Need some help with an upgrade....

[FNP90]

My HDD is failing so I purchased a new HDD and I would like to upgrade my memory and possibly my CPU. My motherboard is an Intel D875PBZ and I have a 2.8GHz CPU w/533MHz system bus. Do I need a 800MHz bus to take advantage of DDR400 memory? My computer is running DDR333 and I only have 512MB. I would like to upgrade to 1GB or 2GB of memory and if I need to upgrade the processor, could I put a 3.2GHz in it? Also, would going to a 3.2 from a 2.8 be noticeable? I mostly use the computer for gaming and in it's current configuration it's not a very good gaming computer. I've been looking on ebay for CPU's and I don't want to end up buying something that wont work in my computer. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I think that for the Intel branded motherboards the bios settings aren't very plentiful. I would try to get an 800Mhz FSb CPU anyhow simply because it's faster than a 533Mhz bus.

You can put a socket 478 CPU into that system. They have them up to 3.4Ghz and any DDR400 memory will work just fine. You really can't overclock Intel motherboards that well, if at all. It also sounds like you wouldn't be the overclocking type anyway. Sure a 3.2Ghz CPU will work, and it may be noticable in benchmarks but everyday use probably not so much. You'll notice the more memory first.

 

[beserker15]

you'll notice some difference in video encoding and maybe load times, but for things like gaming...not so much.

 

[FNP90]

Thanks for the info. I wont be over clocking or anything like that. I was looking at a processor and it said "Some of the motherboards won't support 1M L2 Prescott CPU, please check your motherboard CPU support list before bidding." This processor is a 478, will some 478's not work on my motherboard?

 

[FNP90]

Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a 2GB memory kit? Will dual channel memory work with my motherboard? Is $170 a good deal? Anything I need to look out for or stay away from?

I don't know what to do for a processor so I'm going to put that off. I don't have much money to spend right now and I don't want to make a mistake and buy something thats not compatible with my system. I did some research on my motherboard and I guess it's to old to use the new processors, at least from what I can understand. The number on the board is C26680-205 and I'd need the C26680-206. Anyway, this stuff is very confusing to me.