what the best cpu I can get on i440BX mobo?

[farns]

My specs

pIII 450 at stock speed
GA-6BXC mobo(model i440BX-8671 rev 1.9)
quantum fireball 3.5 5400 rpm 8.4 gig HD

64MB pc100 sdram + 128 x 2 pc133 sdram
ESS Audiodrive 1869 soundcard
GF4 mx440 golden sample
win 98 (win2k arriving soon)
250w PSU

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Ok now I know I need more ram and Im going for value here, I can get a p4 1.6 + mobo which will OC to 2.3+ or I can get a cheaper 2nd-hand cpu to run on my current mobo.

Now Im just a noob and http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/products/ga6bxc.htm doesnt tell me anything I should know if a coppermine will run on my mobo, can I run a Tualatin on it with a socket adapter or is my voltage and 8cfm HSF insufficient? The moment I have to buy extra HSF and fans and whatever else it will not be worth the expense and room for error.

 

[farns]

Bump.
Hopefully some kind soul will know or be able to glance at my mobo link and see what I can best put on it.

 

[steell]

The Faq on the link you provided, shows that you can use at least a P-3 800. I would hazard a guess that a P-3 1 ghz will probably work.

However, for about $100 more (buy a used board in the FS/FT forum and sell your old stuff there) you can upgrade to at least a XP1700+, and have a whole lot faster computer.

Just my $0.02

 

[Peter]

You need a 100 MHz bus CPU, and you can't use Tualatins. Highest "Coppermine" speed grades for 100 MHz bus were 1.1 GHz P-III and Celerons.

regards, Peter

 

[farns]

Thanks very much. Is everything else ok cos I believe the "katmai" p3s only have an 8cfm HSf and was wondering if a p3 coppermine will come with its own hsf. Can I just swap cpu ?
I am a complete newbie to computer matters as u see. And is my voltage sufficient? I have a 250watt PSU. Also will my mobo support say a 1gig cpu to its potential?
Will I need extra cooling, all I have is the PSU fan,the p3 450 HSF and a HSF on my mx440.

Also, can I run a tualatin with a socket 1 -> 370 adapter or are there other issues involved ?

 

[blackhawk]

I know you want to upgrade but anything you put in it will have to be used as well. It would make most sense to save some more and go for the mb,cpu & ram upgrade.

Slot 1 cpu's are getting hard to find and slotkits even harder at a reasonable price. The last cpu I used on my BX board was a Celeron 900 running at 1200/133 and it was pretty sweet but the sdram is too outdated to compete.

 

[farns]

Im not trying to compete with new cpus, if I was buying new Id get a p4 1.6a+mobo+ddr and OC it past 2.1 ghz! Thats about $NZ 700-850 plus DDR and its a sweet pc.
But a 800 mhz cpu will run any game for a while yet wont it ? even Doom III(for example) should be ok with a GF4ti even with crusty pc100 ram
I def not buying a new p3 that would suck, but I can get a celeron+1->370 slocket for about $NZ150 and it wont depreciate much when I sell the whole rig in a year or whatever. Someone will want a little internet/accounts pc whatever. I will only have pc100 sdr cos of my mobo but it will run games ok I expect and not be worth much less when I need to sell.
IMHO

I just found out I cant run tualatins either the Power Leap adapter thingy wont support my version of the i440BX (supports most others..blah prolly expensive anyway) but a coppermine should be ok I hope if I can get one cheap enuff.

I can afford a p4 1.6A whole new system and that is what I would get for value if I was buying new but if I can run new and near future games just by getting a 2nd hand cpu then that might be ok too, of course by the time thats obsolete I will be able to get the 3.0 ghz cpu whatever for same price as 1.6A is now

 

[KennyH]

Here is what I would do (in order):

-- Upgrade ram to at least 256MB
-- Overclock the PIII 450 to 558 or 600 (via 124 or 133 FSB)
-- Pick up a 17" or better monitor to enjoy more gaming real estate.

Hope this helps

 

[farns]

2nd-hand 256mb pc133 I already ordered and Ill prolly get a 17' Monitor yep, in fact Ill amend my post.

According to this review of my cpu
http://www.thetechzone.com/reviews/cpu/p3_450.htm
although it OCs to what u say it only has a 8cfm HSF and I can prolly only get to 520 mhz or something
with the stock HSF and IMVHO for what I spend on a better HSF, I can get half a 900 mhz cpu...