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Hi,
I have a Dell Dimension that has a Pentium 4 1.4GHz processor with an FSB speed of 400 MHz. Can I drop in a new P4 2.8 GHz processor as long as it is the same socket type and is running at the same bus speed as the old one (400 MHz)? Or do other factors come into play? Thanks.
Brian
That's what I am unsure of. Since it is a Dell computer and was built by Dell, I have no specific documentation regarding the mobo. Any idea on how to track something like that down?
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i have heard of dell support not being very good. chances are that it will support it IF you update the BIOS. you can always return it if it doesnt work.
If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos...then you probably haven't completely understood the seriousness of the situation.
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Everest will determine your motherboard.
Windows Xp Pro x64
AMD Sempron 3000+ 1.8ghz
1 Gig Ram pc2700
Nforce 4 Motherboard
Radeon X700 256mb
Realtek Ac 97 Onboard Audio
Thermaltake 430W Power Supply
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That dell would have a 423-pin socket. The 2.8ghz CPU would be a 478-pin part.
You could buy a socket 423 to 478 adaptor, but you'd still be limited to the 400mhz bus speed.In short:
Without an adaptor, the fastest CPU you could put in that would be a socket 423 2.0ghz cpuWith an adaptor, you could put in a 2.6ghz P4 with the 400mhz bus. Those are rare chips, however.
FX-57 @ 3.1ghz
4GB of OCZ PC-4200
500GBx4 drive array
Sapphire X850 XT-PE
Fujitsu 1920x1080 projector
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That is of course if your dell would even let you upgrade in the first place. Frequently the Bios is locked in a Dell making it impossible to change anything.
The problem with Socket 423 right now is that values are pumped up on any hardware relating to it.
That's just my $0.02
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doug_brit said:
> Everest will determine your motherboard.
That won't help much. You probably will see the mnufacturer and model for the motherboard but it will be an OEM one. OEM motherboards are very difficult to get any information on. Neither Dell or the OEM manufactuer of the board will be of much help.
The only help will be what's available at Dell's support site. After that you are on your own.
Name brand computer makers are content to sell you overpriced replacement parts (for a limited time) for exactly what you have in your machine when you buy it. If you want to upgrade you are limited in what you can do and most times are better off buying or building a new computer.
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I disagree that everest wont help, I have an old oem cdrw/dvd drive that no other program could identify, everest did which allowed me to google it and find other posts concerning the specific drive. I subsequently found it was an underclocked version of the origional drive, updated my firmware and v'wala. Granted not a 50/50 comparison to this situation but they'll find little to no information about an older model even for the most part on the manufatures website.
Doug
Windows Xp Pro x64
AMD Sempron 3000+ 1.8ghz
1 Gig Ram pc2700
Nforce 4 Motherboard
Radeon X700 256mb
Realtek Ac 97 Onboard Audio
Thermaltake 430W Power Supply
0
I have done a lot of searching for information on specific OEM motherboards in the past few years. Sure I might be able to identify the model and manufacturer but that does little good when little else can be found. It is just that nobody wants or cares to release any techical information for them.
Beyond what I could find at the computer makers website the best I was ever able to find out was drawings of component layouts or jumper settings. This was better than nothing but not very satisfying.
Also, since these are OEM motherboards for a specific computer maker then they are likely to have custom BIOSs. The motherboard manufacturer in no way provides any support for them. The computer maker is the only one that will ever provide any support.
For example suppose you have an HP computer with an ASUS OEM motherboard. This board was specially made for HP by ASUS but the support will always come from HP not ASUS. Even then it's minimal.
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Oh I might add something, in case you get it into your head that you will replace your motherboard AND CPU, yet keep your existing drives, maybe RAM, etc. Dell uses a proprietary power supply- it looks like ATX, smells like ATX, and will even plug into standard ATX power connectors, BUT, if you try to use your Dell PSU on a standard ATX style motherboard, you will damage the board. Adapters are available for about $10 to allow you to use a dell PSU on an ATX board.
Just in case- I had entertained the idea of just reusing my case, and drives and PSU, but decided not to (not over the $10 adapter).
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I wrecken you should just buy a new motherboard and a newer, more powerful CPU, that always does the trick!!
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