Pentium 4 Processor & Abit Motherboard

I can get a new 2.4 Ghz Intel Pt 4 Processor & Abit Motherboard for a good price. My case now holds a Pt 3 and 850Ghz. I have mobile Hard Drives. Can I replace what I now have with the new one and still use my mobile hard drives. I assume I will need the new DDR Ram with thie Motherboard. I also have a 2.0 USB that I haven't installed yet. Can anyone help me. Thanks

 

Barbie - you will need to evaluate several things beyond just the MB and processor. You already spoke of DDR, and you will more than likely need a new PS, too. Then, lets talk about your case and perhaps, additional cooling. I'll assume you have an AGP graphics card with your P3, but by the time you get done with everything just because you found a "good deal "?, you have probably spent way more than necessary and trashed a perfectly good P3 along the way. That P3 could be sold, giving you the additional money necessary to build a really nice new machine.

My suggestion - build a new system and leave the P3 as it is. I'd also encourage you to look at Athlons because they run circles around P4's for a lot less money.

 

Hi Barbie.

Sounds like you're about to do what I just finished. I was running an Abit BH6 with an overclocked Celeron 566 running at 849MHz. I upgraded to an Abit and P4 2.0 with PC2700 DDR memory (I have it running at 2.2 right now but it will run at a little over 3).

Oddly enough the P4s run quite a bit cooler than the P3s. I seldom get over 87F and I'm just running the CPU cooler and the power supply fan. I have two case fans but they are disconnected and just sit there.

The P4 doesn't require any significant more power so if your power supply is fairly new (2 years or so) it should be fine. If you do decide to replace it I would recommend an Antec. They automatically reduce the speed of the fan depending on the current temp and mine seldom go over 1500 rpms. This whole thing is quite cool and I do a LOT of large graphic work. Prime95 does run it up to 105F tho.

One thing to keep in mind. Before you begin the switch, back up everything. Definitely, without question, format the hard drive and reinstall everything. It will save you months of heartache. This is the single most important thing to do. There are a number of ways to keep what you have and reinstall the new motherboard drivers, etc., but the new motherboard dictates a new install because the IDE circuitry will be different and the timing will change on the hard drive and the motherboard drivers will be different. Its also a great time to clean up everything by formatting and reinstalling.

I use several portable hard disks. I can switch operating systems as well as storage by plugging in a particular hard disk. They all work as good as before I switched.

Good luck and have a lot of fun.