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Help: Upgrading a old PIII Gateway

J

Jordan1

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
1,733
I have a relitive that wants me to speed up her PC. I told her I needed/wanted to have the socket type of the CPU, memory type/speed (I didn't get this info), or the model # of the PC so I could possibly look up the mobo specs. I am not very farmilar with Intel systems. I plan on adding a 512MB stick of RAM, Windows XP, and possibly a faster CPU. Could someone tell me from the specs below what socket type and memory this Gateway would use?

Specs:
Pentium III 750 MHz 100MHz FSB
128 MB RAM
Shipped w/ Windows 98
 
its socket 370 or slot 1, depending on when it came out. depending on the chipset, it might or might not support 133FSB chips, but in any case, your fastest chip is going to be 1ghz, i beleive there was 100fsb and 133fsb variations of that chip. the 100mhz fsb version is incredibly expensive, last i checked.

Ram is pc133/pc100. 512mb sdram dimms are rather expensive now.
 
Get the code off the machine, usually on the back. Go to Gateway's site and click around until you come to a spot where you can enter the machine's code and you can get the machine's original configuration. If you still can't figure out if it's a slot or a socket, google the chipset.

I was able to do this for a Pentium MMX machine. Was a lot easier that trying to decrypt a bunch of part numbers inside of the machine.
 
In addition to what lithium mentioned, some northbridges only support 512MB (815?). Not a problem though if you plan on replacing the existing 128.

Assuming a worst case scenario of needing a 1Ghz, 100Mhz fsb secc2 and 512MB of PC100, I would seriously consider an asrock+sempron64+ddr upgrade for around $200.
 
oh, yeah, i forgot about that. all i815/i810 sets only support up to 512mb, even the bstep i815 (for tualatins)

course, if it has a via set you wont run into that limitation, which it could.

i second a sempron system. its not worth upgrading somethingthat old IMO, but id stay away from an asrock board... perhaps even get a celeron/intel board.
 
Just to clarify, that's 512mb per slot, right?

I've run 768MB total in my 440BX chipset before. I've never had a 512MB PC100/133 stickto try out on it though.
 
my bp6 runs the bx chipset, and max's out at 768mb of memory....damned thing only read double density ram too, ie a 256mb chip with all chips on 1 side of stick will read only 128mb, where a 256mb stick with chips on both sides 128/128 will see all 256mb...

but yea, my dual 523mhz bp6 w/512mb ram is just chillin...want another 256stick to max it out though.
 
I had a Soyo 6BA+IV running a Celeron 1.3@1.6 on a modded slotket with 1gb of ram. The ram was double sided. That system ran great, it had roots back down to my FIRST computer build and I took it to max pretty much.

They have S370 converters that will run FCPGA2 in non-supporting motherboard, you could get one of those converters and run a Tualatin Celeron. Or if it supports 133FSB than you can get a Tualatin Pentium 3. If it doesn't work at all with Tualatin's, converter or not, then you can try to find a 1.1ghz Coppermine Celeron or the probobly impossible to find 100FSB Pentium 3 1ghz.

In my opinion, the 440BX/LX was a chipset with perhaps the longest longevity ever. I know people that are still using 440BX systems and are perfectly content with the performance.

To the OP, run CPUID on the system and tell us what chipset your motherboard is. I have a feeling its an i810 or i815. If its either of those youre limited to 512mb of ram.

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-132.zip
 
Thanks for the replies. She sent me the info that the bios had and it has 3 total slots for memory. Could I put 1 stick of 512 in one slot? Or would I need to probably get 2x256? Could I put pc133 memory in it even if it only needs pc100?...because that pc100 is very pricey. I will need to get the model # so I know exacly what it can handle soon...
 
Jordan1 said:
Thanks for the replies. She sent me the info that the bios had and it has 3 total slots for memory. Could I put 1 stick of 512 in one slot? Or would I need to probably get 2x256? Could I put pc133 memory in it even if it only needs pc100?...because that pc100 is very pricey. I will need to get the model # so I know exacly what it can handle soon...
Click to expand...

Depending on what chipset it is you may or may not be able to use 512mb dimms. I think that the i81* supported 512mb sticks, but I know for a fact that 440BX's didn't. PC133 is 100% backwards compatable to PC100 and PC66.
 
You may want to hit the crucial memory upgrade tool just to see what they offer for that machine. Even if you dont want to use their memory it may shine a bit more light on what is compatable. That is if gateway's site has nothing to offer.
 
I have a Gateway PIII (slot 1, 500, intel 440BX motherboard ) and the motherboard that it came with only supports 384MB of RAM (according to the specs that gateway supplied). It has three slots, limited to 128MB in each slot. Make sure you look up the specs for the computer; you should be able to find it on Gateway's website.
 
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