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Dell E520 CPU upgrade help

Tucker87

Tucker87

Tucker87

Associate
Joined
21 Apr 2009
Posts
23
Hi,

I've had a look on the dell forums about this and found the following thread, it has confused me a little..
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19015068/19425007.aspx#19425007

All I really wanted to know is can I put a gaming grade dual core CPU on this mobo, Ive only ever used Intel chips on one PC in the past as I'm a firm AMD beleiver but to put one in this I'd need a new case new mobo and the costs would spiral.

I'm not sure if the above post is right or not for my mobo because it doesnt seem logical that a bios upgrade can make the mobo accept newer models of CPU that it could not support before so could someone clarify if its as simple as a bios flash and a bit of thermal paste and bobs your uncle.

They also mention SpeedStep in the thread but I can't see it anywhere in my BIOS (which is flashed to the newest one available as of today) is this an option that becomes available when the CPU has been changed?

I have attached some screenshots of CPU-Z and the start of my dxdiag.

I had to upload the images to a photobucket account as i'm using a work PC and it wont let me upload anything to the web for obvious reasons :)

Many thanks in advance for any help!

http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Slashwarning/Andys Stuff/SS1.jpg

http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Slashwarning/Andys Stuff/SS2.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Slashwarning/Andys Stuff/SS3.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Slashwarning/Andys Stuff/SS4.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e109/Slashwarning/Andys Stuff/SS5.jpg

--------------DXDIAG-------------

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/22/2009, 17:52:01
Machine name: ******************
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Dell DM061
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 2.4.0
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 3.06GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 507MB used, 3430MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 9400 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0641&SUBSYS_40091682&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1024.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8250 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/27/2009 10:03:00, 6186880 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 3/27/2009 10:03:00, 6280416 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4501-11CF-0855-026000C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0641
SubSys ID: 0x40091682
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
 
Tucker87
it doesnt seem logical that a bios upgrade can make the mobo accept newer models of CPU that it could not support before
Click to expand...

Yes a bios upgrade can and does often allow for newer models of CPU to be supported. Does the Dell site not show the CPU support for different bios?
 
Unfortunately not, they wont give anyone a list of CPUs that work because they have not bothered to test them along with the new firmware update in typical Dell fashion any aftersales support or upgrade support is literally non existant, they wont give any official answer and tend to tiptoe around any direct question in regards to CPU upgrades on this, but people seem to have managed to get the quad cores to work with this bios update, only thing is I dont want a quad core CPU as most apps and games dont even thread over 4 cores yet :(
 
Well from your picture you have an intel P965 based motherboard. This chipset will work certainly with the E6300/E6400/E6600 chips as these have a 1066FSB, not sure about the other chips tho im afraid.

Any of the 3 chips above you can get fairly cheaply and will blow that celeron out of the water
 
My old AMD Athlon XP 3200+ Blew this pile of poop out the water :) Something I've noticed and I'm putting it down to the CPU is that when I'm playing WoW and palying music in the background with iTunes the music tends to freeze/jump a lot its an onborad soundcard, not sure what the chip is, possibly AC97 or some other generic chip.

Would a soundcard in a PCI-E 1x slot work any better or should a new dual core CPU do the trick? its clearly stressing this CPU out as its load is almost always at 100%

EDIT: Also, I'm running XP Pro SP3 right now, I think this only supports 3gb of ram, is it worth buying a copy of vista home premium or XP 64bit so I can benefit from the spare 2gb I have spare, if so what would be the most beneficial OS for it?
 
Last edited:
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