Help: Celeron 2.8ghz to Pentium4 2.8ghz Socket 478

A

aarunt1

New Member
Hello,

I have a Foxconn 651M03 Socket 478 motherboard with a Celeron 2.8ghz in which I want to change to a Pentium4 2.8ghz or better. I have a few questions that I am unsure of.

1. Is a Socket 478 Pentium4 2.8ghz most likely going to work on my MB?

2. Will I need a new heatsink/fan or should the Celeron fan be fine (yes I will be buying some compound)?

3. Is there anything special I need to do or do I just shut down, unplug the power cable and swap the CPUs?

I've never done this before so sorry if I sound noob. Also, should I just stick with 2.8ghz or should I try going higher?

Thanks
 
1) Can't find the specs on Google.

2) New HSF.

3) Might need a reformat.

It's absoulutely worthless upgrading that system. For $250 you could do much better. Whole system too.
 
Changing out a processor requires a lot more work than what you think. It is not as simple as changing RAM module.

I wouldn't bother upgrading to a Pentium 4 processor. It is a very old and outdated processor compared to what is on the market currently. I would look at a system that at least uses a Pentium D processor or an Athlon 4000 processor. You will see much larger increase in processing power with the suggested processors over a Pentium 4.

Off the top of my head here is a system at TigerDirect.com for about $330:

eMachines W5233 Refurbished Intel Desktop Computer
Processor: Pentium D 925 (3.0 gigahertz)
Random Access Memory: 1 gigabyte of PC2 5300
Hard Drive: 250 gigabyte
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3323885&CatId=2649
 
Here is the specs: http://www.foxconnchannel.com/en-us/product/Motherboards/detail_spec.aspx?ID=en-gb0000186

Thanks for the help. Those suggestions are nice but this computer is only being used by my parents for business emails, word processing and occasional web surfing. It's so slow though. It only has 256MB DDR PC2700. I was planning on upping that to 2GB along with the P4 and figured it would be fine for what they are using it for. Do you guys know of any deals online for a cheap tower that is plenty good for what I have listed above?

Thanks
 
I did and even though that is a good deal, it is more than what is needed IMO. You don't think with a memory and cpu upgrade the computer will be fine for the tasks I have listed?

edit: Why do you think 2GB would be a waste? I'm not challenging your knowledge, I would just like to know your reasoning.

Edit: Also, what do you think about high density RAM? Some places that sell high density RAM list this chipset as being compatible with high density, but some places don't list it. Do you think high density would work or should I just go with low density?

Edit: that link you posted is out of stock

Edit: Thanks for the help! I will try this Corsair for only $22.99
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4015752?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Edit: So you think 1GB will have no advantage over the 768MB? Or is it just not a big enough difference for the money?
 
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Is the processor in the system you are trying to upgrade a Celeron D? Do know any other specifications on the Celeron processor?
 
I don't have the computer here with me but I know it is a 2.8ghz Celeron 533mhz FSB Socket 478. I don't know anything else about it off the top of my head such as the exact model number or the maker of the core.
 
Thanks for the help. Those suggestions are nice but this computer is only being used by my parents for business emails, word processing and occasional web surfing. It's so slow though. It only has 256MB DDR PC2700. I was planning on upping that to 2GB along with the P4 and figured it would be fine for what they are using it for.
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It will more than suffice, however you will not need anywhere close to 2 gigs for that. You may want to look at just getting a 512 MB stick and toss it in, giving you 768 MB total. You'll notice a huge difference in speed, and it will be more than enough for what you use it for.

In answer to your first questions:
1 - Yes, it will work.
2 - No, you do not need a new fan (yes for new thermal compound though)
3 - No, nothing special. Shut down, unplug, swap out. Reverse order and eat cake.

Is the processor in the system you are trying to upgrade a Celeron D?
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D-series are Socket 775.
 
Thanks for the help! I am going to order that 512 stick now, hopefully I'll get it by this weekend to install and check it out. As for the P4, I'll see how the RAM works out and decide from there. P4's are really cheap on eBay though so I might go ahead and buy one.

Thanks again for the help I appreciate it.

edit: Also, I forgot to ask again, should I just stick with 2.8ghz if I upgrade to a P4 or would it be OK to go 3.06ghz?
 
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P4's are really cheap on eBay though so I might go ahead and buy one.
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Make sure you get a Socket 478 P4 and not a Socket 775; they made both.

edit: Also, I forgot to ask again, should I just stick with 2.8ghz if I upgrade to a P4 or would it be OK to go 3.06ghz?
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Moving to either of them from a Celeron will be a drastic improvement. Either will be fine. Honestly, at an increase of only 260mhz, you won't see any noticeable performance by getting the 3.06 over the 2.8, so go with whatever is cheaper.
 
imsati said:
Moving to either of them from a Celeron will be a drastic improvement. Either will be fine. Honestly, at an increase of only 260mhz, you won't see any noticeable performance by getting the 3.06 over the 2.8, so go with whatever is cheaper.
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He will see a drastic processing speed improvement only moving up from a Celeron to a Pentium 4 processor?

