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Need some input on this CPU's compatibility.

pantsaregood

Senior member
Feb 13, 2011
993
37
91
I've obtained a 3.06 GHz Pentium 4 Northwood free of charge, but I'm unsure if I can use it.

I intend to use it in an old Dell Dimension 4500S. The board has an i845G Northbridge, meaning it supports 533 MHz FSB CPUs. The newest BIOS supports CPUs with an ID of 0F27h. The current CPU, a 2.66 GHz Pentium 4, has this ID, as does the 3.06 GHz model in question.

The CPU is not officially supported by the BIOS. That much I'm certain about; Dell only claims support for models up to 2.66 GHz. If I had to guess, it is probably because the documentation was never updated after its initial release.

The 3.06 GHz (SL6S5) Pentium 4B has a significantly higher TDP than the 2.66 GHz and 2.8 GHz models. Those models have a TDP of ~70W, while the 3.06 GHz model has a TDP of ~80W. Is the huge gain in TDP a result of HT? The motherboard doesn't support HT, so it won't be enabled. Will the aluminum heatsink/blower fan manage to cool this CPU effectively?

Will the power supply hold up? It is 180W and being pushed to its limit by a PCI FX5200 and the 2.66 GHz P4 mentioned as is. It wouldn't boot Windows with an 8400GS in place of the FX5200.
 

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
It was a long time ago but my Dell 4550 had a 533 bus , 3.06 working in it. Honestly I forget what chipset it used but it did have a 250 watt psu and it worked with a 7800gs agp card.

Ok a real quick google tells it was a 845pe chipset in my Dell 4550 with my 3.06.