Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?

Other than semantics, what's the difference between autoswitch (i.e.
detect the processor through some means) and 'go with the flow'?

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Watzman [mailto:WatzmanNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxx]
Posted At: Sunday, May 06, 2007 9:59 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?
Subject: Re: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?

The 850e didn't "autoswitch", it just "went with the flow", being able
to support both 400 and 533 (while the earlier 850 only supported 400).
The CPU has pins that specify the clock speed (they can be overridden
if overclocking is supported), basically you had a 100MHz physical clock

for 400MHz, and a 133MHz external physical clock for 533MHz. That
choice was made (unless overridden) by the CPU; but the chipset has to
be capable of "accepting" that choice, e.g. it has to be compatible with

the input that it then gets.


Tom Scales wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From: Matt [mailto:themattfella@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Posted At: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:57 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?
Subject: Re: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?

Tom Scales wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: Matt [mailto:themattfella@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Posted At: Sunday, May 06, 2007 6:44 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?
Subject: Re: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?

Tom Scales wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: Matt [mailto:themattfella@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Posted At: Sunday, May 06, 2007 5:33 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?
Subject: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?

I need to replace my Dimension 4500 motherboard. Dimension 4500's
were
sold with either 400 MHz and 533 MHz FSBs. The system ran with 533
MHz
FSB until a lightning strike. The CPU is okay and is for 533 FSB.

Does the motherboard have to be matched to 533 FSB?

Or is the FSB determined completely by the CPU?

----------------


Sounds like an opportunity to replace the entire machine.
Okay, this is your big chance. Please send the replacement machine
to:
Matt Nomobo
1919 Wino Way
Walla Walla, WA

I expect you'll be happiest sending a top-of-the-line model, but a
run-of-the-mill Dell would be fine with me.

If the
lightening strike burned out the motherboard, who's to say the CPU,
memory, hard disk, etc. aren't fried too.
Not you, I expect.

Computers are cheap.
And may you be laid to rest in a landfill.

-------

Sorry, just trying to help. I wouldn't invest in that machine. When
you
post to a newsgroup you'll get some opinions.

I'm more than happy to stop answering any questions you have.

You already did that. :-)

Tom




The system uses the 845E chipset. From the basic research I've done at
Dell and Intel, there is no reference to a difference between support
for 400 or 533 processors, which leads me to believe it is similar to
the 850E in that the motherboard will automatically detect and switch.
No guarantees, but that is my perception. The 850E, for example,
autoswitched, but the 850 only supported 400.

I'll let others like Ben jump in, but I believe you could also install
a
4550 motherboard. The primary difference is that the 4550 supports
USB2
on all USB ports and the 4500 supports USB1.1.

In looking at ebay, both the 4500 and 4550 motherboards are in the
$100
range, not counting shipping. Many of the auctions for the 4550
motherboard specifically state they will also work in the 4500, so
that's the route I would suggest. I still have two 4550 computers
that
have been running 24/7 for many years.

I still think the $100 would be better spent at the outlet towards a
new
machine. For example, a nicely equipped Dimension E520, Pentium-D 2.8
(Dual Core), 1GB memory, Vista Home Premium, 250GB hard drive, DVD/RW
drive is $429. Clearly a difference in price, but worth the money. A
4550 motherboard will get you a machine near end of life. The E520
would be a machine for several more years. If you're patient, you can
get free shipping every few weeks and often they have sales.

The E520 is vastly superior to a 4500/4550.

Your choice and if money is tight, the $100 or so could get you a fine
working machine, if the CPU and memory are not also fried.

Tom


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?
    ... Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it? ... Tom Scales wrote: ... Does the motherboard have to be matched to 533 FSB? ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it?
    ... The CPU has pins that specify the clock speed, basically you had a 100MHz physical clock for 400MHz, and a 133MHz external physical clock for 533MHz. ... Pentium 4 -- 400 or 533 FSB --- what determines it? ... Does the motherboard have to be matched to 533 FSB? ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: How to find out the real, maximum possible CPU speed (WITHOUT overclocking) ?
    ... Then, a week ago, I changed the motherboard to another Elitegroup ... I moved the old CPU to the new motherboard as well ... How can I change the FSB from 100 to 133: ... tested and locked the multipliers at one good freq. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Stepping Code, Part II
    ... The Pentium II 350MHz and up are all 100MHz FSB CPU's. ... Since he didn't specify if he was referring to the Netfinity 3000, ... Pentium III 600 MHz CPU with a BIOS update. ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware)
  • Re: How to find out the real, maximum possible CPU speed (WITHOUT overclocking) ?
    ... Then, a week ago, I changed the motherboard to another Elitegroup ... I moved the old CPU to the new motherboard as well ... How can I change the FSB from 100 to 133: ... tested and locked the multipliers at one good freq. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)