I don't currently know much about Motherboards. To me, they sort of confuse me. I have a Pentium D 820 2.8GHz Dual Core CPU running off of a " Dell Inc. Motherboard - Model#OHJO54

I would like to know if I would be able to upgrade to a Quad Core CPU..? And what would be a recommended CPU?

I can't switch over to a AMD CPU, can I? I am just asking because I've been interested in OCing my CPU and RAM, but right now they are both locked in the BIOS

SilverFang

Do you have a Dell system or just the board? If you have a Dell ?Dimension?, post the model number...it will be easier to search out the CPU support.

What's the point of going to a quad?

No. not unless you have the following chipsets and a bios update to support it.

Intel: 865PE/G/GV/G, 945P/PL/G/GZ/GC, 965P/G, 975X, P/G/Q965, Q963, 946GZ/PL, P3x, G3x, Q3x, X38, X48, P4x , 5400 Express

NVIDIA: nForce4 Ultra/SLI X16 for Intel, nForce 570/590 SLI for Intel, nForce 650i Ultra/650i SLI/680i LT SLI/680i SLI and nForce 750i SLI/780i SLI/790i SLI/790i Ultra SLI.

VIA: P4M800, P4M800PRO, P4M890, P4M900, PT880 Pro/Ultra, PT890.

SiS: 662, 671, 671fx, 672, 672fx

ATI: Radeon Xpress 200 and CrossFire Xpress 3200 for Intel

Yes, I have a Dell System. I have a Dimension E510.

I just figured that it would give my system a boost upgrading to a Quad Core. I just recently upgraded my RAM from 1GB dual channel to 3GB (2GB dual Channel and a 512MB)

If you need, I'll post my system information to help your decisions... I'm just trying to upgrade my system's components to stay with the game :) haha

SilverFang

"I just figured that it would give my system a boost upgrading to a Quad Core"

The boost would come from the upgrade in technology (netburst to core) moreso than going from a dual to quad core. There are few programs that can take advantage of a quad just yet.

"I just recently upgraded my RAM from 1GB dual channel to 3GB (2GB dual Channel and a 512MB)"

Dual channel is a feature of the board, not the RAM. Generally you need either 2 or 4 sticks of RAM installed to enable dual channel mode. If you only have 3 sticks, you *may* be forcing the board to run in single channel mode. Also, 2GB + 512MB = 2.5GB, not 3GB.

Here's your system specs:

http://support.dell.com/support/edo...

oh, my bad, I have 3, 1GB sticks in. I forgot I took the original 512MB sticks out. I checked earlier and my RAM is running in dual channel.

Do you have any idea what the CPU capabilities are of my motherboard?
Mainly what I am trying to do at the moment is upgrade my CPU to a faster one (I guess dual or Quad core doesn't rally matter?). I was going to try and OC, but the BIOS is locked.
SO, my main problem is that I don't really know what faster CPU's are compatible with my motherboard.. I'm currently running on 2.8GHz Dual Core. Isn't that basically 1.GHz each?

SilverFang

I think I remember looking at my RAM settings, and I believe that it said I'm still running at 533MHz. But the lowest speed of my inserted RAM cards is 667MHz. Can someone tell me why it is doing this?

Card#1 - 800MHz (dual channel)
Card#2 - 667MHz
Card#3 - 800MHz (dual channel)

SilverFang

"Can someone tell me why it is doing this?"

Check the link for RAM support:

"400-MHz and 533-MHz DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM"

You're wasting you time trying to upgrade this system.

Alright, yur right. It probably would just best best to buy a new system when this one is obsolete.. But I have one quick question.

"400-MHz and 533-MHz DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM"

Why are there two MHz numbers?

SilverFang

There is nothing you can overlock with a system like the one you have.

Quad Xeon/4GB/8800GT