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Is it worth upgrading if I get a FREE Intel P4 2.8GHz?

S

spartacuskzm

Senior member
You can see my current specs below - except that I ordered another 512 of Ram today...so 1GB total.

Anyways, a guy I know that works for Intel is willing to give me a free P4 2.8GHz. However that would mean I need a new MOBO & Ram (or could I use my PC2100 Ram??). If I could use the PC2100 Ram, would it hold the system WAY back?

So - is an upgrade worth it considering what I need to (or should) buy? I actually think my current system is pretty capable.

TIA

P.S. No, I would not take the Processor and sell it / Ebay it 😉
 
I'd build a system around it. Is it a 2.8c?

In any case it would be faster than what you have.

And so what if you need to get faster RAM? You will have to eventually anyway. I guess it just depends on if you are willing to pay. You can get a cheaper upgrade than most by getting a good proc free, or you can sell it and keep what you have.

 
do you know if it's a 2.8C or a 2.8B chip? If it's a 2.8C (with 800MHz FSB and Hyperthreading)... I'd say go for it. Otherwise, its a tough call.
 
Is it a 2.8C?? If it is, I would jump on that pretty quick. If it's a 2.8 with 533FSB, then it's a moderate upgrade. You could probably sell your Athlon and motherboard to get enough money for a pretty good motherboard for the 2.8.

 
I know it's the hyperthreading - not sure about the 800 FSB - but I'd assume so since he's already hooking me up.

Lets assume I go for it. I'll recycle my 9700 Pro, Turtle Beach Sound Card & 120GB WD HD. I'll need to buy everything else...any suggestions? Especially looking for help selecting a good MOBO & Ram.

TIA.
 
Originally posted by: spartacuskzm
I know it's the hyperthreading - not sure about the 800 FSB - but I'd assume so since he's already hooking me up.
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If its a HT chip, its either a 800FSB chip or a 533FSB chip that is an ES and unlocked. Either way its good.

 
take it and change over to the Intel Side(muahahaha). But seriously, I think it would be worth the time and effort especially since it seems like it's a C chip. However you might want to think about the future, since we are coming towards the end of the line of P4's, it depends on how often you upgrade your PC...
 
However you might want to think about the future, since we are coming towards the end of the line of P4's, it depends on how often you upgrade your PC...
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That's what I was telling him last night, but he said that the next gen is still "a couple years away". Is that correct? If so, I think yes, I'll jump on it. If it's more like a year away then the only program that might stress my existing system would be HL2 - agreed? BF1942 - my primary waste of time on the comp, works pretty well now and should hopefully work better w/ the addl. 512 of Ram I picked up today.


 
take it and sell it...not much of an increase to have to spend mucho dollars to build a new system. Sell it in FS/FT or Ebay
 
Originally posted by: spartacuskzm


P.S. No, I would not take the Processor and sell it / Ebay it 😉
Click to expand...

eh i don't really understand your intentions. the P4 is expensive when it comes to the performace/dollar ratio. i mean the P4 2.8 would probably be faster than the 2400, but not THAT much

and consider that you won't be selling the P4, but you are getting it for free, if you don't build something with it, would you make a keychain out of it or something? therefore the whole question becomes pointless, since the answer is always : yes. you are building a system out of the P4 instead of using it as a keychain

so there, build the P4 and sell the 2400
 
Take the chip, keep your current RAM, and buy an Abit IS7 refurb from newegg. (those prices will probably be around for <24hrs, mind you). Then sell your old CPU and motherboard and pehaps even make a profit on the deal.
 
does anyone think he might be getting an engineering sample, since he is getting it from an Intel employee? That would be GREAT for overclocking.....
 
My P4 2.4c system blows away my Athlon XP 2100 system. They both had a gig of ram, and fairly fast HD's, but I put a WD raptor in the new system along with ddr 400 mem. I would go Intel for the time being as the Athlon XP is losing it's time in the spotlight (although i still like AMD). The existing P4 socket should give you an upgrade path at least up to the high 3.xGhz speeds, maybe even 4Ghz.
 
