I have a Dell Dimension pc that I now use to host a counter strike server on my home LAN. It currently has a P4 1.8ghz processor running with 1GB RAM. My question is, do you guys think it is worth it to swap in a P4 2.66ghz processor I have laying around? Do you think there would be a significant performance difference?

It came out of my gf's dell that recently died. We are thinking its the mobo that went or possibly the PSU. We decided to just order\build a new comp since it's 4 years old. Hopefully the processor is still good.

Why not if you have an extra one.

Yep. Change the processor? Why doubt when it's free? Change it!

you get a huge improvement if you can up the fsb and and cpu speed

if the fsb is the same you may not see that much

use your task manger and stretch it across you sreen

you can use many prgrams from the olf ramsize, nvidia tools monitor there are many

see what is limited what is maxed

if it is free of course

why you ask about this

it is obvious

I'm not even going to dignify this question with a response as the answer is so obvious.

You guys are right, it may be very simple and obvious. Obviously 2.66ghz > 1.8ghz

The only reason I am questioning it is because it is going in a crappy Dell mobo where the bios is locked in every which way. Is it possible I will only see a ~1% increase or do u guys think it is definitely worth doing the swap?

I cannot change the bus speed or multiplier as you guys already know.

Thanks in advance

Give it a shot. If you don't get better performance... well, oh well, you tried. If you get worse performance, pop the old CPU in. If better performance with the new chip - Wahoo! you just upped your performance for free!

More information on the system please. Model number, motherboard information...


If the processor is compatible, no doubt, GO FOR IT. Just sure to apply some thermal compound.

There maybe a motherboard and/or BIOS compatibility issue as TC is hinting.
400MHZ FSB for the P4 1.8Ghz and 800Mhz FSB for the P4 2.66ghz.
You might also need to add some cooling. IRC some of those early P4s were passively cooled which might not work for the hotter 2.66ghz model.

I'm guessing the guy probably has a Dell Dimension 4500. A 2.66GHz cpu, is by default 533fsb. Now, the only real question is, is it a Northwood or a Prescott? A Northy works fine....a Prescott is not supported.

The system I want to put the P4 2.66ghz into is a Dell Dimension 2350 (which currently sports a P4 1.8ghz). The 2.66ghz CPU is coming out of a Dell Dimension 2400. It looks as if a transistor or something on the 2400's mobo exploded, there is this rubbery\foamy stuff coming out of it. The pc will no longer POST after a power outage.

On the top of the 2.66ghz chip reads:

Intel '01
Pentium 4
2.66ghz / 512 / 533
SL6PE MALAY
L420A567

M422B137
1000

Thanks for your guys help

It's a Northwood. It'll work fine.

I have a pic of what I think is the cause of the 2.66ghz PC failing.

It looks like one of the capacitors exploded; right next to the CMOS battery (I removed it to reduce glare of flash)

Since you have two computers lying around why don't you hunt around for a cheap mobo the new P4 2.66ghz processor will fit into and combine the best bits of your machine with the best bits of hers? In essence you could have 1x1.8 running data into a 1x2.66. Hello.

As mentioned above, the only use I have for the extra PC is to host a small game server. I was just going to swap out the 1.8ghz that is currently in the server pc and put in the 2.66ghz. I really dont want to invest any money in 'turd polish;' We are going to build an entire new pc for my gf being the one that broke is now 4 years old. There really are no other components other then a nvidia PCI graphics card and 1gb ram which are both already in the dell game server pc.

Holy jebus its ALIVE!!!!!!!!

Nice pic of the blown thingamagigy.

Do you know the model of your mobo in that PC you want to drop the 2.66GHz Northwood into? Cuz the 1.8GHz sports a 400MHz FSB and the 2.66GHz sports a 533MHz FSB and unless the mobo supports the 533FSB there will be problems.

I'm not sure, I just tried to look on dells sight but of course its like finding a needle in a haystack with them

Dell Dimension 2350 is the model

Well I just tried the 2.66ghz in the 1.8ghz machine and it would not even POST. According to Dells diagnostics lights on the back, it is a memory error but I am assuming it is the limited FSB holding it back. That's a bummer.

And as for the pic I posted above, my working 1.8ghz mobo has that same white crap coming out of the capacitor; weird.

One good thing I got out of this was reseating my 1.8ghz CPU with some fresh arctic silver 5. Dell had a thin piece of what looked like tin foil being held to the heatsink by a tar substance. I scraped it off with a scotch bright and gave the cpu and heatsink surface a good cleaning with alcohol and applied some fresh arctic silver.

You might want to get ready to replace that server...