Upgrade for a P3 system -- how difficult?

[WhipperSnapper]

I currently have a Pentium III 533 system with what I believe is a motherboard with an Intel 820 chipset. I think the socket is a Slot 1, or whatever the name of the slot-chip socket is.

My question--now that the older Pentium III's are inexpensive, how difficult would it be for me to upgrade to a P3 833, 933, or 1 Ghz Slot 1 processor? (I suppose I could also obtain a Slotket converter but that would defeat the purpose of doing a cheap (under $20) upgrade.)

What I'm wondering, is, do I just pull out the old processor and insert the new processor, or is it more complicated than that--would I need to mess around with any dipswitches that regulate voltage?

(Yes, I'm planning to build a new Socket 939 rig, but Old Reliable here will become my fiance's computer so it might be worth upgrading since it still does a respectable job of Internet surfing.)

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

I currently have a Pentium III 533 system with what I believe is a motherboard with an Intel 820 chipset. I think the socket is a Slot 1, or whatever the name of the slot-chip socket is.

My question--now the older Pentium III's are inexpensive, how difficult would it be more me to upgrade to a P3 833, 933, or 1 Ghz Slot 1 processor? (I suppose I could also obtain a Slotket converter but that would defeat the purpose of doing a cheap (under $20) upgrade.)

What I'm wondering, is, do I just pull out the old processor and insert the new processor, or is it more complicated than that--would I need to mess around with any dipswitches that regulate voltage?

(Yes, I'm planning to build a new Socket 939 rig, but Old Reliable here will become my fiance's computer so it might be worth upgrading since it still does a respectable job of Internet surfing.)

You'll want to upgrade the bios to the latest revision possible to ensure compatbility with the new CPU. If you say its a 133, then at least it supports a 133 fsb, so you should be okay that way.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

I currently have a Pentium III 533 system with what I believe is a motherboard with an Intel 820 chipset. I think the socket is a Slot 1, or whatever the name of the slot-chip socket is.

My question--now the older Pentium III's are inexpensive, how difficult would it be more me to upgrade to a P3 833, 933, or 1 Ghz Slot 1 processor? (I suppose I could also obtain a Slotket converter but that would defeat the purpose of doing a cheap (under $20) upgrade.)

Some of those that you listed were not sold in large enough numbers to be affected by the ordinary depreciation in the marketplace. The Socket 370 version was sufficiently superior that it greatly overshadowed its predecessor, and those cpu's are the ones that are readily available inexpensively (but the P3 MB's to match them are also readily available at bargain costs, often with cpu included, at least in the 800-900 MHz range).

What I'm wondering, is, do I just pull out the old processor and insert the new processor, or is it more complicated than that--would I need to mess around with any dipswitches that regulate voltage?

(Yes, I'm planning to build a new Socket 939 rig, but Old Reliable here will become my fiance's computer so it might be worth upgrading since it still does a respectable job of Internet surfing.)

The relative complication level will depend on the system involved, especially its age. If you bought it when the 533 was the fastest cpu around, then I think that the chances would be good that there will be jumpers and dipswitches to reset. The relative timeline for MB technolgy at the time of the Slot1 to Socket 370 changeover means that if you bought "late" in the production of Slot1 cpu's, perhaps your MB will be slightly more modern, but I would suggest replacing the MB as well, no matter what age the existing MB is.


:beer:

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Use CPU-Z to determine whether your Pentium III is a Coppermine or a Katmai-B. If it's a Coppermine, that means you can go all the way up to 1.13 GHz (but not the Tualatin). If it's a Katmai-B, you still may be able to upgrade, but compatibility won't be absolutely guaranteed.

And, yes, it should be a simple swap-out upgrade. There might be jumper changing involved, but even so it should be very easy.