How can I determine FSB frequency?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DeanB
  • Start date Start date
D

DeanB

I have a HP Pavilion 763n, with a Pentium 4 2.54GHz.

How can I determine what FSB and memory I have? HP site is a pain.
Would like to see if a processor upgrade would be possible. Can XP
tell me?

Thanks!
 
Google this: "Pavilion 763n motherboard" --without the quotes-- and you will
see all the information you need. 533MHZ... to answer your question.
 
DeanB said:
I have a HP Pavilion 763n, with a Pentium 4 2.54GHz.

How can I determine what FSB and memory I have? HP site is a pain.
Would like to see if a processor upgrade would be possible. Can XP
tell me?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Try this utility, for info about the current operating conditions.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

For processor upgrades, you need to find a support list on the
manufacturer's site (which would be HP). CPU support sometimes
depends on BIOS version, so a BIOS update may be necessary
before changing the processor. Also, the design of the computer
casing or the Vcore regulator, may place constraints on how fast
a processor can be used. Without good enough cooling, a high
performance processor might overheat. And if the processor
draws a lot of current, the Vcore regulator may not be designed
to handle it.

Based on the info here, my best guess is a 3.06GHz/FSB533/512KB L2
cache processor, would be the fastest that could be used. (I have to
guess, because HP doesn't provide an upgrade list.) The motherboard
uses the 845G chipset. That era of motherboard doesn't support Prescott
or Celeron D processors (so no S478 90nm processors can be used). If
you happened to plug in the wrong processor, there is no damage. The
90nm processors have a sensing pin, and they can detect the wrong
motherboard. They'll simply refuse to start.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...7854&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

This is the kind of processor you'd use (if you knew the motherboard
was rated to take it). 3.06GHz/FSB533/512KB 0.13 micron Northwood.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL6PG

Powerleap sells an SL6PG for $200.

http://www.powerleap.com/Processors.jsp

Based on the tiny improvement a new processor would give, I wouldn't
bother wasting money on it.

For memory upgrades, you can go to Crucial.com and look up the options
there. You've got two memory slots, and the largest RAM is 1GB per
slot. (Note - Don't buy 1GB DDR memory from Ebay. The "high density"
stuff they sell is not approved by Intel, in their chipset datasheets.
If you want a DIMM that big, buy it from Crucial, Kingston, Corsairmicro
or some other name brand. If you want to buy 512MB DIMMs, then only
the ordinary Ebay risks apply there, and there are fewer construction
based issues with stuff other than the 1GB sized modules :-) If you
have further questions, like "is this RAM safe?", then post back.)

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion 763n

Paul
 
Try this utility, for info about the current operating conditions.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

For processor upgrades, you need to find a support list on the
manufacturer's site (which would be HP). CPU support sometimes
depends on BIOS version, so a BIOS update may be necessary
before changing the processor. Also, the design of the computer
casing or the Vcore regulator, may place constraints on how fast
a processor can be used. Without good enough cooling, a high
performance processor might overheat. And if the processor
draws a lot of current, the Vcore regulator may not be designed
to handle it.

Based on the info here, my best guess is a 3.06GHz/FSB533/512KB L2
cache processor, would be the fastest that could be used. (I have to
guess, because HP doesn't provide an upgrade list.) The motherboard
uses the 845G chipset. That era of motherboard doesn't support Prescott
or Celeron D processors (so no S478 90nm processors can be used). If
you happened to plug in the wrong processor, there is no damage. The
90nm processors have a sensing pin, and they can detect the wrong
motherboard. They'll simply refuse to start.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?docname=bph07854&c...

This is the kind of processor you'd use (if you knew the motherboard
was rated to take it). 3.06GHz/FSB533/512KB 0.13 micron Northwood.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL6PG

Powerleap sells an SL6PG for $200.

http://www.powerleap.com/Processors.jsp

Based on the tiny improvement a new processor would give, I wouldn't
bother wasting money on it.

For memory upgrades, you can go to Crucial.com and look up the options
there. You've got two memory slots, and the largest RAM is 1GB per
slot. (Note - Don't buy 1GB DDR memory from Ebay. The "high density"
stuff they sell is not approved by Intel, in their chipset datasheets.
If you want a DIMM that big, buy it from Crucial, Kingston, Corsairmicro
or some other name brand. If you want to buy 512MB DIMMs, then only
the ordinary Ebay risks apply there, and there are fewer construction
based issues with stuff other than the 1GB sized modules :-) If you
have further questions, like "is this RAM safe?", then post back.)

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion 763n

Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul, that was one heck of a reply! (If this were my office PC
I'd be inclined to make some kind of consulting payment!)

I think this is the 2.8 sold by powerleap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116215

Why the price differential? I might think about the 3GHz if it were
this price, but its not worth $200. I was hoping for something like a
3.6GHz, but those are only on the 800MHz bus (dammit).

Oh well, thanks again.

Dean
 
DeanB said:
Thanks Paul, that was one heck of a reply! (If this were my office PC
I'd be inclined to make some kind of consulting payment!)

I think this is the 2.8 sold by powerleap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116215

Why the price differential? I might think about the 3GHz if it were
this price, but its not worth $200. I was hoping for something like a
3.6GHz, but those are only on the 800MHz bus (dammit).

Oh well, thanks again.

Dean
Click to expand...

I thought the S478 Northwoods stopped at 3.4GHz, like this one.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL793

The Extreme Edition had more cache on it, but still the 3.4GHz limit.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL7CH

There is another way, to get above 3.4GHz, and that involves
using a D stepping of Mobile Pentium4 processor (SL726). But
that is a story for another time. You need the exact right
motherboard for one of these, and these will do 3.6GHz and
run cool while doing it.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL726

The Powerleap prices are all about supply and demand. When other
sources of previous generation stuff dry up, Powerleap will still
have some processors. That is why it is $200. It isn't worth $200.
But if you had an FSB533 motherboard, and didn't want to change
all your hardware, you might be tempted, and that is what they
are counting on.

It is like that with some S754 Athlon64 processors as well. I think the
fastest one of those, was 3700+. And yet some outfits still charge
around three hundred for it, when it is worth a lot less.

Paul
 
Back
Top