Intel P4 2.0GHz on a 865 Chipset???

[Overkast]

Hey guys. I'm giving a friend advice on upgrading some parts in his machine, but he doesn't have enough money to do too much upgrading.

He currently has a P4 2.0GHz (400FSB) CPU, 512MB of Rambus RDRAM, and an Intel 850 mobo built into a Dell machine.

It's gonna cost him so much money to upgrade his RAM to 1GB (if he doesn't want to mix manufacturer brands/models), that I'm suggesting to him to get a new mobo and DDR ram.

However, I'm looking at Intel's site for mobo specs, and there's indication that the chipset for a 400FSB CPU is the 845 chipset. Yet mobos that support 800/533/400 are listed as 865+ chipsets.

If I buy one of these mobos (so he can upgrade his CPU in the future), then will his P4 2.0 CPU still work on it even though it's an 865 chipset?

 

[LTC8K6]

Look up the board on the MFG's website and make sure it supports the 400mhz fsb before you buy it.

I believe the Intel boards do not support it, but the 3rd party boards often do.

 

[MichaelZ]

some manufacturers dumped willamette support on 865PE and 875. if it's a willamette core then it might not work. however if it's a northwood (2.0A Ghz) then it will be fine.

 

[o1die]

Have you ever upgraded a Dell. Your friend will need a new case, due to the proprietary connection from the dell case to the mobo. Be sure he has enough money for the case before he orders a mobo.