A
A Big Fat Slob
How do I determine if there are any updates available for my processor? I
don't see Pentium III listed on Intel's web site.
don't see Pentium III listed on Intel's web site.
P
Paul
A said:
You mean, like, the processorfinder site ? It still has a Pentium III section.
If you mention what your motherboard make and model is, someone might even
suggest what the limit is.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ProcFam=25&sSpec=&OrdCode=
Paul
A
A Big Fat Slob
Paul said:
Thanks for the link.
FreshDiagnose tells me my motherboard's vendor is Intel. The model number
is SE440BX-2. I want to know if there are any updates available that'll
improve my processor's performance.
P
Paul
A said:
Supported processor list is here.
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/se440bx2/sb/cs-013634.htm
First thing I notice, is the official list is FSB100. No FSB133
processors in there.
The picture here shows it takes slot processors, not the S370 socketed
ones.
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/se440bx2/sb/cs-013637.htm
Now, the next thing I notice, is the list of supported processors, has
a note in the right hand column. 754552-200, 754558-200, or A01450-200.
Look for a bar code sticker on the motherboard, which should be similar
in format to the one shown in the following picture. Typically, it means
a change was made to the parts list used to assemble the board. In this
particular case, it would mean a change to the Vcore regulator chip. Check
your motherboard, to see if it has one of those three numbers listed above.
http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/d865glc/sb/img/barcode.jpg
There are two kinds of voltage regulator chips. The older type, puts out
1.8V or higher voltages. The newer type, handles voltages as low as 1.5V.
Some of the higher speed processors, use lower voltages. For example,
this 850MHz/FSB100/256KB L2 Coppermine processor, uses 1.65V. Only the
three "AA" numbered SE440BX-2 motherboards above, would handle that
processor, due to its 1.65V power requirement.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL43F
If you had an older motherboard, without one of the above AA numbers,
you could still plug in that SL43F 850MHz processor, but what would
happen is the computer would not POST. For safely reasons, when the
older Vcore regulator is asked for a voltage which is less than 1.8V,
it puts out zero volts instead. That protects the processor, but
also guarantees that the board cannot start.
Finally, there are "slotket" or slot adapter modules, which will
take a later S370 processor and run it. For example, I have a
1.4GHz/FSB100/256KB Tualatin Celeron processor, and I fit it
in a $25 adapter slocket, so it will fit my old 440BX motherboard.
The reason I can do that, is my Vcore regulator goes down to 1.5V,
so there is no problem using an adapter.
When a motherboard doesn't have the right Vcore regulator, another
possibility is the Powerleap iP3-T. It has an onboard regulator,
to make 1.5V. This particular one is bundled with a 1.4GHz/FSB100
processor. I don't think Powerleap is making these any more, so
Ebay would be the place to look.
http://cgi.ebay.com/POWERLEAP-PL-IP...ryZ14292QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The Powerleap "configurator" no longer lists any iP3-T adapters
as being for sale, so I guess Powerleap has stopped making them.
There is a note, that says you need Intel BIOS P13 or later,
to use the Powerleap adapter. The reason for the BIOS dependency,
is certain multiplier values of processor, didn't work properly
in the BIOS of the day. Eventually, a few manufacturers issued
BIOS updates, that fixed the multiplier issue. So presumably,
what Powerleap is saying, is they believe Intel fixed the issue
in the P13 BIOS.
To review your options:
1) SE440BX-2 motherboard with old Vcore regulator:
600MHz/FSB100/512KB Katmai 0.25u processor would be the fastest.
or use Powerleap iP3-T and take a chance on the BIOS being OK.
The Powerleap has its own Vcore regulator, which is why it will work.
I see there are a couple 600MHz 0.18u processors, which maybe
Intel didn't consider, and those would not work (Vcore needed is
too low). If buying a 600MHz, check the stepping of the processor
before you buy. (In the Processorfinder table, K=Katmai, C=Coppermine,
T=Tualatin.)
2) SE440BX-2 motherboard with new Vcore regulator
850MHz/FSB100/256KB Coppermine 0.18u slot processor (1.65V Vcore is one
of those lower voltages, but as long as the AA number is one of the
"chosen few", it'll work).
Or use the Powerleap solution, for a Tualatin Celeron processor
up to 1.4GHz/FSB100, using P13 BIOS or higher.
Or use one of the $25 slockets and a Coppermine S370 processor up
to 1GHz. The following link is an example of an S370 processor at 1GHz.
