it's a replacement board since mine broke. I am using it for gaming. My ram is RDRAM 1066 (4X256MB).

I thought A64 had to have a 939 socket - this is a 478 socket. I'm assuming these are not compatible?
 

DaveSimmons

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Aug 12, 2001
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Right, you would need all of: Athlon A64 CPU, A64 motherboard, DDR RAM.

But it you click on the CPU tab at the top of the page, you'll see that an A64 is much faster than a P4 for games -- even an A64 3000+ is faster than a P4 3.2 GHz with 800 MHz FSB.

Easiest would be to buy one of these P4's from Newegg:
$172 - Northwood 2.66 GHz retail - Item #: N82E16819116145
$175 - Northwood 2.8 GHz OEM (**NEED heatsink!**) - Item #: N82E16819116148
$205 - Northwood 2.8 GHz retail - Item #: N82E16819116147

... but if you sold your RDRAM on eBay you could afford to buy an A64 set (CPU, mobo, DDR RAM) with at least an A64 3000+, maybe a 3200+ - 3500+. Click the CPU tab and do some reading to see if you think the speed gain is worth the extra effort.