Display i have an msi motherboard, pm8m-v with a via p4m800ce chipset, a celeron 2.5 ghz processor and 2 sticks of 512 ddr-sdram. I'm running windows xp. i also have an ati 9250 graphics card. from a clean windows install, does great. after sp2 and other windows "necessary updates" i end up with a screen flicker i can not get rid of unless i wipe my disk and start another clean install for it to happen all over again.

No, you cannot upgrade to a core 2 duo with that motherboard because it is a socket 478.

The compatibility isn't with the memory, it's with the motherboard and its chipset. In your case the motherboard is a FIC AM-37 which has an VIA KM266A chipset - an extremely old chipset . The only processors accepted are AMD Athlon XP of the first generation of which you already have the fastest version
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Athlon(tm)_XP_3200%2B#Athlon_XP_.22Palomino.22_.28Model_6.2C_180_nm.29
So no, it's not possible to upgrade it. You will have to buy another motherboard-processor combo.

MSI PM8M-V is a VIA UniChrome P4M800-based, PC motherboard. Form Factor: Micro ATX. Compatible with Intel P IV and Celeron. Maximum Bus speed would be 800MHz. Maximum RAM Supported is 2GB.
If the specifications differ please inform me.
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you can see on the motherboard.watch carefully...

According to PCChips, the maximum CPU & memory supported for all three is the Intel P4 Northwood (HT) 3.06 GHz 512K,533FSB,Socket 478 and 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 266.

Be sure you have the latest BIOS version for your motherbaord.

M925ALU (V7.3) must have BIOS : 030703s
M925G (V8.0) and M925G (V9.1b) must have BIOS : 050510s

Hope this helps you out.

Hi There
The list of compatible processors is here:
http://global.msi.eu/index.php?v=1&func=prodcpusupport&prod_no=205&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=&cat3_no=#menu

The E5200 is a WolfDale processor and unsupported.

Many of the supported CPUs are hard to find but Newegg has one here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116027

CPU • Supports 64-bit AMD® Athlon™ 64 processor (Socket 754) • Supports 2800+, 3000+, 3200+, 3400+, 3700+ • Supports Sempron 2600+, 2800+, 3000+, 3100+, 3300+ Chipset • VIA® K8M800-CE Chipset - HyperTransport connection to AMD Next Generation of CPU - 8 or 16 bit control/ address. data transfer both directions - 800/600/400/200MHz "Double Data Rate" operation both direction - AGP v3.0 compliant with 8X transfer mode - On-board Graphic shared up to 64MB • VIA® VT8237R Chipset - Ultra DMA 66/100/133 master mode EIDE controller - Integrated dual channel native Serial ATA/RAID controller that will supply 150MB/s and support RAID 0, RAID 1 - ACPI & PC2001 compliant enhanced power management - Supports 8 USB2.0 ports. (Rear x4/ Front x4) Main Memory • Supports two 184-pin DDR SDRAMs up to 2GB memory size • Supports DDR400*/DDR333/DDR266 DDR SDRAM (*Refer to MSI recommended modules) • Note: PC3200 (DDR400) maximum 4 banks (2 double-sided) only

I can't seem to find any usefull information as to why there may be a LED flashing on the motherboard. Re-check the memory speed, and configuration, as well as the CPU that it is supported. This seems to be a fairly new motherboard, it may still be under warranty, contact MSI and request an RMA if you feel the motherboard is faulty.

to get the full performance out of 533 fsb, you need the next speed up from ddr400. since your ram cant run at 533mhz, it cuts the frequency down to 1/2 of 533, which is 266.

make sure you pushed the ram ships in all the way.also make sure that you didnt unhook anything from the mobo when you opened your computer.

MSI has two boards P4M900M3-F, P4M900M3-L.

Both of this will support your CPU