Do you think he should just first try to buy a 512 megabyte RAM module and see if that alone is sufficient?
 
I read this Thread as he was planning on doing both, as per Post 4 or 5. With a Celeron AND only 128 MB of RAM, really anything he does will see more speed/efficiency. He mentioned he bought the RAM already and then asked about the CPU again, specifically if keeping the CPU at 2.8 (going from a Celeron to a Pentium) would be fine. As far as seeing a drastic CPU improvement from a Celeron to a Pentium, the difference will be half up-front/half behind-the-scenes, but overall noticeably quicker by a bit.
 
No need to get angry. I'm getting the memory this weekend and haven't bought the P4 yet so I'll see how it does without the P4. I missed out on a 2.8ghz P4 on eBay today that was going for 1 cent. Shipping was $15 but that still cheap for a P4 that was in good condition.
 
I wasn't getting angry at all. If Imsati says go for it I would follow his advice. He has a lot more experience with computer upgrades than I do.

I just hope after all is said and done that the upgrade is what you hope it to be. If you have no experience with upgrading a processor I would definitely seek help. When I went to upgrade a processor in my old system I had difficulties getting the heatsink off. Some of the older heatsinks are anchored to the motherboard in a way that they are difficult to remove.
 
I'd download a program like CPU-Z to get the info on that CPU. That way you can determine if it is a 300 series celeron D or not. If it is then you will only need RAM, those CPU's are plenty fast for the internet/excel etc.

My opinion, go with a RAM upgrade...
 
If Imsati says go for it I would follow his advice.
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<blush>

Some of the older heatsinks are anchored to the motherboard in a way that they are difficult to remove.
Click to expand...

Heh, I had that problem tonight - thank gods it was a 775. Not so much anchored to the MoBo but more along the lines of the thermal compound has long since turned to a binding agent and fuse them to the CPU itself. Big-Builder companies use cheap TP and after a while, it goes from 'compound' to 'glue'. Socket 775 CPUs are locked into place via the Socket cover, but it's very common for 478's to be pulled up along with the HSF:o Usually no damage if it's pulled upwards, but it removed at an angle, pins can be bent or the Socket holes can be damaged.
 
lion149 said:
I'd download a program like CPU-Z to get the info on that CPU. That way you can determine if it is a 300 series celeron D or not. If it is then you will only need RAM, those CPU's are plenty fast for the internet/excel etc.

My opinion, go with a RAM upgrade...
Click to expand...
I have CPU-Z on the computer but I don't have the computer with me right now. I will be able to check for sure this weekend but I am almost positive it is not a Celeron D. I asked my Mom to check the tower and she said it only said Celeron on the case and not Celeron D. I didn't bother having her run CPU-Z because she is not very computer proficient.

2048Megabytes said:
I wasn't getting angry at all. If Imsati says go for it I would follow his advice. He has a lot more experience with computer upgrades than I do.

I just hope after all is said and done that the upgrade is what you hope it to be. If you have no experience with upgrading a processor I would definitely seek help. When I went to upgrade a processor in my old system I had difficulties getting the heatsink off. Some of the older heatsinks are anchored to the motherboard in a way that they are difficult to remove.
Click to expand...
I have done some research and took apart an old P3 desktop last weekend (although I don't remember the heatsink being stuck to the CPU). When it's all said and done I'm sure it will be just fine. My Mom actually doesn't mind using it even though it's so slow but she was open to speeding it up. Every time I use that computer I can't stand it because it is so slow so I feel bad my Mom has to use it. My sister has a 1.8ghz P4 desktop with only 512MB PC2100 RAM and that thing is MUCH faster than the computer I am trying to speed up here. So as long as I can get it that fast then I'll be happy.

imsati said:
Heh, I had that problem tonight - thank gods it was a 775. Not so much anchored to the MoBo but more along the lines of the thermal compound has long since turned to a binding agent and fuse them to the CPU itself. Big-Builder companies use cheap TP and after a while, it goes from 'compound' to 'glue'. Socket 775 CPUs are locked into place via the Socket cover, but it's very common for 478's to be pulled up along with the HSF:o Usually no damage if it's pulled upwards, but it removed at an angle, pins can be bent or the Socket holes can be damaged.
Click to expand...
I'll be sure to examine it carefully and pull it up. Thanks!
 
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