[Solved] Upgrading a P4 3.0?

Just wondering, I have an old computer that was built for BF2 many years ago, it's P4 3.0 2 gig ram x1950 pro, just wondering if its possible to upgrade the CPU? (I have a new computer, but I play side by side with a friend, runs AA3 but could probably run it better I think if I upgraded the CPU).

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You are near the top end of the 478 socket cpu options. Its a waste of time to upgrade the cpu. If anything I would try to get an ATI 3850 video card. If you can find a 4770 agp that would be nice but theres none on newegg.

Get this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102730

If you have a decent psu it should be fine.

This will make much better sense until you build a new system...

Message edited by englandr753 on 10-19-2009 at 10:56:50 PM

Reply to englandr753

Is it a socket 478 or 775?

If it's a 478 you're screwed. If it's a 775, then look up the bios update notes for that mobo and see which modern CPUs it supports.

------------------------------ Phenom II x3 710 @ x4 2.93GHz
3GB DDR2 600
Radeon HD 4830 512mb
Reply to HibyPrime

If you don't know go to www.cpuid.com and download cpuz and it will show what socket it is on the main page...

Reply to englandr753

What is your friend running?

------------------------------ q9550 2.83ghz @ 3.91ghz
4gb OCZ Platinum DDR2-1066 RAM
Powercolor HD 4890

Reply to mlcloud

If it is 775 there is another pathway.

You could get yourself a good P45 board (I'm a Gigabyte fan after my recent purchase), some DDR2-800 or 1066 memory, and a new PCI-Express video card. None of those need to be expensive items.

Build it using your old CPU, then later when you get more $$, swap it out for a Core2 Quad or Duo. The end result compared to your current setup will be huge. I did the P4 3.0 to Core2Duo 3.16 transition this year, in the few benches I did, results were around 4x performance increase.

But anyway, what motherboard are you using?

Message edited by SpidersWeb on 10-20-2009 at 02:00:03 AM

------------------------------ Intel E8500 - 4.26Ghz - 533 x 8 - on air cooling with DDR2-1066 running native
Sapphire Ati HD4850
Reply to SpidersWeb

It's 775 (i'll try to find out the motherboard)

I probably wouldn't know how to build a computer from ground up starting with motherboard, I mean if it IS easy I could try, I just know at the moment how to change things like video card, cpu, ram, well almost everything cept power supply and motherboard, never messed with those yet.

Edit:

Message edited by Trunkz_Jr on 10-20-2009 at 02:49:30 PM

Reply to Trunkz_Jr

It told you above, it's an Abit IG-80 board with an Intel 915G chipset

------------------------------ Intel E8500 - 4.26Ghz - 533 x 8 - on air cooling with DDR2-1066 running native
Sapphire Ati HD4850
Reply to SpidersWeb

Just did the lookups at Abit.
You're pretty much out of luck with ugprades I'm affriad, your motherboard isn't even listed to support the Pentium Dual Core, let alone Core2.

Highest CPU I could see was the Pentium 4 EE 3.7Ghz, but it wouldn't really be worth it.

Message edited by SpidersWeb on 10-20-2009 at 09:53:30 PM

------------------------------ Intel E8500 - 4.26Ghz - 533 x 8 - on air cooling with DDR2-1066 running native
Sapphire Ati HD4850
Reply to SpidersWeb

an upgrade to a pentium D would be a very noticable upgrade, but dont do it unless you can find one for under a 100 or so.

Reply to HibyPrime

Not worth it to upgrade the CPU anymore. You'll only get minimal gains. You need to be on at least a P31 or P33 or higher to see some improvements. Save than money and get yourself an i7.

Reply to masterasia

What do you mean minimal gains? We're talking about a single core 3GHz pentium 4 to a dual core 3.2GHz+

Sure it's nothing compared to something based off of the core 2 architecture, but it's still a major improvement.

