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Does L2 size affect CPU<->MB compatibility?

K

klandingham

Junior Member
I wanted to search for this question before asking, but the forum web interface I am getting doesn't have search function.

I want to upgrade the processor on an older machine I have. The motherboard is an ECS P4S5A, and it's currently maxed out on memory (2 GB), but there is a little growth headroom on the CPU: currently there is a 1.8 GHz P4 in it.

If I go to ECS's CPU compatibility page for this board:

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Support/CPU_Support_Model.aspx?detailid=38&MenuID=69&LanID=9

...I see quite a few P4's listed as being supported, and the largest L2 size listed is 512 KB.

Is there any reason to suspect that an otherwise equivalent P4 having 1 MB of L2 cache would not also work with the board?

Thanks!
 
There is no inherent compatibility issue between the size of L2 and a motherboard. But often times newer generation CPUs require newer boards, and it is not uncommon the newer CPUs come equipped with bigger L2. Which CPU are you looking to upgrade to?
 
Yes, because the P4 CPUs with 1MB of L2 cache are Prescotts, and P4 CPUs with 512KB of L2 cache are Northwoods. Different series of CPUs, and they require BIOS/mobo support for each variant of CPU.
 
Ah...I wasn't aware that L2 sizes correspond to codenames. The MB support page specifically states Northwood's.

Thank you.
 
Larger or Smaller L2 Cache doesn't always mean a new codename. It just does in this case and maybe a few others.
 
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