Windows 10: Simple hardware (CPU) question:

Is there any such thing as a Pentium 4, Socket 478 CPU that meets all of the requirements to run Windows 10?
If there is, which one would it be? Socket 478 responses only please.

:)

 

Simple question

Yes, as long as your "re-upgrade" before 29 July 2016.

PS: Why would you need/want to "re-upgrade" after doing a Refresh (or a Reset)?

 

Simple question

All i want to know, is this: if i refresh my pc runiing windows 10, can i re-upgrade to windows 10 WITHOUT the need to spend money?? Thanks

 

Windows 10 hardware requirements only specify a processor that runs over 1GHz.
Windows 10 Specifications - Microsoft

All Pentium processors for socket 478 run faster than 1GHz
List of Intel Pentium 4 microprocessors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So any socket 478 processor should run Windows 10. Maybe not super speedy, but it will run it.

 

If I read this right, no.

List of Intel Pentium 4 microprocessors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Win 10 requires the NX (no execute) bit. The Prescott P4 5x0J CPUs (like the 550J) have it, but they appear to all be LGA 775.

I'm less sure about the additional requirements to run Win 10 X64.

 

Not all 1 GHZ CPUs are compatible with Windows 10. The Microsoft article linked to does specify that the device (computer) must meet requirements other than system specifications. In particular it must support NX and some other features.


Some socket 478 Pentium 4's may have these features but there is more to it than that. There is more to CPU compatibility than just socket type. OEM computers in particular are often troublesome with CPU upgrades. An updated BIOS may add compatibility for a newer CPU, or it may not.


You also have to consider whether the computer has compatible drivers for Windows 10. It would seem unlikely that the manufacturer would supply drivers for an OS that is not fully compatible with the computer for other reasons.

 

So, what I'm gathering is that no one here actually knows of a Pentium 4, Socket 478 CPU that meets Windows 10 specifications.

I already knew that TV2's answer was incorrect, inasmuch as I currently have two machines running 2.80 GHz Pentium 4, Socket 478 Northwood core CPU's, that Windows 10 does not support, because those processors do not support NX.

bobkn's response was a bit more "on point" since he DID mention Pentium 4 Prescott CPUs which support NX, but a LGA 775 processor is of little value to someone trying to upgrade from 32 bit Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 10 Pro on a machine with a Socket 478 motherboard.

LMiller7: You said "Some socket 478 Pentium 4's may have these features but there is more to it than that." My specific question was and is, "Which Socket 478 Pentium 4 (if any) meets the specifications required to run Windows 10?" BIOS updates and driver compatibility discussions are irrelevant if I don't possess the Socket 478 CPU that matches the OS requirements.

Thank you all for your responses. I guess I'll continue my Google Search.

If I ever do find a Win 10 compatible, Socket 478 Pentium 4 processor, I'll be sure to post the information here.
Thanks.

 

Best of luck.

I don't know whether the Wikipedia page is comprehensive, but I didn't spot a single Socket 478 CPU on it that supported NX. That doesn't prove that none exist, but I know which way I'd bet.

I'm curious as to why you'd want to try Win 10 on a machine that old, but I suppose that it'd be rude to ask.

 

Hi,

Not wanting to be rude either but even if such CPU were to be supported, how about the rest of the hardware?
Ultimately what are you hoping to gain from that machine with respect to the OS it's currently running ?


Best, *Wink

 

@bobkn: "I'm curious as to why you'd want to try Win 10 on a machine that old, but I suppose that it'd be rude to ask."

@fdegrove: "Not wanting to be rude either but even if such CPU were to be supported, how about the rest of the hardware?
Ultimately what are you hoping to gain from that machine with respect to the OS it's currently running ?"


The questions are not at all rude, however I grow weary of asking simple, direct questions on various forums, and receiving non-responsive, tangential replies. Forgive me, but my expectation was that I could receive a definitive "yes" or "no" answer to my question regarding the existence of a Socket 478 Pentium 4 processor that was Windows 10 compliant on the tenforums.

@bobkn, Why WOULDN'T I try to run the most current OS possible on the hardware I have at hand, when the maximum expense involved is an eBay CPU and possibly a BIOS chip if the motherboard will support the eBay CPU? Unless, of course I have a special dis-affinity for the OS in question (read Windows 8/8.1)?? *chuckle

@fdegrove, What I would gain is an OS current machine with a small out-of-pocket outlay. Driver issues can be overcome, BIOS issues are CPU-dependent at this point, but all discussion is irrelevant unless/until I find the Socket 478, Pentium 4 Win 10 compatible processor I seek. The machines run just fine on Windows 7 Ultimate, but I'd like to run Windows 10 on them if it's possible.


I'm no "noob". I've been building, upgrading, configuring, and maintaining PC's as a "sideline" for over 23 years. I started out with IBM mainframes in 1973.
Believe it or not, I am currently upgrading a machine, with a Slot 1 Pentium II, 350 MHz processor, a maximum RAM capacity of 384 MB (currently at 320 MB), and a 10 GB hard drive, from Windows 98 to Windows XP SP3. I upgraded Win98 to Windows 2000 Pro, upgraded Windows 2000 Pro to Windows XP Pro, and have installed Service Packs 1-3, finishing the XP updates right now. These were upgrades, not starting from a clean install. I still have 1.7 GB free on the 10 GB hard drive... *really


Anyway, if anyone discovers a Win 10 compliant, Socket 478, Pentium 4 processor, please let me know. Thanks.

 

Why not?

Sorry that I can't declare with 100% certainty that there is no "J" variant of a Socket 478 CPU. The intersection of the sets of people interested in Windows 10 and in PC archaeology may be small enough that you'd have better luck posting elsewhere.

(At the time Prescott was the best Intel desktop CPU, I was running an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+, socket 939. It was running XP when I handed it down, and it died this year in its third owner's hands. I think it may have been upgradable to Win 10 X86, but probably not X64. Additional instruction requirements beyond NX.)

 

Wow, sorry folks. I was unaware of the NX bit requirement. I learned something new today! Thanks.

 

Up to Windows 7 NX was recommended but not required. Starting with Windows 8 it was required. PAE is often specified as a requirement but it is a prerequisite for NX. You can't have NX without PAE. All 64 bit CPUs support NX. The CPU must also support the SSE2 instruction set.

Windows 8.1 added the requirement that the CPU must support the CMPXCHG16b instruction for a 64 bit OS. All these requirements have been carried over to Windows 10.

Most CPUs in computers capable of running Windows 7 have these necessary features. But there are some exceptions.

 

I had retired all of my old P4 machines long before Windows 8 came out, so that is why I never ran into the problem and remained ignorant!

 

Hmm, I think the problem is that while it is a simple question, it is a highly specific CPU question.

Anyway, the answer seems to be yes. http://processorfinder.intel.com
Tick off the search terms for - Type 478 socket - Intel 64 support - Execute Disabled Bit.
And the winner is, Pentium 4 Prescott, No. 511 Intel 4 Processor 511 (1M Cache, 2.80A GHz, 533 MHz FSB) Specifications
On amazon and ebay for around $30.

I had a similar situation upgrading a Dell with a P4 (easier because I had a 775 socket).
Anyway, turns out some early P4 Prescott chips do run 64 & NX, but don't report it correctly, thus all the confusion.