Upgrading from P3 Coppermine core to Tualatin core

[gazzyk1ns]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently on a... well, have a grab of the main CPU-Z window, it's easier:



My question is:

Am I OK to buy one of the faster Tualatin core P3s and stick it in there? I know they're both socket 370 and run on the 133MHz but I thought there might possibly be some kind of issue with the voltage, or whatever else (I know Intel mobos can be incompatible things from past experience!). Also, would my current heatsink and fan be OK? I suppose I'll have to buy a tube of thermal paste, in any case, as it's good to get a proper seal? I've built whole PCs from components before, but never actually transplanted a CPU, so I don't know what the done thing is.

Thanks for any advice!

[gshv]

[gazzyk1ns]

Cheers for the reply. I've registered now, it was a bit embarrassing wanting to edit that post for correction/clarity and not being able to!

I have an Intel D815EEA motherboard, but the info I've found on the net so far is confused. Intel's official PDF says it can only support up to 933MHz P3s but that's clearly not true, as I'm on a 1GHz CPU. I suppose the 933 was the fastest when they released that document, and they never bothered to update it.

Looking elsewhere, I think it might depend on the specific chipset? Obviouly it's the Intel i815 we're talking about but this page mentions "We should reiterate that this is an 815EP B-step board, and thus supports Tualatin and future 0.13um processors.". I can't find confirmation of how to check if I've got a B-step board/chipset or not, the fugures CPU-Z offers match some of the ones on that page, but not all. Here's my info, perhaps someone will be able to confirm whether I can slot a Tualatin CPU in there or not...



Here is a link to a screengrab of the relevant part of that Intel spec. PDF - it also says it can only support up to a 256KB L2 cache - but I assume that's nothing to worry about, because the P3s with larger caches simply weren't out when they made that table?

Again, any info/advice appreciated.

[Elar]

There's no Tualatin support on D815EEA. Only later revisions of D815EEA2 boards support Tualatin CPU's. They are marked as D815EEA2U.

[gazzyk1ns]

Damn! Ah well, I suppose I'll have to look out for another mobo if I decide to upgrade, I might just wait until I can afford a "proper" upgrade.

Thanks for the quick answer.

[gshv]

Take a look at Tualatin socket 370 adapters. They allow motherboards without Tualatin support to use Tualatin processors. I found a few adapters on eBay for as low as $10 with free shipping within US. I don't know how good or reliable they are.

Gennadiy

[gazzyk1ns]

Ah right, interesting, thanks for the tip. I'm in the UK but even if they're something like $20 including shipping then I think it would still be worth upgrading. What do you think, Coppermine 1GHz/256KB L2>Tualatin 1.4GHz/512KB L2 for about £35/$60 including shipping? There will probably be a noticeable (but not massive) increase in performance, won't there?

[gshv]

[TONYNINER]

If your board is slot 1, you can use a slot 1 to socket 370 adapter that has tualatin support.

If your board is socket 370, you can get a socket 370 adapter that just plugs right in into your present socket 370 and has tualatin support.

Adapters are available in either style, of course, on eBay.

You are better off with a Pentium III 1.2GHz 133fsb, since you already have 133fsb support, that is as high as PIII's go, beware of 1.4GHz (Celerons) cpu's as they only have 100FSB.

It also helps to have the correct amount of memory for your os, and preferably pc133 if you are running sdram

I have not seen any PIII 1.4GHz cpu's anywhere...

Hope this tidbit helps you out.

[TONYNINER]

If your board is slot 1, you can use a slot 1 to socket 370 adapter that has tualatin support.

If your board is socket 370, you can get a socket 370 adapter that just plugs right in into your present socket 370 and has tualatin support.

Adapters are available in either style, of course, on eBay.

You are better off with a Pentium III 1.2GHz 133fsb, since you already have 133fsb support, that is as high as PIII's go, beware of 1.4GHz (Celerons) cpu's as they only have 100FSB.

It also helps to have the correct amount of memory for your os, and preferably pc133 if you are running sdram

I have not seen any PIII 1.4GHz cpu's anywhere...

Hope this tidbit helps you out.