Edit: for example, i did a quick ebay search and voila: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pentium-D-945- [...] 3452wt_939

Message edited by HibyPrime on 10-21-2009 at 04:14:50 AM

Reply to HibyPrime

On the Abit support lists, it didn't list his motherboard as supporting Pentium Dual Core?

------------------------------ Intel E8500 - 4.26Ghz - 533 x 8 - on air cooling with DDR2-1066 running native
Sapphire Ati HD4850
Reply to SpidersWeb

Best answer

This board supports only the Pentium 4 not the Pentium D. You have two options. Get a better video card, in which it will improve your game play and might make you happy until you get more money to build a newer system.

OR, build a new system now. You don't have to get the I7 so don't fret thinking you have to spend over 1,000 to have a nice gaming rig. Get a Core 2 duo or a newer AMD cpu. It will be light years ahead of what you are used to now and could be had for apprx 300-400 bucks using your old system case, disk drive, Operating system and hard drive.

Again:

Option 1 - 60.00 gaming card - wait for more money later

OR

Option 2 - spend up to 400.00 and overhaul your old system.

Your budget will answer this question for you. If you need help either way we will be glad to advise...

Reply to englandr753

Thanks for the Replies.

Okay so I guess i'll just buy a new system.

Here is my New Computer specs: (it's actually 2 years old, but I say New compared to my older one with 2 replacements lol)

EVGA GeForce GTX 275
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700
X-FI Xtreme Gamer
OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 8 gig ram
EVGA Nforce 680I SLI Motherboard
Thermaltake VA8003BWS Black ATX Tower Case
Windows Vista x64

I was thinking of putting the Intel Core i7 920 Processor in my new computer, and put the E6700 in the one I would have made, I would thinking of something like this (i'll post pic below) if you have any ideas of what to change/add, let me know ^^

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Trunkz_Jr

Trunkz_Jr wrote :

Thanks for the Replies.

Okay so I guess i'll just buy a new system.

Here is my New Computer specs: (it's actually 2 years old, but I say New compared to my older one with 2 replacements lol)

EVGA GeForce GTX 275
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700
X-FI Xtreme Gamer
OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 8 gig ram
EVGA Nforce 680I SLI Motherboard
Thermaltake VA8003BWS Black ATX Tower Case
Windows Vista x64

I was thinking of putting the Intel Core i7 920 Processor in my new computer, and put the E6700 in the one I would have made, I would thinking of something like this (i'll post pic below) if you have any ideas of what to change/add, let me know ^^

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y [...] king16.jpg

For a brand new build, I would stay away from LGA 775 motherboards and CPUs.
Go for something more recent like a P55 or X58 chipset. DDR3 Memory is better than DDR2 and is only a few bucks more.
When the supply for DDR2 memory goes down, it will be hard for you get good ram at a good price.

I wasn't sure what you meant by "I was thinking of putting the Intel Core i7 920 Processor in my new computer, and put the E6700 in the one I would have made", but you'll need a different motherboard and ram for the i7 920.

Reply to masterasia

So a Intel Core i7 920 Processor wouldn't work in my EVGA Nforce 680I SLI Motherboard? What would then?

Also, is this setup better?

Message edited by Trunkz_Jr on 10-21-2009 at 04:24:34 PM

Reply to Trunkz_Jr

I found a list of some cpus that are supported by the 680i:

E8600 - 1333 FSB - 3.33 GHz
E8500 - 1333 FSB - 3.16 GHz
E8400 - 1333 FSB - 3.00 GHz
E8300 - 1333 FSB - 2.83 GHz
E8200 - 1333 FSB - 2.66 GHz
E7400 - 1066 FSB - 2.80 GHz
E7300 - 1066 FSB - 2.66 GHz
E7200 - 1066 FSB - 2.53 GHz

Use your old cpu to update your motherboard BIOS to make sure it has the proper updates to support the new cpu. You may find it won't boot correctly if you don't update the BIOS 1st...

Reply to englandr753

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