Questions for you Computer People

[Handag]

What is the first file a PC looks for before loading the operating system?

What file makes the PC load up the operating system?

Are Processors programed with data to tell it what speed it should be running at?
Or
Does the multiply setting determin the correct speed?

If I take out my Dell motherboard and CPU (Dell LX Motherboard, P2 300Mhz), can I replace it with a P3 550 and a new motherboard. Will I have any problems and would I need to change the jumper settings.

Does the Dell Motherobard have any jumpers, so I can overclock?

How do you overclock a Jumperless Motherobard?

Which is better? AMD K7 or Pentium III?

Thanks

[800XL]

I guess I'll tackle a couple of these.

The first file a PC looks for before loading the operating system is not exactly a file as such. The PC reads the master boot record on the drive, which points it to the boot sector. The boot sector is different depending on the OS and tells the computer what file(s) to load next and where they are. On a windows 9x machine, the next thing in line is the IO.SYS file. The IO.SYS file is the basic interface program that tells the computer how to load the rest of the opertating system. I guess I covered question 2 already pretty much.

A processor determines what speed it should be running at depending on the signal that it gets on a certain set of pins. This signal can come from the motherboard, or on the processor package itself, as in the case of multiplier locked Celeron, P2, and P3 CPUs.

A lot of Dell systems and other name brand systems have proprietary connectors or form factors that may make a motherboard upgrade more difficult. If a standard motherboard form factor will fit, the connectors for the reset button, power and hard drive LEDs, and power switch may be non-standard. Usually, it can be done, but the hassle involved with getting everything working right may not be worth it. You may want to add a new case to your upgrade budget just to avoid the hassle and possibility that it just won't fit.

As for overclocking, what Dell machine do you have? The model name and number off the front or the 'System Tag number' which should be on the back or bottom will tell me what I'd need to know. With that info you can find out a lot of info about the motherboard and system from Dell's website. With that, I or someone else here may be able to help with jumper settings or overclocking possibilities. The LX motherboard leaves you with only the hope of increasing the multiplier and not the bus speed, which is topped out at 66Mhz. Your CPU could be locked on a 4.5x multiplier which would leave you stuck at 300Mhz. If it is not, you may be able to get to 333 or perhaps higher. Someone with more experience with P2 chips may be able to tell you more.

On a jumperless board, you set the same type of settings as you would with jumpers in the CMOS setup utility. Things like the multiplier and bus speed are set in there instead of with jumpers. The only problem with this is that if you go to far in your overclocking, you may not be able to get into the CMOS setup. Make sure you know how to clear the CMOS to get back to a default configuration before you go to wild with a jumperless board. This is usually done with a jumper setting.

Ah, the ever popular K7 vs P3 question. From the benchmarks I've seen recently, the K7 looks like it will be the clear winner here. That said, the K7 has not been released yet and most of the benchmarks out there are unofficial. The K7 will probably beat a P3, but the jury is still out. We shall all see.

[CMonster]

Bravo 800XL!!

[dawgtuff]

Ditto to 800XL's reply!
Handag,let me help you with #4 question.You have a pretty powerfull computer as it is,and as 800Xl said,it's proprietary.Sometimes it's very difficult to upgrade these systems unless you buy the parts from the company that makes them.They know this and they put a premium price on replacement/upgrade parts!Tell us what you feel you system is lacking(video speed,ram,sound),and we'll try to optimize your system at the lowest cost...we're here to help.

[toms111]

On the Dell upgrade question...
I recently tried to put a new ATX board into a Dell P166 with the familiar mini tower case. The board went in to the case without any trouble. My dell has a regular ATX power connector and an additional power conector coming from the power supply (to the dell mother board) resembling one of the two power connectors on an AT mother board and labeled "P7". I had see the same thing on an A-open ATX power supply which I ignored when hooking up a SOYO ATX board, which worked fine, so I reasond that I could ignore it in the dell case. Wrong! I could't get the upgrade board, with only the ATX power connector to power up. By the way none of this discussion ever got to the problem of adapting the Dell control panel (HD lights, power switch, reset swith or Power LED) to the uupdated board. This was a problem I figured I wouldsolve if the power supply would power up the board. I stopped when I couldn't get the board to power up using a separate ATX power switch.
Does anybody know anything about the extra P7 power connector. Do any non Dell boards require it? ya-da, ya-da.......