Upgrade Confusion

[sierram]

Years ago I was gifted an HP Pavilion a335w computer. It's running a P4 2.5GHz processor (Northwood A80532) 512 L2 with a 100MHz FSB. It has a TriGem Glendale motherboard, PGA478 socket, and yes, it's maxed at 1MB RAM (groan). I need to upgrade this lumbering beast because I've been unemployed for over a year and can't afford a newer unit (from this era).
I've been told I can, I can't, I shouldn't, and anything that'll fit in a 478 socket'll work. HP's been no help...well, not unless you pay for questionably reliable customer service.
Please, can anyone help me determine what, if anything, I can upgrade my CPU to in order to squeek out a little more time?

Thanks for any help you can be. (Though I don't think "administer last rites" will be helpful)

[Neon_WA]

as far as i can see by the specs.. you have already maxed out your options for the CPU & Ram.

only choice left is doing a new clean install of only the software you use (That is if you have disks or backups of them)

like 90% of computers it has probably had years of software loaded that bog it down.
I personally do a fresh clean install every 18 months.. to clear the crap

[sierram]

[Neon_WA]

your motherboard only accepts 400FSB P4s
there was 400FSB P4s made up to 3.0GHz, but your board like many only accepts (officially) up to 2.5GHz.

It may take a 2.6GHz, but you wouldn't notice the difference.

If you are a gambler and have $15 spare and willing to wait 3 weeks for it.. u could try a 2.8GHz SL7EY from one of the Chinese sellers

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=sl7ey&_dmpt=CPUs&_fln=1&_sc=1&_sop=15&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=&_udhi=20

just make sure your heat-sink & fan are clean as these are quite toasty when they are running.
n don't forget the thermal paste