older system cpu upgrade - Tech Support Forums

Sweeper · November 8th, 2008, 01:34 PM

So I have an older system.

MSI 865PE NEO2 Platnum
Pentium 4 2.4C @ 3.2GHz
2GB Patriot Extreme @ 426MHz
etc...

What I am wanting to do is find the largest CPU that motherboard will run. I can find what the old info says about the board but I'm not sure if it will run the latest and last socket 478 CPU. I was looking at putting in a Intel Pentium 4 3.4 GHz ( 800 MHz ) - Socket 478 - L2 1 MB - OEM. But I'm not sure if that board will support it?

**RicheemxX** · November 8th, 2008, 02:44 PM

It might depend on the board revision but according to MSI it should support that chip
MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD.

Sweeper · November 8th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Thanks for the link!! =)

Another question: Is it worth the upgrade. I'm at 3.2GHz now but that's pushing the 2.4GHz as far as it can go and it's been that way for about 2-3yrs.... LOL.

**RicheemxX** · November 8th, 2008, 04:29 PM

IMO unless you are getting a great deal (free

) I wouldn't bother. Save the cash and start looking at a newer build

SoloCamo · November 8th, 2008, 04:47 PM

Agreed. I was in the same position a while back as I had a 2.8ghz p4 @ 3.1ghz...It just wasn't cost effective for a minor jump in mhz, so I kept an eye out for s939 AMD systems that were being phased out.

I ended up picking up a x2 4200+ and a S939 mobo for 120 bucks total that completely blew my old p4 out of the water.

Bottom line is, keep an eye out. There are still some s939 boards floating around that can use your DDR and still support AGP if you don't want to spend much, but they are becoming extremely rare to find, especially ones that support AGP.

Otherwise you could pick up a newer AMD board with some DDR2 and a decent graphics card for cheap as well that would smoke your current rig. I priced one out for around 300 bucks that was pretty good and would take down my current rig with zero problems. I just reused the case, optical drives and hdds.

Sweeper · November 8th, 2008, 06:09 PM

Well I don't use that system much anymore. I have a laptop I use almost 100% of the time. That system was given to my son. But he wants to run games on it alot (even though we have an xbox 360). The biggest worry is burning out the MB/CPU prematurely. I figured for under $100.00 if I could find a 3.2GHz or higher (new / used) I would throw that in there and not worry about that 2.4 running OC continuously. As for going for a new system I don't have the time. I'd rather pop off a HSF and throw in a CPU and be done with it.

As far as performance for the games he plays it runs very well but I hate thinking I've had the CPU overclocked for 2-3yrs now. The old MB burnt up and this MB was a replacement board. I'm not sure if having that CPU and RAM overclocked for such a long time did in the MB or not.

EXreaction · November 8th, 2008, 06:13 PM

Just downclock the cpu then.

For about $150 you can get a new AM2 mobo, X2 cpu, and 2GB of ram that is leagues above your P4.

SoloCamo · November 8th, 2008, 06:13 PM

Well if stability is your only concern...what temps are you running?

That northwood cpu, even OC'ed probably still runs a lot cooler than my p4 2.8ghz did stock speeds, let alone overclocked.

3.2ghz is the highest you will find in northwood trim and they are very rare. The highest you can go on a s478 board is 3.4ghz and that is limited only to the prescott.

The one benefit of prescott's is the extra cache (1mb vs 512k for northwoods) however in actual gaming performance, the northwoods seem to outperform the prescott's oddly enough.

If it's been stable this long, and temps are on the normal side I wouldn't worry much about it. It's a 800mhz OC yes, but obviously the chip has had zero problems with it for a very long time. Besides, those p4 2.4c's were known as one of the best, if not the best overclocking p4 you could get back in the day.

But if you insist on a new p4....here is a 3.2ghz for only 58bucks and a 3.4ghz for double the cost (I personally wouldn't drop 100 for only 200mhz, though even if stability was a factor)

Sweeper · November 8th, 2008, 06:18 PM

Temps:
CPU: 35-44c
MB: 33c
Case: 35c

So the extra cache isn't worth the upgrade? *sigh... man I don't want to rip all this out and throw in all new parts when it's running just fine. I just wanted a bit more security knowing I'm not throwing everything beyond it's stock limits and good performance for what it is.

SoloCamo · November 8th, 2008, 06:20 PM

Yea, Prescott's were regularly outperformed by Northwoods clock for clock....although marginally. But when you factor in the major heat increase (my p4 2.8ghz at stock idles around 48-50*C on a better than stock cooler and w/ AS5) it is definitely not worth it. Especially when you haven't had any problems with your current setup.