Originally posted by: lameaway
Take the chip, keep your current RAM, and buy an Abit IS7 refurb from newegg. (those prices will probably be around for <24hrs, mind you). Then sell your old CPU and motherboard and pehaps even make a profit on the deal.
Click to expand...
This idea gets my vote... Except that I wouldn't buy a refurb board.

 
Unless this Intel employee is stealing from the company, the processor is probably being made available under the employee beta processor program. Under the program Intel employees receive a processor from the company for use in a system by that employee. The idea is that Intel employees can learn more about computers and Intel's product line by putting together a system using the processor.

I picked my beta processor up today.

For what it's worth, the program rules specifically forbid selling the processor, and each beta processor has a unique ID which is assigned to the processor and recorded when the processor is picked up by the employee and this makes it trivially easy to trace back to the employee in the event that it were, for example, to be placed on Ebay.

Whether or not it's worth upgrading depends on what you use the computer for. I am trying to decide how far I want to upgrade my system to use the processor that I received under the program today.
 
OK, I don't want this to be an Intel/AMD thread, but really, that 2.8 (a,b,c) is not that much faster on his current ram than his 2400 is. If you buy a new 875 motherboard, and a gig of fast PC3200 or better ram, then I could see the performance difference, but at what cost ? Still would only be about 10-15% faster. And at $300-$400 (memory/mobo/cooler) for 10-15%. I just don't see it. I would make a new machine and use it for something else or sell it.

Edit: And after reading pm's quote, if they gave it away and came over to use it at a friends house that it was given to, morally, I could see it, otherwise it is not right to sell it.
 
spartacuskzm -

I have a similar Epox 8KHA+ based system and a system with an Asus P4PE (845PE chipset) and 3.06 GHz P4 running side by side. I don't have benchmarks, but the Intel system is noticeably faster. Not a lot, but enough.

If you are a big AMD fan, maybe this isn't your best upgrade. On the other hand, if you upgrade as a hobby, it is worth doing - hyperthreading, 800 MHz FSB, a chance to be using the latest technology for a several months. 🙂
 
Thanks for all the great input everybody. I'm thinking I might just do it...I've almost got enough stuff for two systems...so why not put it to use before it's all totally outdated.

BTW, are there any shuttle (or other brand of "mini") P4 systems that can handle the 800mhz FSB?

FWIW, I never intended to even consider selling the P4 were I to have it given to me. That just wouldn't seem right and is why I stated just that in my initial post.
 
Originally posted by: spartacuskzm
Thanks for all the great input everybody. I'm thinking I might just do it...I've almost got enough stuff for two systems...so why not put it to use before it's all totally outdated.

BTW, are there any shuttle (or other brand of "mini") P4 systems that can handle the 800mhz FSB?

FWIW, I never intended to even consider selling the P4 were I to have it given to me. That just wouldn't seem right and is why I stated just that in my initial post.
Click to expand...

Ill take it for free 🙂

lol and pop it in my dell

🙂 easy come easy go 😀
 
Originally posted by: pm
Unless this Intel employee is stealing from the company, the processor is probably being made available under the employee beta processor program. Under the program Intel employees receive a processor from the company for use in a system by that employee. The idea is that Intel employees can learn more about computers and Intel's product line by putting together a system using the processor.

I picked my beta processor up today.

For what it's worth, the program rules specifically forbid selling the processor, and each beta processor has a unique ID which is assigned to the processor and recorded when the processor is picked up by the employee and this makes it trivially easy to trace back to the employee in the event that it were, for example, to be placed on Ebay.

Whether or not it's worth upgrading depends on what you use the computer for. I am trying to decide how far I want to upgrade my system to use the processor that I received under the program today.
Click to expand...

Patrick, out of curiosity, why do they call it "beta processor"? 🙂

Are you actually getting samples of early Prescott steppings or something?
 
id wait for prescott... the upgrade will be too small for you to notice. with the rig you have id even wait for tejas, thats what im waiting for 🙂
 
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