What the Hell is Pentium 4 Prescott?

[Lumburg]

Im looking to upgrade my motherboard and some other components in my computer. I have a Intel Pentium 4 2.4 ghz (FSB 533 mhz) from 2001. Being from 2001, you can automatically tell that I am using RDRam (pc800). :wub:, I know. It would cost me about 400+ just to upgrade my crap ram from 512 mb to 1 gig. Now I want to get DDR ram (pc 3200) cause its way cheaper and I would love a set of Corsair xms ram 2 x 1 gig sticks ( )

anyways, I find these motherboards with Pentium 4 Prescott/Celeron support. I never heard of Prescott. Is it a new type of processor other than mine, or is it just another name for my P4 processor?

Thanks a bunch. Also got any recommendations for a real good MoBoard, namely Asus, that supports my processor, but has DDR ram, PCI-e support, with SLI support too.

If not, ill just have to shell out $1,200 for some new components.

[Proximus]

Im looking to upgrade my motherboard and some other components in my computer. I have a Intel Pentium 4 2.4 ghz (FSB 533 mhz) from 2001. Being from 2001, you can automatically tell that I am using RDRam (pc800). :wub:, I know. It would cost me about 400+ just to upgrade my crap ram from 512 mb to 1 gig. Now I want to get DDR ram (pc 3200) cause its way cheaper and I would love a set of Corsair xms ram 2 x 1 gig sticks ( )

anyways, I find these motherboards with Pentium 4 Prescott/Celeron support. I never heard of Prescott. Is it a new type of processor other than mine, or is it just another name for my P4 processor?

Thanks a bunch. Also got any recommendations for a real good MoBoard, namely Asus, that supports my processor, but has DDR ram, PCI-e support, with SLI support too.

If not, ill just have to shell out $1,200 for some new components.

What socket do you have?
478?

[Incinerate_IV]

Prescott is just a code name for the core of Pentium 4, the Pentium 4 today use the Prescott core, while back then they use Northwood (I'm pretty sure yours is a Pentium 4 Northwood). But anyways, you don't have to worry about these stuff unless you are overclocking, all in all they are all just Pentium 4s.

For a motherboard, you need to find out what socked your processor use. Download CPUZ:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

And look in the 'Package' box, it should tell you what socket it uses. It should be either Socket 423 or Socket 478. If its a socket 478, then you are in luck, there are still plenty of good quality socket 478 boards out there, if you have socket 423 then I'm not sure, you may have to search on ebay a little bit to find a good motherboard.

[Lee1026]

I would be really surprised if your CPU can support anything higher then 133mhz ram.

[Lumburg]

Thank you guys very much for the help. i really appreciate it


i dled that cpuz program, pretty neat program. anyways it says my package is "mPGA-478" and the code name is Northwood.

the FSB says 132.6 mhz and Bus Speed is 530.3 mhz

my friend sent me this link Here and yes I still use an AGP bid card (radeon 9700 pro). the only thing that really attracted me to this board was the DDR ram. Having RD ram is holding me back. BTW, i just bought the 2 gig Corsair xms ram today since it was on a oneday say and free shipping with $40.00 mail in rebate!! (at $180.00!!) Corsair hotness

oh and i also got FREE 500W Poersupply!!! hopefully it isnt crappy, but since later on in the next few years ill upgrade my whole comp and need a good powersupply with plenty of juice, ill take this since its free after the 2 $50.00 mail in rebates!


anyways, so what do you guys recommend as a new moboard? something that will be able to use my cpu and my new corsair ram while being able to use my AGP radeon vid card. If theres no motherboard out there, then ill just have to shell out the money somehow. hehe

thanks again guys.

[Proximus]

ASUS P4S800D-X. Review. I think that this board will suit your needs pretty well.
That link your friend gave you is to a s775 board it wont work with you CPU.

[Lumburg]

thank you very much Proximus, lee1026, and Incinerate_IV! You guys helped me alot. I might go for that moboard, then again, i shaved down my dream machine's cost to around ~$900, now with the fact that i got the power supply and ram already... oooohhhhh CHOICES!!!!! WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO?!?!?!

