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I have two IBM Thinkcentre systems. One with a Pent 4 - Prescot - which supports SSE3 and dual threads.

 

I think the other one, the one I am using for OSX now, is Northwood and has the following specs:

 

Machine Name: jMac

Machine Model: ADP2,1

CPU Type: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU

Number Of CPUs: 1

CPU Speed: 3.4 GHz

L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

CPU Features: FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM EST

Memory: 1.5 GB

Bus Speed: 533 MHz

Boot ROM Version: 2AKT42AUS (IBM)

Serial Number: 6A57448

 

Both systems use the same PC 2700 memory and have the same buss speed. I would like to replace the SSE2 single thread CPU with one that supports SSE3 and has multi threads. The problem is, there are many SSE3 CPU chips available for various socket types. I don't know how to identify the correct CPUs for the existing mobo.

 

Does anyone know of an on-line source of information that could help me sort out which replacement CPU to buy?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Well, yes, I know about cpu-z. The problem is I don't have WinXX on that system. Only OSX & Linux. I tried cpu-z under linux/wine but no joy.

 

Still, maybe I can rig something temporary with the case open and a spare hard drive. I guess it's worth a try :thumbsdown_anim:

 

Thanks for the reminder about cpu-z.

Well, I looked in my parts box and found a drive that still had WinXP-Home installed on it. I opened the case and swapped the cables for a test.

 

CPU-Z says they are both "Socket 478 mPGA (platform ID = 2h)". I think that means I can do a CPU upgrade. Still, if I am reading things incorrectly please let me know.

 

Edit: I removed the heatsink - the socket has no metal cover and is a ZIF socket.

 

The first set of specs is from the dual thread Prescot CPU with SSE3

 

-------------------------
 CPU-Z version 1.36
-------------------------
Processors Map
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of processors	1
Number of threads	2

Processor 0
-- Core 0
	-- Thread 0
	-- Thread 1
Processors Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores		1
Number of threads	2 (max 2)
Name			Intel Pentium 4
Codename		Prescott
Specification		Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Package			Socket 478 mPGA (platform ID = 2h)
CPUID			F.3.4
Extended CPUID		F.3
Core Stepping		D0
Technology		90 nm
Core Speed		2992.4 MHz (15.0 x 199.5 MHz)
Rated Bus speed		798.0 MHz
Stock frequency		3000 MHz

Instructions sets	MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3

L1 Data cache		16 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Trace cache		12 Kuops, 8-way set associative
L2 cache		1024 KBytes, 6-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control		no

 

and the second set is from the single thread Northwood CPU.

 

-------------------------
 CPU-Z version 1.36
-------------------------
Processors Map
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of processors	1
Number of threads	1
Processor 0
-- Core 0
	-- Thread 0
Processors Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores		1
Number of threads	1 (max 1)
Name			Intel Pentium 4
Codename		Northwood
Specification		Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Package			Socket 478 mPGA (platform ID = 2h)
CPUID			F.2.9
Extended CPUID		F.2
Brand ID		9
Core Stepping		D1
Technology		0.13 um
Core Speed		2792.9 MHz (21.0 x 133.0 MHz)
Rated Bus speed		532.0 MHz
Stock frequency		2800 MHz

Instructions sets	MMX, SSE, SSE2

L1 Data cache		8 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Trace cache		12 Kuops, 8-way set associative
L2 cache		512 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control		no

Still, if I can swap in a Prescot CPU with 2 threads and SSE3 it will make a major improvement over what I have now :D

 

Newegg has an OEM version of the Prescot CPU for about $85USD. I think I will need to buy a cooling fan though. The system with the single thread cpu only has a finned heatsink, but the one with the dual thread cpu has a heatsink with a fan on top.

OK! Some after upgrade information.

 

I ordered a Pentium 4 3.0ghz 478 CPU from newegg.com for about $85-USD + $5-USD for a small tube of thermal grease. It took about 2 days to arrive. The installation was a snap. I removed the old heatsink & CPU. Cleaned off the old thermal compound from the heatsink, installed the CPU and applied new thermal grease. I put the heat sink back on and bolted it down - alternating thghtening on each side. I don't think it took over 15 minutes from start to finish.

 

This is my new spec form System Profiler:

Hardware Overview:

 Machine Name:	jMac
 Machine Model:	ADP2,1
 CPU Type:	Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU
 Number Of CPUs:	2
 CPU Speed:	3.4 GHz
 L2 Cache (per CPU):	1 MB
 CPU Features:	FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM EST
 Memory:	1.5 GB
 Bus Speed:	400 MHz
 Boot ROM Version:	2AKT42AUS (IBM)
 Serial Number:	6A57448

 

I have iStat Pro as one of my Dashboard widgets. With the old CPU, it always showed the CPU utilization pegged at 100%. With the new cpu installed the rating is between 5 & 10%. Admitedly, the new CPU is a bit faster and the L2 cache is bigger. Still, it's a welcome improvement.

 

I have upgraded to iTunes 7.01 and it runs without problems. with the old CPU, iTunes 7.01 would not run.

 

One thing I found, after removing the old CPU - the socket was planely stamped 478. I could have saved a lot of work and worry if I had just noticed that earlier.

 

Given how easy the upgrade was, I think it might be a very reasonable path for those with SSE2 systems to just replace the CPU with one that supports SSE3 for the same socket type.

 

Now if I could just get my ATI Radeon 9250-PCI graphics card to support QE/CI :(

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