800 FSB CPU in a 533 FSB Mobo ?

zebedee

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Can an Intel P4 800 MHz FSB CPU be used in a 533 MHz FSB mobo if both are Socket 478 ?

Background.
I have a Gigabyte GA-8INXP mobo with a P4 2.4B GHz. I want to upgrade to a 3+ GHz CPU. I'd always intended upgrading to the 3.06B GHz CPU (533 MHz FSB) but on checking prices today for the first time in a few months I see that the 3.06 is about $60 more than the 3.2 GHz (800 MHz FSB).

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Pentium 2.4B GHz
Gigabyte GA-8INXP Grantite Bay Chipset
Corsair 1GB PC-3200C2 Matched DDR-400-SDRAM
UD Cancer Research Project 2 years 293+ days<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Zebedee on 02/15/05 04:18 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

slvr_phoenix

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Off hand, no.

Realisticly, maybe. If your mobo has the option to overclock your FSB then maybe you can get it up there. You might have to fiddle with the memory ratio and/or memory timings to do it though, as your RAM probably isn't clocked high enough and may or may not survive the overclocking.

Of course if you're going to OC all of your components like that then you might as well just start with your original CPU and see how far you can push it.

Or if you want a <i>safe</i> upgrade then get a new mobo and RAM to go with the new processor.

Or just get the 3.06.

<pre>Antec Sonata 2x120mm
P4C 2.6
Asus P4P800Dlx
2x512MB CorsairXMS3200C2
Leadtek A6600GT TDH
RAID1 2xHitachi 60GB
BENQ 16X DVD+/-RW
Altec Lansing 251
NEC FE990 19"CRT</pre><p>
 

ChipDeath

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if you stick that 3.2Ghz CPU in there, It'll run at ~2.1Ghz.

As Slvr says, you could then overclock, but you'd actually get better performance from your old CPU most likely if overclocking on that board, because you'll probably hit the limit of the board or memory before that of the CPU.

---
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zebedee

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Thanks for the replies and info.

I did for a while have my system successfully overclocked to 2.8 GHz, the RAM having plenty of overhead due to the Granite Bay chipset limitation. However, even though it was stable, the ambient Temp in the room is a little high even with a well reviewed aftermarket air cooled heatsink, SwiftTech I think. As I run the system at 100% CPU 24/7/365 with United Devices I decided to not overclock.

As it looks like the 3.06 is getting rare (and I found one online for only $35 more than the 3.2) I could buy the 3.06 along with the Intel / Sanyo Denki water cooling system (it seems very easy to set up and maintain with a fair price/performance ratio). This would give me a 3+ GHz OC system that should last me well into the future for about $350 without having to buy a new mobo & RAM as well. Apart from UD I use the system for all the usual email/office type stuff and for MMORPGs :)

Good plan or am I just talking rubbish? It's been 2 years since I built the system and have gotten a little out of touch with all the latest developments.

********************************************
Pentium 2.4B GHz
Gigabyte GA-8INXP Grantite Bay Chipset
Corsair 1GB PC-3200C2 Matched DDR-400-SDRAM
UD Cancer Research Project 2 years 293+ days<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Zebedee on 02/15/05 04:22 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

slvr_phoenix

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Dec 31, 2007
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That sounds like a good plan to me. Enjoy. :)

<pre>Antec Sonata 2x120mm
P4C 2.6
Asus P4P800Dlx
2x512MB CorsairXMS3200C2
Leadtek A6600GT TDH
RAID1 2xHitachi 60GB
BENQ 16X DVD+/-RW
Altec Lansing 251
NEC FE990 19"CRT</pre><p>
 

slvr_phoenix

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But then you're probably still crippling <i>that</i> with slower memory and/or less efficient memory timings unless it's good PC3200 RAM or the RAM OCs well. :\ The safest guarantee is to either stick to spec/stock or start over from scratch.

<pre>Antec Sonata 2x120mm
P4C 2.6
Asus P4P800Dlx
2x512MB CorsairXMS3200C2
Leadtek A6600GT TDH
RAID1 2xHitachi 60GB
BENQ 16X DVD+/-RW
Altec Lansing 251
NEC FE990 19"CRT</pre><p>
 

zebedee

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My RAM is 4 x 256 MB sticks of matched Corsair PC-3200 C2 DDR-RAM. This is 400 MHz DDR-RAM which is limited to 266 MHz on the Granite Bay / E7205 Chipset. With FSB OC there is should be plenty of overhead left in the RAM.

In all seriousness I thought the dual channel Gigabyte board was pretty darn fast.
1) are the new chipsets/boards really that much faster ?
2) is the E7205 board crippling my current P4 2.4B GHz CPU ?
3) would the E7205 board cripple a P4 3.06 HT GHz 512K 533MHz CPU ?
4) is my RAM fast enough for a P4 3.06 HT GHz 512K 533MHz CPU on the E7205 board ?
5) Buying a straight up P4 3.06 HT GHz 512K 533MHz CPU will cost about $249. With the Intel/Sanyo $100 water cooling setup I should be able to OC to at least 3.2 GHz.
6) Buy a new mobo / CPU / RAM / water cooling setup (cos from what little I've read the new Intel CPUs run extremely hot). Any suggestions as to a setup and rough cost.

My simple initial question is getting more involved but I really appreciate your advice. My first attempt at building my own system was a resounding success, being the most stable and fastest setup I'd ever had. I'd like any upgrades or new systems to be just as good.


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Basic Computer Details
Pentium 4 2.4B GHz
Gigabyte GA-8INXP Grantite Bay Chipset
Corsair 1GB PC-3200C2 Matched DDR-400-SDRAM
UD Cancer Research Project 2 years 293+ days
 

zeezee

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The 7205 chipset has a 533 MHz system bus speed and works with DDR 266 RAM.<i>...(Just for the info, a 533 Mhz FSB implies 2x266 Mhz DDR due to dual-channel memory access)</i>

You have a P4B with a 533 MHz system bus and matched pairs of DDR 400 RAM.

In line with the above, let's do the easy questions.

>2)is the E7205 board crippling my current P4 2.4B GHz CPU ?

No. Both the CPU and motherboard have the same FSB speed (533 MHz). You just happened to have faster RAM which you don't need or fully utilize.

>4)is my RAM fast enough for a P4 3.06 HT GHz 512K 533MHz CPU on the E7205 board ?

Ditto. Your RAM is not only fast enough but faster than your motherboard can support (DDR 400 vs DDR 266).

>3)would the E7205 board cripple a P4 3.06 HT GHz 512K 533MHz CPU ?

No. Any CPU with a 533 MHz system bus will be an exact match for your motherboard.

and the difficult ones...

>1)are the new chipsets/boards really that much faster ?

Compared to your 7205...yes they are.

>5)Buying a straight up P4 3.06 HT GHz 512K 533MHz CPU will cost
>about $249. With the Intel/Sanyo $100 water cooling setup I should be
>able to OC to at least 3.2 GHz.

How about buying a P4 3.2C/E, spending your $100 for a decent motherboard instead of water cooling, using your existing matched pair DDR 400 and enjoy the same speed without any plumbing?

>6)Buy a new mobo / CPU / RAM / water cooling setup
>(cos from what little I've read the new Intel CPUs run
>extremely hot). Any suggestions as to a setup and rough cost.

I have a small problem here. If Intel CPU's run hot (and they do), why buy Intel and spend an extra $100 to cool it? Buy an A64 and enjoy 64bit plus better performance for roughly the same price.