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CPU Upgrade for Dell Dimension E520

Sideman

Sideman

Sideman

Associate
Joined
3 Oct 2007
Posts
52
My sister has decided she wants to upgrade the E6380 1.8Ghz in this machine (she bought it Spring last year) and I was thinking of getting this one from OCUK:

Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 2.53GHz (1066FSB) - Retail

She want's to get a new GFX card (I've posted a seperate thread on advice for the GFX card in that forum) and has a combined buget of about £200 pounds.

Being a budget Dell machine, the Motherboard doesn't offer any thing in the way and Overclocking and adjusting the FSB, so I she really wants the best perfoming CPU & GFX card that fits her budget.

Cheers

Paul
 
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TheRedZealot said:
I don't think it will support the E7200, will the computer be used for games and what is the current graphics card?
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Ah! :o

Thanks for that and the links.

According to CPU ID, the Motherboard chipset is an Intel P965/965G which is socket 775LGA.

It currently has a an Nvidia 7300 LE, which she plans on upgrading to one of the ATI 3850 series(this card has just been suggested in GFX upgrade thread).

Yes, she does play games, mainly the Sims 2, which from all I've read, is more CPU intensive than it is GFX, but I could have course be wrong! She also has Racedriver Grid, and would like to play this as she can't at the moment.

I've told her that to get the best out of a CPU & GFX uprade, she'll might need to upgrade the Motherboard, and PSU.

Cheers

Paul
 
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The google does not have much good to say about the upgrade path for that machine. Unless you can find a bios update you will probably not get a 45nm cpu to run. You might be able to use a E6750 but I am not 100% sure as it has a different FSB (1333) and I am not sure if that is something the MB will accept so someone else would have to fill that is that knows more about it.

One option would be to find a good used E6600 (2.4) or E6700(2.66) and both have double the cache and comes from that same line and should plug right in. As far as vid cards go I would say for the price a 8800GT should fit the bill if the PSU will handle it but I think it would work. Frankly a used E6700, 8800GT and getting the ram to 2 gigs if it is not already will be about as good as your gonna get and should up the performance a decent amount.

EDIT: You could probably find a cheap used 8800Gt as well.
 
Tetras said:
The 7300 LE is total pants though, get that upgraded asap.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is, and I told her that!

However she wants to upgrade the CPU at the same time (I did mention that due it being a Dell she would be limited) and whilst her 10% discount form OCUK is still valid! :)

Cheers

Paul
 
Tetras said:
From the uses you have described I really don't think she needs a new CPU.
Click to expand...
Neither do I. One of my PCs is a Dell E520 and it has a E4300. Using that CPU I can play all of the latest games with abslutely no problems at 1680x1050 resolution (barring Crysis of course). I would spend the money on upgrading the PSU and getting a better graphics card. I have a 8800GT in the Dell with a Corsair HX520 PSU.
 
Tejstar said:
Neither do I. One of my PCs is a Dell E520 and it has a E4300. Using that CPU I can play all of the latest games with abslutely no problems at 1680x1050 resolution (barring Crysis of course). I would spend the money on upgrading the PSU and getting a better graphics card. I have a 8800GT in the Dell with a Corsair HX520 PSU.
Click to expand...

Thanks again for all the advice.

I've passed it on, and she is going to forget the CPU upgrade, and spend a bit more on a GFX card and also get a new PSU, as advised on the GFX card forum.
 
I bought a vostro 200 in summer 2007 with a 2G e4400 at 800fsb. I swapped out the cpu with an 3G e8400 1333fsb. It is faster, although the e4400 was fine tbh. Bottlemecks are elsewhere (hard drive, gfx etc.).

The vostro 200 has a foxconn g33 mobo variant; the e530 from 2007 may be the same.
 
Bit late now but the E520 is BTX format and changing the cpu is more fiddly than generic systems due to the integrated heatsink and dell assembly methods.

Your only safe using conroe class cpus upto about 2.66 on 1066 mhz bus (flash with latest bios before changing from the existing) E4000 series sdould also work. Dell forums have further info on compatibility.

On graphics the BTX format means it has to have a single row backplate but there is room inside for a decent card including those with wider coolers provided some restictions are borne in mind.

The main constraint is that the shround around the cpu will foul on long or wide cards. It would also be wise to have the gfx card fan near the the middle of the card for air flow.

This http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/17/review_powercolor_x1950_pro/

for example fits very nicely despite the height and the standard psu copes, you just need to get a molex to 6 pin pci-e connector and rejig the internal connectors to get enough a supply to the card. These cards are cheap used and new

Simialr arctic cooler equipped cards should be fine or a single row card with fan near the middle
 
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