Is GA-8S661 FXM compatible with Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz Prescott?

[avnanick1]

Recently I got a GA-8S661 FXM socket 478 motherboard with a Celeron 2,4 Ghz CPU

Of course, this is not a high-end system but ok, I prefer Gigabyte mobos used or new for their undoubtable reability. I just need that old PC for my parents to surf a little bit to the internet, use the facebook and play some flash games.

I discovered that the internet performance is quite poor due to the fact that the Celeron CPU not for "too much".

So I went the official page of gigabyte http://gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=1724#ov to see if I can upgrade my current mobo with a more strong CPU. I've found to the CPU support list http://gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=1724 that it can support a P4-Prescott 3.0 GHZ without a bios upgrade

Well, I'll put this sortly. I've found on the net a CPU with this description Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz 478 CPU SL7E4 1M/800 P4 HT 3000 
But ok, I am not 100% sure if this CPU is compatible with the mobo. It's a Prescott with an 1MB L2 cache. I prefer to put on a prescott with a 1MB L2 cache rather than a northwood with a 512K L2 cache. As far as I know, L2 cache plays a rather important role in the performance of a PC.

So my first question is if I can upgrade the mobo with that specific prescott CPU

Well, my second question is that. Let's say that the CPU is compatible.  Is a 350 Watt PSU ok for this CPU? That PC has not too much heavy hardware such as a typical 40 GB IDE disk, a GeForce 2 MX 400 video card, and also a simple DVD recorder (ATAPI-IDE) and a disk drive.

Also as I think, going from 2,4 GHZ to 3.00 I should have to change of course the CPU cooler in order for the new CPU to work well an not to be overheated. I've found those two

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1149&ID=1564
and
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1149&ID=1799

Though, it's quite difficult to find a socket 478 cooler for that CPU nowadays. Also more difficult to find an original Intel cooler that comes in a retail package with the CPU if we consider the fact that this CPU is not on market anymore. Well what do you think? can I put one of those 2 on my new CPU or is there a cooler you can suggest me?

Thanks for your time, sorry if I was too blah-blah

 


 

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Well according to the CPU Support list it is supported as you had determined already. The only thing is unless it is very cheap I don't know if it would be worth upgrading.

[avnanick1]

Thank you Dark for your reply. I think I'll upgrade it. Also the CPU and the cooler are quite cheap

[avnanick1]

I think I am gonna see a difference between a Celeron and an Intel Prescott. Besides that's not a high end PC. I just need it for my parents to surf on the net

[Dark Mantis]

Yes, I do understand where you are coming from but often it is false economy to update an old system.