Aqua-Soft Forums...
About Processors
Dell is not really good about changing their model numbers when they change internal parts, so we'd need to know internal specifics about the machine before any answer could be given. If you're running linux, output of /proc/cpuinfo might help, if(ghasp) windows, try something like http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
in general you might do better on a more hardware-oriented board
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Your motherboard is a socket 478 variety.
The problem is that I cannot find any details about the FSB.
For socket 478 this could be 400, 533 or 800.
Judging by you current processor, it's likely you have a 400mhz variety., which due to its age may be more difficult to buy a compatible CPU (which would be a Celeron 2.6ghz)
If you're lucky enough to have a 533mhz fsb, then you could go probably go up to a Celeron D 345 3.06ghz (or the rarer 350 3.2ghz)
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OK, so you can see at the bottom, your FSB is 100mhz (quad-pumped to 400mhz).
As far as I know, your only real option for this motherboard is a Celeron 2.6ghz - maybe a 2.8ghz. Both Northwood varieties.
Even if you do want to upgrade to 2.8ghz, these processors are becoming increasingly diffcult to source at a reasonable price. It's probably not worth the money for the small performance increase.
Similar Pentium 4's (not Celeron) were also released at 2.5 and 2.8ghz speeds. Once again, hard to get a hold of thes days.
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First check to see if your motherboard supports the 533mhz bus speed that the new processor requires.
Go into you bios and see if there is an option for either:
* FSB (or bus) speed 100 -> 133 mhz
* FSB (or bus) speed 400 -> 533 mhz
If you have any option like this, then congrats! Your mobo will support slightly newer CPUs.
Search for the following parts at your local PC shop, or online:
* Celeron D 345 (3.06 ghz)
* Celeron D 340 (2.93 ghz)
You might also want to consider buying a dedicated video card (AGP to fit in your current mobo), this will give you better games performance, and also stop the intel video chipset from taking up system RAM.
Re. motherboard upgrades, I've read that Dell cases/psu aren't upgrade friendly (don't quote me on that). So a motherboard upgrade may end up with additional costs. On the other hand, it also leaves you with more upgrade options (new video cards, processors, case/psu, faster ram...)
Work out your budget. If you can afford a big upgrade now, it may be worthwhile completely overhauling your system.