Pentium 4 3.2 ghz HT Build

The RAM "loss" is your 32 bit OS which can only "see" about 3.3 gig of RAM including the memory on the gfx cards installed .


The pentium is such legacy hardware that finding a motherboard to fit , and esp to fit a dell case is probably impossible .

You could just install 64 bit Win 7 on that machine , but the smart money says build from scratch and then transfer all your settings and data to a new machine using the setting s wizard .
No chance of data loss , no down time , and surely affordable


Antec sonata case w/ power supply
intel i3 2100
2 x2 gig of RAM
H67 motherboard with vga, DVI and HDMI outputs
as many hard drives as you want . Id install at least TWO in RAID 1 so you have real time data back up
use the gfx card if you need it [ depends on the monitors you have and their connectors ]
a sata dvd drive
win 7 PRO 64 bit

Its not worth messing about IMO .
Do it right first time

thanks for the reply. I agree with you about doing it right the first time, however I just want to use my current cpu. I have tried other high end quad core and dual core cpus which really don't perform much better than my current cpu for my purposes at least.. So why spend 125$ for it.

So there is no motherboard that will support my cpu? If this is the case, then I will have to buy that cpu u recommended.

also, it does not have to fit a dell case. I am getting a new case.

thanks

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. Its a 540.

That motherboard will support the 540 as well as much newer socket 775 processors.

Thanks thats the perfect motherboard for my needs.

1. What's the best ddr 3 1600 memory that's compatible with this board?

2. can you pls recommend a cheap cooler that will fit in that motherboard?

Thanks again.

Best answer selected by deanm007.

You don't need 1600 MHz memory, particularly with that older CPU. If you check the QVL you'll see that it should be downgraded to 1333 MHz. Either get a kit that's on the QVL or something like this 8 GB G.Skill kit (4 x 2 GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... if you really want 1600 MHz memory. It might be easier to get 1333 MHz memory stable, particularly when using 4 modules.

If you can't reuse the current CPU cooler and you don't plan on overclocking, then a stock Intel cooler would be fine (it should be one that can cool a 541 or better CPU). You can also check what's available at Newegg. A really cheap cooler isn't always a good investment. You need to determine if noise is an issue, etc.

ok thanks. I forgot to ask, is my cpu compatible with windows 7 64 bit?

I knew that the 541 is a 64-bit processor, but I should have checked the 540 at http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27466. Unfortunately the 540 is a 32-bit processor that can only address 4 GB of memory and is not compatible with Windows 7 64-bit.

A new build is your only solution.