like the title says, im building a quick and dirty media/file center/server. using a compaq 283983-001 motherboard, a 2.4ghz cpu will post and boot, but not a 2.8. i have tried ddr 333 and 400 memory. both work fine on 2.4, but not 2.8. on the reviews and such i have found it says the board will work with up to a 3.0x or w.e. any ideas? i presume both processors working, both came out of working computers under a week ago.

There are different versions of most models of boards. Your board may require a BIOS update in order to use the faster chip.

Obviously you need to install the right cpus, and ones the bios version recognizes. The ram speed probably has to be fast enough to support the fsb speed of the cpu. The same mboard is used in a huge number of models: http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/sp... You could try searching for software and drivers for any of the listed models to see if there is a bios update for it. Apparently it's a Lite-On NR110 Specs sheet http://www.motherboards.org/mobot/m... Manuals: http://www.elhvb.com/mobokive/Archi... When you search using: 283983-001 the geeks to go? site says it supports up to 3.06 ghz. Maybe try emailing them? This mboard is not worth much - there are zillions of them on the web. E.g. 5 for $60 http://cgi.ebay.ca/LOT-OF-5-Compaq-...

ya but if i can get it to work for minimal money, its perfect for a media stremer, and file server. i already spent $3.06 on momentary switches, even though i only needed one :(

As said P4, I presume a socket 478, come in different flavours see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_4 On top of the CPU is an identifier nuber 5 characters like Sl6ty, put the number into Google and it will lead you to Intels page where you can identify the core/fsb etc..

I found further info, cobbled together from info found for two more recent Topics since this one. Someone was looking for info about upgrading their hard drive today, on a Compaq Evo D310 desktop. Specific model number: 302647-999 Go here: http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/sp... Enter this in the left box: 302647-999 - search Choose 302647-999 It uses the same mboard - "PC Board [Electronic Parts] 283983-001...." It's a CTO model - Configured To Order - the whole range of Processors Compaq offered is listed, up to 2.53ghz ...... Apparently it's a.k.a. LUXOR, probably Compaq's or HP's own name for it. http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-COMPAQ-LUXOR... From that and many other "hits" it appears 283983-001 has a plain 845 main chipset, the first one that supports DDR ram (the first version supported the older plain SDram). This site I found a few days ago: http://www.cpu-upgrade.com It lists cpus that work in specific mboard models, and the specific bios version needed to support them. At the left side of each cpu listed as known to work is a blue highlighted link. If you click on that link it shows you which specific Intel part number(s) the cpus have, and which code(s) are on the cpus. It doesn't list Compaq or HP or Lite-on models, but in theory you should be able to find out which specific cpus work with the plain 845 chipset by looking up models that have the plain 845 chipset, that support DDR 200 and 266mhz ram, only Of course, there's no guarantee the bios version that's on the 283983-001 will recognize all of them, but it gives you specific info about which cpus would work if the bios version did support all of them. E.g. http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-MSI/8... If you're not sure it has the plain 845 chipset and supports DDR 200 or 266mhz ram, only, look up the model on the web. E.g. search for: MSI 845 Pro2-C http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/motherboard...