Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
4 Posts
0
22304
3.4 Ghz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition Processor's BIOS Compatibility
Hello, I own a Dell Dimension 8300 from 2003. I currently run a rev A07 bios. I am trying to upgrade the processor to a P4 Extreme Edition @ 3.4 Ghz. My current processor is an 800 FSB 2.6 Ghz Northwood. Before I check my mobo for compatibility with the processor, I was wondering if anyone here knows whether the revision of my bios version supports the 3.4 Ghz EE processor. The intel website for my mobo, the D875PBZ, if I am correct, states the P4 EE needs a bios version of "P20" or greater. Is this greater than, equivalent to, or subrated against my rev A07 bios? Here is the link for what I am referring to on the intel site:
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/D875PBZ/sb/CS-021825.htm
I am worried that if "P20" came after rev A07, then I won't be able to install the P4 EE processor I am after, because I would be hard pressed to find a later bios than rev A07 (I have not found any later than that). If P20 came after A07, then could someone please kindly post a link to a newer Dell bios if it exists?
I am also having trouble finding a cheaper bargain for the P4 Extreme Edition @ 3.4 Ghz online. If anyone could provide a link, that would also be awesome.
Thanks.
g00gler
4 Posts
0
May 29th, 2010 16:00
EDIT:
I have now checked my motheboard, and I have found that its revision number is not one supporting the Intel Extreme Edition P4 @ 3.4 Ghz or 3,2 Ghz for that matter. In fact, it does not even support Prescotts. It would, however, handle Northwoods. Again, on the intel website, P20 or higher is listed as the required bios version to use the 3.4 Ghz Northwood (512k L2 cache) CPU. My question, therefore, remains the same: is rev. A07 bios equivalent, earlier, or later than "P20", as listed on the intel site?. I have a rev A07 bios for my Dell Dimension 8300. The link again:
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/D875PBZ/sb/CS-021825.htm
Thanks in advance.
pjtikkanen
142 Posts
0
May 30th, 2010 20:00
Hi:
If you look at the technical specs for your 8300, you will see that it can accept up to a P4 Northwood 3.4GHz/800/512 L2 cache. It does appear to me after looking at the techical specs, that your PC could also support processors with the 1MB L2 cache (Prescotts). Since your BIOS revision of A7 is the last revision, and its enhancements stated it added the microcode updates for the latest processors, you should be good to go.
I caution you on the issue of your heat sink however. If you install a Prescott, it will run much hotter than the Northwood. For that reason, I would stick with the Northwood. I am not even sure I would take the upgrade to a 3.4 Northwood, but perhaps a 3.2 Northwood. Now this is all dependent on my assumption that you plan to use the heat sink that came with your computer. I am not familiar with your specific model but I can tell you on my Optiplex GX 260 MT with the P4 3.06/533/512 processor, it came with a much different (larger with copper tubes) heat sink then a GX 260 came with that has a P4 2.66/533/512 processor.
Take a look at the processor specs here and you will see how much more wattage the Prescotts require.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ParentRadio=3052%2C3059%2C3155%2C3224%2C2558%2C2559%2C2774%2C2112%2C2103%2C2841%2C483%2C1077%2C49%2C&ProcFam=483&SearchKey=
Your motherboard is a socket 478, and a P4 Extreme Edition processor has requires an LGA 775 motherboard socket. With this arrangement, the pins are on the motherboard and not the processor. Totally different mounting procedure.
Paul