upgrade cpu help

[Major_A]

If you want a Quad core I'd just start over. If you want to see a noticeable difference pop in a Core 2 Duo. You might have to update your BIOS to do that however. Look on Dell's site and see if there is a BIOS update. That mounting system bubba showed you is BTX and you are likely looking at ATX motherboards. I don't think you can mount an ATX motherboard in a Dell BTX case.

[ibleet]

If you want a Quad core I'd just start over. If you want to see a noticeable difference pop in a Core 2 Duo. You might have to update your BIOS to do that however. Look on Dell's site and see if there is a BIOS update. That mounting system bubba showed you is BTX and you are likely looking at ATX motherboards. I don't think you can mount an ATX motherboard in a Dell BTX case.

I must agree. I have 3 old Dell's sitting around and I wouldn't even consider upgrading them to the extent you're considering. Its never straightforward.

[DMB2000uk]

If you want a Quad core I'd just start over. If you want to see a noticeable difference pop in a Core 2 Duo. You might have to update your BIOS to do that however. Look on Dell's site and see if there is a BIOS update. That mounting system bubba showed you is BTX and you are likely looking at ATX motherboards. I don't think you can mount an ATX motherboard in a Dell BTX case.

Careful with the advice, the mobo he is using is incompatible with any of the core 2 line as it is based on a 945 chipset and doesn't have the necessary CPU voltage regulation (or something).

Dan

[Major_A]

I looked up a MSI 945G northbridge motherboard and Core 2 Duo was supported. So it is supported by that chipset. Now I don't konw what motherboard is in that Dell so it might not support a Core 2 Duo. I didn't just pull that advise out of my ***.

[dicecca112]

I looked up a MSI 945G northbridge motherboard and Core 2 Duo was supported. So it is supported by that chipset. Now I don't konw what motherboard is in that Dell so it might not support a Core 2 Duo. I didn't just pull that advise out of my ***.

Yes the newer revision of that chipset are. But the old 945, the one that is in this dell is not

[DMB2000uk]

This is a Dell board that we are on about, and I found on our very own forums a similar question about the Dimension 5150 core 2 duo support:

The 5150 was released before the VRM resolution change that allows for Core 2 Duo. The board contains VRM 10, VRM 11 is needed, thus won't support Core 2 Duo. Trust me I did a system upgrade for a customer on the same exact system. He told me even though I pointed out the above that he could get it to work. It didn't.

So this is one of the older motherboards not supporting core 2.

Dan

[Major_A]

One more reason to never own a Dell. I imagine that most of the older 945's have the ability to support the C2D's with a simple BIOS update.

[dicecca112]

nope, they don't. Its a VRM issue. Physical Board incompatibility

[Major_A]

Okay I stand corrected again. Forget my first post. If you want a Quad core just start over from scratch.