Inexperienced and Need Advice

[Maseo]

OK, I always wanted to build my own computer and so I did. Well, kind’a-like building from scratch. I had this industrial computer board that my job was getting rid of. It worked when I obtained it and didn’t do anything with it for a long, long time.
When I finally got around to buying an expensive case and a CPU and ram, it turned out that the board didn’t work. The board’s manual claimed that it could handle a 3.06 GHz, 533 MHz FSB, 478 socket CPU and that’s what I got. I opted for the mobile SL726 as opposed to the desktop SL6S5 because - in some other forum - a person claimed that it worked great and ran so-cool in his computer. So I purchased the Gigabyte GA-8IG1000 Pro-G board from a local computer shop and found out that the CPU can only do 1.6 GHz.
My wife was happy with it because I finally retired our old (model-T) 350 K6. Well, real men go for maxing out a board’s potential and being a man you know I can’t stand for this. Yea, yea it works just fine and even though I don’t play serious games - MYST being more my speed – I had to go for what I thought was the fastest processor this board could handle, so – by the way of Intels “Processor Spec Finder” I discovered the SL7E6 which topped the site’s list for socket 478 at 3.4 GHz. And since I’m a man of very modest means, I – for the first time – won a bid on ebay and plugged that bad-boy in.

Do you know what happened next?

Zzzt – zzzt – zzzt – eeeew !

What the ?

Well, it turns out that my 300 Watt power supply isn’t enough for my board, two hard drives, two CD and THAT CPU. It barely handled just having my C drive hooked up.

Now I said all that to say this; Is this normal for a Prescott? Do I have to upgrade to a 500 watter and lots and lots of ventilation?

Or do I return it?

[dicecca112]

Most likely was a cheap PSU that couldn't handle the load for the computer. It may be rated for 300W, but in reality it couldn't handle that. Prescotts need a lot of power and generate a lot of heat. Are you sure the board is Prescott Ready?

[Major_A]

If you can only use up to a 533Mhz max FSB CPU then that 3.4Ghz is not going to work (it is probably 800Mhz FSB). The only 533Mhz processor to hit 3.0Ghz was the first Intel with Hyper Threading (Northwood 3.06Hz 533Mhz FSB). I'm sure for what you have a 350 Watt PSU would be fine, as long as it is a decent brand. No-name supplies like to up the amps on the 5V line to get to the stated Wattage; the problem with that is the 12V rail is more important.

I thought, assume, that the desktop and mobile 478 CPUs had different pin outs?

[Maseo]

The Prescott is 800 FSB and yes the board can handle it. It actually worked -barely- with only my C: drive hooked up.
OK, I guess I will get another power supply. This one came with the case that was given to me by a friend. I'm expecting a video card to be in by this Tuesday. I'm afraid my current configuration just won't be able to handle it.