Our company has a large number of P4 1.8ghz processors with 512mb
sdram133 installed with a customer of ours. The socket is a 478 pin
version. We are experiencing a fairly frequent lock-up problem with
the applications program and the software vendor has been trying to
resolve the issue for some time without success. The particular
configuration is a server connected to 7-8 workstations via an
ethernet cable 100mb speed. What I am curious about is whether
stepping up the processor speed and increasing the memory size in both
the lanes and the server would offer any improvement in performance
overall--kinda like covering up the problem with speed and memory.
More importantly, I am wondering how fast we can get to with this
particular chipset and socket size--I was thinking 2.8ghz but am
unclear.  Additionally, I am wondering if this problem might be helped
with faster memory like DDR although I don't know if this chipset
supports ddr. I know the real solution is to fix the software problem,
but the software vendor lacks motivation as this product is not sold
anymore.

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Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 25 Apr 2005 20:21 PDT

Howdy kennythebus-ga,

It might help researchers to know if all of the motherboards are the
same on the machines in question, and if they are, the make and model
of the motherboards.  Thanks!

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by kennythebus-ga on 26 Apr 2005 03:29 PDT

These systems were all rolled out over a one year period and there are
two basic motherboards involved--however; all of the workstations and
all of the servers within the same cluster (network) are the same
motherboard.  I am at home as I respond, but I will try to post the
motherboard info.  I may be wrong, but I also believe these are all
Intel chipsets. The pc's were built by a generic pc builder so I
suspect the component parts are fairly standard. I'll post more info
if I can get it later (without visiting sites).

---

Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 26 Apr 2005 12:42 PDT

Howdy kennythebus-ga,

The motherboard will probably be the determining factor when it
comes to the CPU and memory upgrade capability.  If anything,
increasing memory would be the possible best route to a solution.

However, if the application poorly written, then it might be
leaking memory, in which case nothing other than the software
being fixed is going to solve your problem.

Bettering the CPU might, depending on the software architecture,
improve performance, but I think it is doubtful it would eliminate
the lockup problem.

Given the motherboard make and model, I can try to give you some
recommendations on the CPU and memory options available to you.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by kennythebus-ga on 26 Apr 2005 13:59 PDT

From our vendors records, we show that the Intel chipset is an 845D
and we are unable to determine the manufacturer of the motherboard
other than Aopen which I believe is our vendors own designation. The
locations are about 100 miles from our office so I am looking for some
way to further this effort without driving over there.

---

Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 27 Apr 2005 11:48 PDT

Not a problem, kennythebus-ga, and apologies for putting you through
this much.  The main problem, as you are finding out, is that the type
of motherboard determines the CPU/memory speed/size/type.

If indeed, these are AOpen socket 478, Intel 845D chipset motherboards,
then you should be able to go up to a Intel Pentium 4, socket 478, 400 Mhz
front side bus, 2.8 Ghz CPU and up to 2G of DDR266 [PC2100] DDR DIMM RAM,
depending on the model of the motherboard.  I would have to check further
to verify those specifications though.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by kennythebus-ga on 07 May 2005 16:59 PDT

xenit

I really don't have nor can our company afford the option of replacing
over 100 motherboards which will probably be at our expense. I am
trying to find the best price I can for a 2.8 GHZ P4 and upgrade
memory to 1gb in 3-4 of these and see if it solves the problem. denco
in Ga should get paid for this as I will use his reccommendation.

Howdy kennythebus-ga,

Appreciate you accepting my suggestions as an answer.  First, we have to
find out the capabilities of your computers.  You have indicated they are
using an AOpen 478 Socket Intel 845D chispset motherboards, so we start at
the U.S. AOpen web site.
http://usa.aopen.com/

Once there, they have a "Hot Links" menu icon system, and one of the icons
looks like a chip, and a label of "Products" if you roll over it.  We need
to click on it for the next step.
http://usa.aopen.com/products/

On the next page, we select "Motherboards" to move on.
http://usa.aopen.com/products/mb/

We then go to the Search page.
http://club.aopen.com.tw/pss/mbsearch/default_search.aspx

Under Socket, we select Socket 478 and click on Search.

There are 7 results under "Intel 845D" so we can select and then compare
these results.  Please note that the 2G memory and 2.8GHz processor
capabilities vary and might not be the configuration that has been tested
and approved for most of the models.

The model AX4B-G2 has been approved for up to a Intel Northwood Pentium 4
2.40GHz 400MHz CPU and the AX4B-G2N can use up to a 2.5GHz processor.
AX4B-G2 - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/AX4B-G2.htm
AX4B-G2N - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/AX4B-G2N.htm

As well, the fastest CPU the model MX4B appears to be tested for is a Intel
Northwood Pentium 4 2.60GHz 400MHz processor.
MX4B - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/MX4B.htm

Three other models (AX4B Max / AX4B / AX4B Pro) seem to be able to handle
1G and some up to 2G of DDR266 [PC2100] memory and up to a Intel Northwood
Pentium 4 2.6GHz 400MHz or Intel Northwood Celeron 2.8GHz 400MHz CPU.

AX4B Max - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/AX4BMax.htm
AX4B - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/AX4B.htm
AX4B Pro - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/AX4BPro.htm

The last model, the AX4BE, can handle the 1G of memory as well as the
Intel Northwood Pentium 4 2.80GHz 533MHz processor.
AX4BE - http://global.aopen.com.tw/Products/mb/AX4BE.htm

So, to make it easier, my current recommendations are to go with 1G of
memory, as you are already thinking, and the Intel Northwood Pentium 4
2.6GHz (not the 2.8GHz) 400 MHz FSB processor for a few boxes and see
if that does the trick.

Unfortunately, my experience is that this approach might not take care
of the problem, and the real problem is a memory leak, etc. within the
application, etc.

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Went to the U.S. AOpen web site and researched the motherboards in question.
http://usa.aopen.com/

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Hi,
There r many ways to improve your performance, that i say u :
1.I and my friends and the others, use AMD Athlon Processors, So if u
can, change your cpu basis.
2. if not try to use another Mother Board can support Intel 04A/04B
LGA 775 Pentium IV series. My favorite is
ASUS P5GDCV Deluxe + 
Intel 3.06 GHz.
3. My recommendation include DDR-II (ot Dual DDR)Ram 
Kingston or KingMax at 512 MB and 
ASUS Geforce FX 5900+ Seies at 128 MB DDR Ram. 
4. Asus P5GDA, p5gd2, p5gdc and others is interchangeably, but for 15%
up in your price, u can buy P5GD2, includes 96MB onboard AGP, PCI
Express 16X, 4 GB DDR-II Ram, Onboard 8 channel creative prof sound
card and  6 x usb 2 and more important for your company it has
Wireless 802.5 Lan.
4. if u dont want change on my recommendation, u can upgrade your cpu
at socket 478 at 2.4 + Ram 512 SD although Sdram or P4 478's era is
up.
5.other wise be contact with me at ways that google says, for my
experienced  actions and feel free to contact me!