CPU and MOTHERBOARD HELP

JAMI313

New Member
Hi.. i was wondering if anyone could help me... i am wanting to upgrade my processor and/or motherboard if i need to. i dont no much about processors but the markings on my processor are intel pentium 3 - 866/256/133/1.7v.
i dont have any information on my motherboard but say if i was to buy a new pentium 4 around 2.8 ghz would it easily slot into my current motherboard or would i have to upgrade to a more recent one

Thankyou
 
No, you will need to upgrade your mobo as well (and other components, such as RAM). What's your budget, and what will the machine be used for? What are your other specs, and what would you want o keep out of the existing computer (e.g. CD-ROM drive, hard drives, depending on size, etc...)
 
thanks for replying... i have 256 ram but i have ordered a 512 and will be recieving in teh coming week... i have a 60 gb hardrive and a LG dual layer dvd burner. my budget for a processor and motherboard would be around $400 - $500. i would keep my hardrive and dvd burner . General use for my pc would be surfing the net and a bit of gaming such as counterstrike and battlefield. is my budget to low, if it is can u give me an estimate of what it should be.

thanks again
 
Is that DDR RAM? Is your power supply ATX 2 compliant (i.e. does it have a 4 pin +12V power connector). $400-$500 is certainly quite achievable for a reasonable gaming system, but the video card is one of the most important components for gaming, is that included in the $400 - $500?
 
yes is a atx v2 and yeh its ddr ram. from what ive seen a numerous stores and computer markets. a decent video card is around the $100 ... is that correct. Ive been looking at some brand new 3.0 ghz processors on ebay going for around $800... is it just me or is that price fairly high. also what would it cost for say a 2.8 ghz pentium 4 processor and a fairly good motherboard.. motehrboard go for around $120 dont they
 
JAMI313 said:
yes is a atx v2 and yeh its ddr ram. from what ive seen a numerous stores and computer markets. a decent video card is around the $100 ... is that correct.
That would be a midrange video card, not superb, but not too bad.

Ive been looking at some brand new 3.0 ghz processors on ebay going for around $800... is it just me or is that price fairly high.
Depends on the CPU (there's a lot more than GHZ). That would be a very expensive processor, though

motehrboard go for around $120 dont they
That's about right for a midrange motherboard.

If you're looking for a gaming system, i'd go with the AMD route. Computer Spec 101 has some great ideas
 
ok.. but back to my original question with buyin a new processor and motherboard... if the mobo has a zif socket and the processor is fitted into a zif socket ... is that all is need for the motehrboard and processor to be compatible
 
JAMI313 said:
ok.. but back to my original question with buyin a new processor and motherboard... if the mobo has a zif socket and the processor is fitted into a zif socket ... is that all is need for the motehrboard and processor to be compatible
No, ZIF means Zero Insertion Force - it applies to all modern CPU sockets. you need to have a mobo that
1) supports the correct socket for the CPU (e.g. Socket A, Socket 754, Socket 939, etc...)
2) supports the CPU in question (problems arise with FSB frequency, dual core, etc..., but BIOS flashes may be provide additional support)
 
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ok so could u give me an affordable combination that supports what you ust told me... i would like to stick with intel since im more familiar with it
 
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