[Proximus]

thank you very much Proximus, lee1026, and Incinerate_IV! You guys helped me alot. I might go for that moboard, then again, i shaved down my dream machine's cost to around ~$900, now with the fact that i got the power supply and ram already... oooohhhhh CHOICES!!!!! WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO?!?!?!

Hard to say your CPU is somewhat decent but aging. The Radeon 9700 is if not obsolete already on the way to become so.
If you keep most of your old stuff you’ll only need to buy new CPU, GPU and main board.
You can easily get a very good gaming computer for just 550$ if you don't need to buy a new chassi, display and other accessories.
650$ if you want dual core.

[Lumburg]

yea i figured that my p4 cpu was atleast a still considered decent, but its hard to find a good moboard that has the up to date stuff like SLI and SATA, etc.

So here is the rest of the stuff im gonna buy for my new gear. List

if you cant see it, its:

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8N-SLI Premium
Item #: N82E16813131540

eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N516
Item #: N82E16814130256

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail
Model #: ADA3700BNBOX
Item #: N82E16819103539

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD3200KS
Item #: N82E16822136003

All from NEWEGG.com
totals to $794.99 but the Geforce has a 15.00 instant savings and a $20.00 mail-in rebate so its 250.00 bringing the total to about $759.99, but gotta factor in the shipping so back to 780.00


My current HD is 80gb and its practically full. Had to delete some games in order to defragment my comp and my music library keeps growing by the day.

So all in all, I think I will probably go for the rest of the stuff and shell out the 800 bucks. Itll vastly improve my graphics and make any new updates a smoother transition.

oh, and im keeping my Sound card, monitor, and speakers from my old comp (gateway). Saves me mucho money.

SC (Creative SB Audio, PCI slot), Monitor (17" LCD 1280x1024 res), Speakers (Boston Soundworks)


know how i can transfer my data from my old HD to the new one? and Also how i can get windows on the new HD? without having to burn CDRs.

[Incinerate_IV]

That looks pretty nice, and that free powersupply deal is nice, I think I'll get a couple of these if its still avilable!

BTW, I think AMD has a Athlon64 3800+ Venice core, buy that instead of San Diego, since Venice core are known to be extremely good overclockers. You might not want to overclock now, but in the future it can save you a lot of case (They are known to go up to ~2.5 ghz, the speed of a $800+ FX processor)

Or if you like dual core the Athlon64 X2 3800+ is avilable for around $300, you might want to look into that.

[Lumburg]

great suggestion. so thats what some people on newegg were talking about venice. oh well, maybe next time.

never overclocked in my life... im actually afraid that ill oc it too much. I saw a video on www.collegehumor.com of some people ocing an OLD AMD cpu to 4.0 ghz. once they took off the heatsink/fan... 2 seconds later, BOOM! Also i havent invested in any watercooling or extra fans so ocing would be dangerous for me at the moment.

yea, you cant beat a free power supply, the only thing that you gotta pay is the 5.00 shipping fee, which 5.00 vs the 79.99 i wouldve spent for a 500w powersupply, we all know who wins.

[westy159]

Unless its too late perhaps you should consider AMD instead of Intel? They are cheaper and have been proven to be faster, better for gaming.

Lumburg, can you still run the modern games with your 9700? I dont' think obsolete is quite the word for it. THe next generation is coming soon I hear, maybe you can wait till then?

I had a Radeon 9700Pro up till last xmas. A huge improvment in RTW and BF2 (i had a Geforce FX5200 b4). BF2 i could go from low settings to medium and in RTW everything was a lot smoother and the units looked so much better. Now i have a Geforce 6800XT which is a slight improvment over that. The 9700Pro is a bit better than the standard i believe, theres probably not much difference so yes his current card should be able to handle all of todays games on some average settings.

[General Sun]

Lumburg, can you still run the modern games with your 9700? I dont' think obsolete is quite the word for it. THe next generation is coming soon I hear, maybe you can wait till then?

[Lee1026]

There is always somethings around the corner. 1st rule of computers:if you need it, buy it. If you don't wait.