Finding compatible motherboard for new CPU.

You need to first make sure that the motherboard is compatible with the new CPU you will be installing. Usually motherboards are not compatible with different CPUs.

Find out who manufactured the motherboard. It should be printed on the board itself and then do a driver search from the manufacturers web site.

Yes, many.

That motherboard is from the "Windows 98" era, but Microsoft _has_ tested it with Windows 2000, and found that it is compatible.

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The Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) contains products that have passed testing with Windows 2000.
Not every computer and/or device has been tested in all possible configurations.
Visit the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs web site at http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/ for the latest compatibility information and to download and install drivers for the hardware listed.
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One eBay seller is offering RAM (PC100/PC133) for your motherboard:
http://cgi.ebay.com.hk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220317703040

So, your most-difficult part will be finding a "new" (or "previously-owned") motherboard that comes WITH a face-plate, e.g.,

http://www.hitechlegion.com/images/stories/HowTo_BuildCustomPC/24.jpg

that has the same "perimiter" dimensions as the face-plate connected to your current motherboard.

So, you could try to find a much-older motherboard that is compatible with current RAM, or you could try an older motherboard, such as one with a Pentium 4 CPU, that takes DDR266/DDR333/DDR400 RAM, or you could try a not-so-old motherboard that takes 'DDR2' RAM.

Newer motherboards will have integrated-sound, integrated-video, and integrated-networking, so that your current sound-card, video-card, and network-card won't be needed.

This board would not be compatible with the Phenom as they use a different socket, sorry.

check the winfast website for a cpu support list for your model of motherboard, that will tell you if it supports it and ALSO if you need to update the bios to support later cpu's, i'd imagine your using the old socket A standard, see if your motherboard is listed here> http://www.leadtek.com/eng/mainboard/default.asp?lineid=3&seriesid=23&chipseriesid=15 (this is what is now listed in google as winfast and does show winfast boards), please advise if you get stuck anymore.

Sounds like the processor you're trying to upgrade to isn't the same frequency. The processor, motherboard, and memory have a matched frequency. For example; a motherboard with a frequency of say PC4200 will only accept a processor and memory of a PC4200 frequency. If you try to use PC5300 memory it basically won't do anything, blank screen, or maybe a beep. The same if you tried to use a processor with PC5300 on the PC4200 board. The best way to find the frequency rating is to look on the memory. They class the memory by frequency, but rarely ever list the frequency for the board or processor. Research the new processor to find out the memory class and then see if it matches the memory in your machine. If it doesn't then the processor won't work. If it does, then new processor may not be compatible, and that means more research.

You can upgrade your bios, you just need to visit the motherboard manufacturer site where you can download the latest bios.

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=0&model=1276&modelmenu=1

You can also try to reset the bios first, you can reset it to default settings and if that will not work then you can upgrade the bios.

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P5PE-VM

and you can also check this site regarding bios upgrade

http://support.asus.com/technicaldocuments/technicaldocuments.aspx?root=198&SLanguage=en-us

Key Features
Form Factor Micro ATX
Compatibility PC
Chipset Intel 865GV
Compatible Processors Intel Pentium 4
Front Side Bus Speed 800 MHz
Technical Features
Integrated Input/Output Ports USB 1.1 x 4 • Serial Port x 1 • RJ45 Lan Port x 1 • PS/2 Mouse x 1 • PS/2 Keyboard x 1 • Parallel Port (ECP/EPP/SPP) x 1 • Floppy Port x 1
Expansion Slots PCI x 3
Storage Controller Type(s) Serial ATA x 2, DMA/ATA-100 (Ultra) x 2
South Bridge Chip Intel ICH5
Processor
Socket Type Socket 478
Max supported CPUs qty 1
Memory
Number of Memory Slots 4 x DIMMs
Supported RAM speeds 400 MHz
Max Supported RAM 4 GB





so this is the board..no doubt that the cpu fits and is a good choice for you.
however,if the old one works fine and this one ,even if it is new,does not wiork,the only rational conclusion is that this one is malfunctioning ,maybe from the factory,or maybe one of the pins doesnt make a real contact.
check very attentive the integrity of the pins and of the cpu socket in the motherboard.
there are also some cases that the motherboard doesnt support the high Frequence of the new processor,but that was a problem for the old PCs..I doubt you have it with your motherboard.
I suggest you to bring it back and to ask for a replacement,or at least go with it to  a specialised cervice and let them check it.
sorry for not beeing a huge help to you,so dont rate my answer if you dont feel to..
bye bye and good luck..keep me up to date with your situation
bye

troncho81:
Compatibility: make sure that your motherboard supports the new CPU you have bought. If you are sure it supports it then make sure you have the latest BIOS or any firmware from manufacturer installed.
I am assuming that you have seated the processor properly and it also has a fan properly working over it.
Hope that helped!