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Will this CPU work?

jmcoreymv

Diamond Member
Ive got a Dell P3 500 system and I want to upgrade it to a p3 1ghz, I know I can use a 100 mhz fsb chip but am I correct in saying that I cant use a 133 mhz fsb chip? I know my mobo doesnt support it but could it downgrade the fsb of the chip? If not, wheres the cheapest place to get a 100mhz fsb 1 ghz p3?
 
I have an old dell p3 450. I know my FSB doesnt go higher thn 117, and its unstable there.


Your board probably has a multiplier limit, right? Maybe it only supports up to 7 * 100? I would not be the guy to ask on this one though. Maybe ask dell support? Hope they dont give u a "we dont support upgrades" answer.
 
if intel chips are multiplier locked, why would the mobo support matter? it can't provide a fast enough clock?
 
Some motherboards are just not able to use chips designed for 133Mhz at all. Take my motherboard, an Abit BE6-II. It can take up to an 800Mhz chip, but it has to be a 100Mhz FSB chip. Before I knew this, I had purchased a Slot 1 PIII 533EB, thinking that it would run just fine - nothing on the Abit website specified I couldn't use a 133Mhz FSB chip. After all, the BE6-II's are able to overclock to 200Mhz FSB in increments of 1Mhz. Thought I was safe... but... I put the chip in, set the multipliers, and got BSODs galore while installing Windows. It didn't work until I ramped it down to 400Mhz. 🙁

So... I sent the chip back and got a 500Mhz (100 FSB). Best bang for the buck, at the time.

Doesn't Dell's website tell you what their mobo will accept, after putting in your Service Tag 5-letter code?
 
In all seriousness, I suggest simply getting a new board. If you can't afford to at the moment, wait till you can!

It's just not a good idea to upgrade on systems created by major companies. Granted it's possible, a lot of the time it's VERY hard. Just ask anyone who owns a Compaq <chuckle>

I also suggest if you're going to spend the money not to do it On the P3. Give the AMD product a try, but if you're all for Intel, don't stray from your gut feeling!! 🙂


best regards,
Bill Martin

How To Build Your Own Home PC for Under $700, even If You're a Techno-Dummy!
 
I talked to the guy from Dell and confirmed that I can indeed put a 1 ghz cumine in here, but Im going to need to find one with a 100 mhz fsb 🙁 This could be tricky...
 
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