Reviving a dying computer
 

I've got a home-built desktop computer with a P4 2.8 GHz CPU in it. I've found that, when I ask it to do anything the least bit processor-intensive, it will eventually freeze and will not re-boot until it cools off. I assume the problem is that the CPU is in a heat-fail mode. I'm in the process of assembling a new Quad core machine, but I priced P4 CPUs and found I could get a 3.4 GHz for $125 from buy.com. This would make for a speedy machine for some of my non-video applications, including musical scoring, etc. A couple of questions:

1. Does my diagnosis sound correct?
2. Do all P4s use the same socket configuration?
3. Does $125 sound good for a 3.4 GHz P4?

Thanks!

It could be the CPU, probably the heat transfer stuff between the chip and the heat sink either dried out or gunked up or whatever and is not doing it's job, or the heat sink (assuming there is one) is gunked up. It could also be a fan that has dies, came unplugged, or is caked over in dust.

And of course, make sure the vents are clear too.

Are you overclocking it by any chance? That could be working against you too.

It's been over-clocked in the past, but not now. The fans are all working, and I've tried running it with the side panel off (I'm trying to pull data off the drives). I've ordered some thermal grease with the components for Quadcore machine, so I can trying cleaning the P4 and reattaching the heat sink/fan.

Definitely doesn't sound like the processor itself. This behavior does not match standard semiconductor failure modes: they either fail shortly after being put into service (Early Life Failures) or last into old age and die. This seems to be a mod-life period, so that suggestions above are more likely than the P4 as the culprits.

Cheers.

Before you do this, make sure you motherboard supports a 3.2Ghz P4. It's probably a different core than your 2.8.

However, this setup might not be as speedy as you think. I replaced my 3.0GHz P4 (Prescott core) with a 1.8 GHz Celeron 430 and the Celeron is noticeably faster.

Pentium 4 was available in Socket 427, 478 and LGA775 packages. 427 parts only went up to 2.0GHz, so your current processor can't possibly be that. Socket 478 and LGA775 have great deal of overlap in available part specs. One way to tell is to remove the chip. If it has pins, then it is Socket 478. If the chip only has pads on the bottom, then it is LGA775.

Froogle shows some vendors sells refurbed 3GHz Pentium 4 at around $30, such as Geeks.com. $120 sounds way too much for old technology.

I save a desktop with an old 3.04 (I think it was .04) Ghz P4 by cleaning all of trhe dust out. I'm using it now. It's fast enough for almost everything I do with it.

Look out for the (possibly) different voltage the two processors may or may not use. I've bumped into that problem when trying to go from P4 1,6GHz to 2,4 GHz - had to settle for 2 GHz.

I wouldn't give 125$ for going from 2,8 to 3,4 GHz - the speed gains might be marginal. Adding extra RAM or faster hard drive might give much more bang for the buck.

Yeah, P4 3,04 GHz + 1 GB RAM is doing everything nicely I care to throw at it. The only thing I could see a faster PC making sense is for converting large video files. No, I don't do 3D modelling with povraying (where CPU speed counts, too), but I doubt many of us out there do.

OT
I have both XP (chugs along nicely) and Linux (screaming fast) installed on it. These days hardly ever boot XP.

My seven-year old P4 started running slow and would hang on some graphic intensive programs. I increased the Ram from 512 to 1536 and it screams through all but one program for which I will upgrade the the video card from 256 to either 512 or 768 and the power supply to support the new video card.

You might try reseating the RAM. Might work

Your diagnosis is almost correct of not 100% correct. I had a CPU acting up. The fan had been noisy. Upon opening the case, I found lot of dust on the fan, and the heat sing. Clean of all the dust. In my case, installing a new, over capacity heat sink, with thermal grease, of course, and new fan fixed the problem. Never had a problem with it for the next 7 years when the computer was stolen after Katrina. Keeping the anel of can help too in the interim. Extra air circulation could help too.

It's working now!
 

Turned out it was old, clotted thermal grease. I cleaned the top of the CPU and the bottom of the heat sink/fan with alcohol, re-applied the thermal grease, and it's been running under load for the past 14 hours or so.

Thanks, everyone!