I have an old computer whose processor is Intel pentium 3, 500 Mhz speed. About two days AGO, a friend gave me an Intel pentium 3 processor whose speed is 800 Mhz. My question is: is it technically possible to replace the old 500 Mhz processor with this 800 Mhz processor with the existing motherboard to upgrade my computer? Will there be other factors required for this proposed upgradation? Your technical advice will be appreciated. Thanks a lot.What is your motherboard make and model?To Calum:
Hereunder is the specification of the existing motherboard:
     brand = Gigabyte Technology Co., Inc.
     model = i440BX-8671
     chipset = Intel i440BX/ZX Rev. C1
     southbridge = Intel 82371 EB/MB (P11X4E/M)

Actually, the existing processor is Intel Pentium 111 450Mhz (not 500Mhz as I have written earlier). Hereunder is the specification of the existing ptocessor:
     name = Intel Pentium 111
     code name = Katmai
     specs = Intel Pentium 111 450Mhz
     family = 6      model = 7     stepping = 3
     ext. family = 6     ext. model = 7 revision = KCO
     Clocks (core #0)                      Cache     
     core speed = 451.0Mhz           L1 data = 16 Kbytes
     multiplier = X4.5                       L1 Inst = 16 Kbytes
     buss speed = 100.2 Mhz          Level 2 = 512 Kbytes
'Hope this info will GUIDE you to give me technical advice. Thanks.


It depends on the actual revision of the motherboard, which will be written on it somewhere as a version number, probably near the model number.
Also, what's the stepping code on the CPU itself?It "might" (key word here is "might").

The P3-450 you described is 100Mhz FSB x 4.5 multiplier.

A P3-800 can either be 100MHz FSB x 8.0 multiplier or 133MHz FSB x 6.0 multiplier.  If your motherboard AND RAM do not support the 133MHz FSB and the P3-800 you have is 133MHz FSB, it won't work.  If it's 100MHz, then you may still be in business...

...but...

...the other thing to consider is the socket.  Some early P3s were Slot 1.  LATE P3s are all Socket 370.  If the P3-450 is Slot 1, then the P3-800 Socket 370 won't fit (at least not without what's called a "Sloket" or "Slot-ket"...good luck finding one of those nowadays...)

...and one last thing is to make sure the BIOS supports a x8 multiplier if your P3-800 is 100MHz FSB x 8.

So in a nutshell:

1) P3-800: 100 or 133 MHz FSB?  If 133, then it might not work.  If 100, then does your motherboard support a x8 multiplier?  If not, is there a BIOS upgrade that will?
2) P3-450: Slot 1 or Socket 370?  If Slot 1, then the P3-800 won't work without a Sloket.  To killerb255: Thanks for your message, however, I am a little bit confused on the technical aspect of what you have stated. How will I know if my motherboard will support a x8 multiplier (please specs of my motherboard in my PREVIOUS message)?  If not, where can I find a BIOS upgrade that will? I think my old processor is slot 1, as for my P3-800Mhz, how will I know if it is slot 1 or socket 370?
Anyway, hereunder is the specs of my P3-800 Mhz processor as written in the processor itself:

         PENTIUM 111
800 / 256 / 100 / 1.65V
7031A062 - 0024   SL463

I hope this info will give you an idea if I can replace my old P3-450Mhz with this P3-800Mhz. Thanks again for your advice.Slot 1 vs Socket 370 is the easy part.

Slot 1:
http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Slot%201%20(SC242).html

Socket 370:
http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket%20370%20(PGA370).html

Sloket:
http://discussions.hardwarecentral.com/archive/index.php/t-14947.html

It does look like the P3 you have has a 100 MHz FSB (same specs as my old one from...I think 1999...2000...)

As for your motherboard...my GOOGLE Fu came up with:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=1451&ProductName=GA-BX2000

Wow...this is REALLY bringing back memories...this was the first motherboard I bought in 1999 when I started building PCs!!!!  Deja vu...deja vu...(cue Twilight Zone music)...

....

...

((memories of doing the exact same thing coming back: putting a P3-800 in a sloket on that exact motherboard...no dice...))

My deja vu says no, you can't do it.  The specification say 550 MHz is the max...and that motherboard means it!!!