Motherboard - Processor upgrade question - is it worth it?

[geoffkin]

So I figured out which board I have, it's 3rd from the bottom on this page...(6ABX2C)

Luckystar page

Now how do I know for sure what the fastest CPU it can handle is? Since it just lists P3's, it can handle all of them? I'm currently running a P3-500 flipchip on it at 667.
Also, will getting a faster CPU help make this box noticeably faster? I have 512 RAM PC100 RAM and would like to hold off buying a whole new machine for as long as possible.
I'm thinking maybe the Ultra DMA-33 might limit my drive speed enough to make a CPU upgrade kinda pointless or no? THANKS for any input!

Hmm...found this at Newegg for $83, think it would work?

Intel Celeron (Pentium III based) 1.4GHz 256K 100MHz FSB FCPGA2 Processor Retail Boxed Version
Specifications:
CPU:1.4 Ghz
Type:Tualatin .13 Micron
Cache: 256K
BUS: 100MHz
Socket: FCPGA2
Retail (Box with Heatsink and fan)

 

[geoffkin]

Here are the SPECS and the review by Sharkyextreme on my board.
SPECS

Can I avoid getting a new board or no? I'd rather just pop in a new cpu into this board if possible to get good perf. gains.

 

[Peter]

There is no generic "more performance". What's too slow, and what stuff is in there besides board and CPU?

You need to identify what bottlenecks YOUR application, and then go buy replacement stuff to eliminate that. Repeat until out of money.

regards, Peter

 

[Kingofcomputer]

This board is 440BX board, supports up to Coppermine FCPGA only, not Tualatin FCPGA2.
You must do socket mod or buy expensive Powerleak FCPGA2 to FCPGA converter (the price includes Celeron 1.4 is equal to a new P4 cpu + motherboard).

 

[Peter]

... and even with those, it's highly unlikely that it'll work properly ... because no BIOS engineer in their right minds wastes their time to make a BIOS support stuff that the hardware can't run anyway.

 

[geoffkin]

Yah, I got that much, that I need a processor for it that has a 100 Mhz frontside bus. So which ones are the fastest that will work? Celeron and P3? How much faster does a celeron have to be, to outperform a P3? I want to get most bang for the $$$, not the FASTEST possible out of this system. I just put an AGP Geforce 3 TI-500 in it for $103. Finally got rid of the VOODOO 3. So I have plenty of RAM, so probably the only other slow thing is the hard drive?

 

[geoffkin]

Another specific question I can think of is: The board is Ultra ATA 33. Does that refer to the fastest drive I can use? THAT would slow down the whole system, no? Will a faster CPU than ~610 Mhz be of any use with that slow a drive?

 

[Vette73]

If you are replacing the board and CPU you are better off getting a P4 or Athlon XP setup that can be upgraded and will last longer. You can get a good KT333 board for $75 and a Athlon XP 1600+ for $55.


EDIT, sorry, didn't see you only want to up the CPU.
BUT if the Board is a 440BX you will not get much gain if you are already at 667Mhz. The 440BX was great, for its day, but its time to move on. Try and sell your setup to get a little cash and just build a new system. It can be done for less than $500 if you already have a monitor.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

so you want to re-use your 512M pc100 sdram.
you should consider one of the followings:
Duron and socketA sdram mb
P4-any 400Mhz fsb/Celeron 1.7+ and 845 sdram mb
Celeron 1.4 and P3 Tualatin sdram mb

You can use even ATA133 HD on your old motherboard, but the interface transfer speed will be max at ATA33/UltraDMA33.
Current 7200rpm HD have 50-60MB/s internal transfer speed, so ATA33 interface is not enough now.

 

[jaybee]

Chuck the mobo and get an XP1600+ and a cheapo SDR board that'll take the XP. I've got a KT133a board, but it won't fsb overclock well (pretty sure it's the northbridge overheating). I think there's a good SiS solution. You should pay <$150 for mobo+cpu+hsf. Don't go PIV, they're too sensitive to memory speed.

jaybee