This example uses 1.75V (just slightly less than 1.8V) and a cheap
Coppermine capable slocket plus one of the "chosen few" SE440BX-2
motherboards, could use this.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL5QV
Is this stuff confusing ? You betcha. I've done three upgrades on
my 440BX Asus motherboard, and all of them worked. I unsoldered
my "old" Vcore regulator chip, and replaced it with a pin
compatible "new" Vcore regulator. Which is why I had more upgrade
options later in life. My board started life at 300Mhz Celeron,
overclocked to 450MHz, and ended up with a 1.1GHz and a 1.4GHz
ualatin Celeron in an Upgradeware Slot-T cheap adapter. The only
way things could have been better, is if I unsoldered the clockgen
chip and improved it as well. But you gotta stop somewhere, and
move on.
So that will give you some general ideas. Post back if you want
to verify a product, before you buy it. Your next move, is to
look for that barcode sticker
Paul
C
CBFalconer
A said:
I got my present machine with that board a few years ago, and
downloaded the various manuals from Intel at the time. It dates
from about 2000. IIRC bios updates stopped about 5 years ago, and
full information is in the manuals. I decided I didn't need a bios
update, although I didn't have the latest. To find the manuals,
search for "se440-bx*.pdf".
You have a good board, which can handle up to 750MB of memory, and
most important, can handle ECC memory. I recommend getting ECC
memory and enabling the system. Then you will never be wondering
if a dropped bit sometime in the past 5 years has destroyed your
system. I believe the CPUs are limited to about 1 MHz. speed. See
the manuals.
5-29-05 11:26 14,605 RNOTE171.pdf
5-30-05 1:17 499,403 SE2BIO17.EXE
5-29-05 9:32 46,484 se440bx-memory.htm
5-28-05 20:21 378,880 se440bx2-72163201.pdf
5-28-05 20:24 166,912 se440bx2-72585615.pdf
L
Lord Turkey Cough
A Big Fat Slob said:
Have you tried the Antiques Road Show website?
Also rather difficult to update a processor, cheap to buy a new one.
G
GT
A Big Fat Slob said:
Not sure what you mean? It isn't possible to update a processor. You can
physically replace a processor with a newer one, but updates are for
software and BIOS (firmware).
D
DaveW
There aren't any since it is a discontinued CPU.
M
meow2222
A said:
Thats easy, theres no such thing. If you want more performance,
you can google overclocking, and get yourself a free upgrade. Very
wise when clocking is to use memtest86 to make sure you get a
totally stable system.
Any other option would mean replacing physical parts. More RAM,
going from SDR to DDR, a higher rotation speed HDD, a better
video card and upgrading from 2k or xp to win98se can all get your
system going faster. So can getting rid of bloated apps and
replacing with better written ones, and shutting down all
background processes - start, run, msconfig, ok, startup.
NT
K
kony
All that one had to do to run the Coppermines in boards with
the older 1.8V regulator limit was to choose a slotket
adapter with voltage setting jumpers and set it to 1.8V.
That is above the spec for Coppermines, but still a
managable voltage as many people ran systems like that for
years.
We don't know what the original CPU was, but it seems
unlikely that an upgrade to a 600MHz Katmai is worthwhile.
As mentioned above a decent slotket would allow use up to at
least 850MHz, or probably higher for the rarer Coppermine P3
versions that had 100MHz FSB in the higher speeds. I know
there was at least a 1GHz w/100MHz FSB sold though they
might be hard to find today.
You did mention this option though under a category of "with
new Vcore regulator", while it should work with any of these
boards given the right bios version. One of the most cost
effective upgrades at the time was to get a cC0 or cD0
stepping Celeron 600-700, having voltage set to about
1.7-1.75V or 1.8V if the board required, then upping FSB to
100-110MHz or so. Many BX boards weren't stable at 133MHz
and while a few could do 124MHz ok, even fewer of those had
a readily accessible jumper or bios setting to implement it,
and I don't recall much if any o'c support on SE440BX-2,
though using a pin-mod one could insulate the (think it was
BSEL0?) pin to force 100MHz mode on 66MHz FSB default
processor, or with a slotket if the CPU was known stable at
an achievable voltage and the target o'c, the trace on the
slotket might be cut or it's associated edge connector
covered over, insulated with nail-polish/etc. to force
100MHz FSB operation.