Will an 850MHz CPU work in a 500MHz 600X using XP Pro SP2?

[rg]

I came across this site recently and find it a superb resource – great for me, as I have always owned laptops starting with a Tandy TRS-100 – back when “upgrading” meant swapping 32KB memory for a max of 64KB - for like $250 (1985!) Although my current stable includes a couple of newer stay-at-home (ie., heavy) Inspirons the 600X (2645-5EU) running XP Pro SP2 remains my favored mobile.

So, the final remaining upgrade to extend its traveling life is upgrading the CPU. I just bought a new P3 850 MHz MMC2 which will at least mechanically fit the 600X:

Intel Prod. Code: MPM22CGA850B ; Intel Prod. Tracking Code: PMM85002201AA ; Intel Material Master # 829536

First question: In reviewing posts, including several from JHEM, whizkid, Katch, thinker, among others, do I understand correctly that the 500MHz mobo is not SpeedStep capable, and WILL definitely limit top speed - or, MAYBE limit top speed of a 850MHz processor?

Second question: Or, does anyone have any direct knowledge/experience whether the XP Pro OS will “discover” the 850 CPU and basically bypass/overlook this mobo’s limitation? (In other words will XP Pro control processor speed directly?)

The ideal scenario is where I just drop the chip in, boot-up, and it works - righttt! Second choice is re-installing XP Pro; last choice is reformatting the HD and doing a clean install – Ugh…!!!

I do know XP goes thru a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) process which basically determines what level of hardware and assets are available in a system. If anyone could shed some light, advice or experience on this it would be greatly appreciated. Of course I will be posting results of my own experience with this upgrade attempt.

Thanks in advance for your input – especially as I have only 10 days to return the processor if it doesn’t work out! -rg

[JHEM]

Yo, Joisey Bud,

No, it will never, ever work with your 5EU and I'm so devastated to have to tell you this that I'll willing to take it off your hands for twent..... THIRTY dollars!

Seriously, while I've never had any good success with getting Speedstep CPUs to work reliably in the non-Speedstep 600Xs, my good bud TJ Hvasta has reported that he's done it on several 5EUs and 8EUs.

You could search in comp.sys.laptops for recent posts from "Capt. 'Wild' Bill Kelso, USAAC <Dec7.1941@cableaz.com>" where he described the process in some detail, or if you could wait until I'm home later this evening I've got his messages saved on my desktop and I'll be happy to post the instructions.

Regards,

James

[rg]

Wow - Thirty whole bucks! Sounds like a deal – NOT! But, if you do have “Wild Bill’s stuff assembled and ready to post I can save on some research time. And is TJ Hvasta a member in this forum? Hopefully, from their experience, I can avoid whatever pitfalls lurk as I subject myself to this foolhardy attempt…

But here is the real deal - P3 850MHz MMC2’s are currently available directly from Sony for $99.

I cannot presume to know in which IBM’s this CPU might work and therefore I will not be responsible if others don’t do their own due diligence. But the MMC2 I received from Sony is factory printed on the board as a PMM85002201AA. Intel did produce two PMM85002201AA’s:

1) Intel Prod. Code: MPM22CGA850A ; Intel Material Master # 829536

2) Intel Prod. Code: MPM22CGA850B ; Intel Material Master # 829537

On the Sony site, the Sony part number you need is 874901870, which Sony identifies as an Intel MPM22CGA850B (Intel 829537), and this is what I received in original packaging dated 11/30/2000.

If anyone is interested in one go to:

http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/web/productSearch.do

Enter 874901870 into the Search field; select “Part or Accessory Number” ; then “Search”. (BTW, when I ordered they only had 6 or 7 left – and last one I saw on eBay someone insanely bid like $255 !!!)

James, if you feel it’s appropriate I can post above chunk into the “For Sale” forum? – Thanks, rg

[JHEM]

RG,

No, it would not be appropriate to post this info in the For Sale Forum, as that's reserved for sales between members only.

But neither will I kill this thread and I might add your info to the 600 upgrade Thread.

BTW, Sony had at least three available a few minutes ago, that's how many I purchased!

$255 is a bargain for these on eBay, I've seen them sell for $450 and more.

I'll dig out TJ's stuff and email it to you.

Regards,

James

[f1hp]

gee, & here I paid $25 for a speedstep 600... ;))

[wa8yxm]

Just out of coursity..... How much of a kick in the CPU can one give a 600, mine is a type 2645-8au (600E) currently 366Mhz and about 290 Meg total

Thought I had a memory problem but she passes all tests save her own
(And may even pass it if I re-run) Memtest86 was used even the bit fade passed)

[MadeInJapan]

600E's don't use the P-II that is described above for the 600X. It uses P-I, so the most you can upgrade to is 400mhz CPU. Not enough diff. to notice on your TP, IMHO.

[JHEM]

600E's don't use the P-II that is described above for the 600X. It uses P-I, so the most you can upgrade to is 400mhz CPU. Not enough diff. to notice on your TP, IMHO.

Right church, wrong pew!

The CPU "described above" is a PIII, not a PII. The 600E the poster is insquiring about is a PII and is limited to the same processor in the upgrade path. As the 400MHz is the fastest PII MMC based module Intel ever made, that's the maximum upgrade you can put in a 600E.

Regards,

James

[pkiff]

But here is the real deal - P3 850MHz MMC2’s are currently available directly from Sony for $99.

Drat. All gone now. How is it that whenever someone finds a good deal for these PIII 850 MMC-2s I always miss the announcement on the ThinkPads Forum until they are all gone!? A year ago there was someone selling a bunch on eBay for $65 and I missed all those too .

Phil.

[JHEM]

Drat. All gone now. How is it that whenever someone finds a good deal for these PIII 850 MMC-2s I always miss the announcement on the ThinkPads Forum until they are all gone!? A year ago there was someone selling a bunch on eBay for $65 and I missed all those too

Those were 800s though Phil. Email me or PM if you're still looking for one.

Regards,

James

[rg]

Hello fellow T-padders,

Don’t want folks to think I abandoned my own post! Unfortunately, due to “bandwidth issues” – like way too many, and newer deadlines – I won’t even have a chance to try the CPU transplant until after spring holidays. Especially since I’m currently using my 600X as main machine on the road – to paraphrase, “Kids, try this ONLY at home…”

I have learned from TJ (Thanks!) that SpeedStep CPU’s will work in earlier non-SpeedStep specific 600X AGP-X system boards: I believe #'s 08K3199, 10L1353, 12P3224, 30L2990. I had been starting to think upgrading to a SpeedStep CPU might also require swapping in an AGP-X-ADV mobo which would be a showstopper.

Since WinXP Pro already includes the SpeedStep driver/applet capability I’m hoping this will automatically enable SpeedStep functionality.

Amplification on CPU info I previously posted: The reason there are two different IBM Product Codes/Master #’s for the PMM85002201AA mmc-2:
MPM22CGA850A, 829536 was for ordering a single unit;
MPM22CGA850B, 829537 was for ordering a box of 50 (!)

I look forward to posting/sharing my results/experience in a few weeks…

[MadeInJapan]

Ooops...sorry about my post....I guess I was in a daze...I knew, but still got it wrong....