Sorry about this newbie question - Upgrading the processor on a Dell 8100 (can I use a socket 478 P4?)

[sxr7171]

I have a 1.7 Ghz P4 and I know I'm capped to 2.0 GHz since those are the last socket 423 P4s Intel put out. But in the article on this site about the new form factor it was mentioned that a socket adapter wouldn't be too hard to make. Does anyone know if those actually have been made? I really want to try to get a Northwood with its 512kb L2 cache and higher speeds. Even nicer would be a way to put a nice 2.53 Ghz P4 with its 533Mhz frontside bus. But I don't think my Dell motherboard allows me to mess with things like that or if anyone has figured out to do so. I suppose its a lot easier to just go out and build your own machine to do the things I want to do, but I'm stuck with this thing for a while and will certainly build my own the next time I need a new machine. Thanks for putting up with these possibly irritating questions.

 

[Zim Hosein]

sxr7171, besides finding the proper socket adapter that you need [ I don't know if one is made ]; I believe the main limiting factor is your MB, as if you MB doesn't support a faster processor, you might not even be able to POST.

 

[Shide1]

Go to powerleap they have S423 to S478 adaptors. The only problem is that these adaptors only take s478 willmettes not northwoods.

 

[sxr7171]

Thanks, shide 1, for that information on powerlaep they some good information on this sort of stuff.

Zim Hosien, I just didn't want to ask some thing that may have been asked a hundred times before, I tried searching but i didn't find anything. I figured that may have pretty sinful to be asking about a Dell in a forum like this, as I've been to some pretty unfriendly ones on other topics (not Anandtech). It's nice to know that this is nice and friendly forum!

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

sxr7171, why don't you just pick up an MSI Ultra, Northwood P4 1.6Ghz and 256MB of DDR2100. Should cost you around $270 shipped. Then sell what you currently have. That should bring the net cost down to around ~$100 or so. Oh wait...doesn't Dell have proprietary connectors on the PSU's?


Ahhh...screw Dell.

 

[sxr7171]

See why I said posting about Dell is irritating? Dell was the best option when I bought my machine last year (financing, warranty and I got a sweet deal on my 17" Flat Panel etc.), but I think I jumped the gun. I wish I had waited for Northwood at least, I would had support for those Northwood P4s.

 

[Jgtdragon]

I had a socket 423 P4 1.4GHz like you and I sold my motherboard/cpu combo to a co-worker. I end up buying a Northwood. Try to do the same thing.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: sxr7171Zim Hosien, I just didn't want to ask some thing that may have been asked a hundred times before, I tried searching but i didn't find anything. I figured that may have pretty sinful to be asking about a Dell in a forum like this, as I've been to some pretty unfriendly ones on other topics (not Anandtech). It's nice to know that this is nice and friendly forum!

sxr7171, when I said POST, I meant:

Power On Self Test, it's the startup sequence your computer goes through when you first power on as it checks your RAM, processor, and other hardware you have installed before starting Windows.

It did not have anything to do w/ you asking a question about Dell. This is a friendly forum, my apologies for not explaining it earlier in a more clear post

edit: Can't spell

 

[sxr7171]

That whole situation was pretty funny! Now I get it!

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: sxr7171
That whole situation was pretty funny! Now I get it!

No hard feelings then sxr7171, okay

 

[bacillus]

first thought that this thread was about a dell 8100 laptop!