Cpu compatibility

[Rydah]

I am researching what parts to buy to give my computer a decent upgrade, and i figured I would start with the cpu, i looked through a bunch of tech help forums and this one looks like the best from everytyhing i read. I fixed a crashed computer that I had, an hp pavilion 750n with 1.6ghz, 512mb ram, an asus motherboard, and a nvidia tnt2 m64 graphics card. What I want to do is upgrade the cpu, double my ram, slap on a new graphics card, and maybe eventually a better hard drive. About the cpu though, Im not sure exactly what I need to match to buy a compatible processor, is it just the socket type and front side bus frequency? My cureent processor is a pentium 4 mPGA 478, 400mhz at 1.6ghz. Is there a max speed i can get? or anything like that and do i have to get a 400mhz pcu with 478 socket (its my understanding that 478 sockets are discontinued but i found a processor thats 478 at 400mhz refurbished with over 2mhz)
Id really appreciate some help on this topic so i can get started upgrading, thanks. = )

 

[o1die]

400 fsb p4's may be your limit. Starmicro has a few very cheap; you can try a 533, but starmicro doesn't accept returns due to compatability issues, so the 400 ones would be safer.

 

[Rydah]

awsome and what about the ports? does it have to be a 478 or a mPGA 478 (not sure what mPGA means dunno if thats part of the socket title or what)

 

[o1die]

478 only.

 

[o1die]

Can't answer that question, but according to hp's website, it's m478.

 

[Rydah]

Thanks guys, since my Motherboard is out of date I moved my questions to the "building a pc" forum under "Rebuilding an HP Pavilion 750n" thanks for your help tho.!

 

[Rydah]

Best answer selected by Rydah.