Pentium-2 upgrade options?

You are 100% correct in the statement:

I don't remember the make/model of my MB, so that may be a question that can't be answered.

Sorry, find your MB model and check vendors support page.....

Ok, a bit conflicting now.

The motherboard is from Gateway (yeah yeah I know, that's why for my new computer I built it myself) and is listed simply as a TABOR motherboard. Seems pretty generic based off of the original Intel specs for a P2 motherboard.

According to the 'oh-so-easily' found information on Gateway's site regarding this system, the MB that I have is not capable of supporting the P3 coppermine slot-1 processors. In the least, it does make mention that some of the MBs (with higher part numbers) had this ability but it does not specifically mention the one that I have in regards to the P3 slot-1 CPUs. The global statement was that this motherboard supports Pentium II processors with a 100Mhz FSB. I have the latest BIOS upgrade for this board (according to Gateway) which was released in June 2000.

Unfortunately, overclocking is not really viable. I already have heat related issues due to the fact that I don't have central AC and I live in Texas (need an upgrade for life hehe). Ambient room temperature in the summer is around 85F.

Does that leave me with only a 50Mhz upgrade (to a P2-450) or are there other options?

Thanks for the responses and anything further you can add.

Your motherboard can support at least a PIII 600 with the old Katmai core. These are listed as "PIII 512k Cache" on Pricewatch, since the newer 600E has only 256k of the superior on die cache.

Or you could get a PIII overdrive from Evergreen Technologies. You'll find information on their PIII overdrives at <A HREF="http://www.evertech.com/products/performaiiiup.asp" target="_new">http://www.evertech.com/products/performaiiiup.asp</A> These are Coppmines with a specail adapter that allows them to be used on non-Coppermine compatable boards.
Alternatively you can use a similar adapter from Powerleap <A HREF="http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?xid=35295&SP=10024&PN=16&V1=39385" target="_new">http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?xid=35295&SP=10024&PN=16&V1=39385</A>. The adapter cost only $49 and allows you to upgrade to any "E" Coppermine, such as the 700E, 750E, 800E, or 850E, or the harder to find 900E or 1000E. I would get the adapter bare from Powerleap and get the processor separately from Pricewatch.

I'm so tired of cookies I'd settle for spam!

Some people simply are not handy enough to do a motherboard swap.

I'm so tired of cookies I'd settle for spam!

Lotsa luck getting any worthwhile info from Gateway.

Although this isn't really an answer to your question, have you tried re-installing your OS and applications? I've found that after a year or so, most systems slow down due to all the junk we load on them. Uninstalling the stuff doesn't help. I've been pleasantly suprised by the performance of some older systems after I've done a clean install. Just a suggestion.

Just save some cash and do a real upgrade just a little later, you'll be much happier.

What is the difference between <font color=red>pink</font color=red>and <font color=purple>purple</font color=purple>? The <b>GRIP</b>!