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Upgrade dell cpu

Hi,
I have a dell optiplex gx240 used as a music player /media centre. I have upgraded other parts but now its a bit lacking in the proccesor department when working/recording video files.

At the moment I have a p4 1.5 cpu, A google would suggest its skt 478 and 400 fsb.

I have found this one for sale

Excellent Condition Genuine Intel Pentium IV P4 2.5Ghz Socket 478 CPU.

512Kb L2 Cache.

400Mhz FSB.

1.75 Volt.

Stepping Code SL6SA.


Is it just a case of a straight swop or do I need to change fan also? Do I have to mess with the bios and if so how.

Many thanks in advance

Mark
On the internet you can be anything you want.It`s strange so many people choose to be rude and stupid.

Comments

  • You may require a BIOS update (downloadable from Dell's website) and there may be some setting within the BIOS that you have to change to get the computer to run the new CPU at the proper speed. You may need to swap the fan, it depends on the thermal characteristics of the CPUs.

    If you are going to invest in new CPU, you should also buy some thermal compound (e.g. Arctic Silver 5 - around £5 or so). This sits between the CPU and the cooling heatsink/fan and helps with heat transfer.
  • You may also need to get a new CPU cooler as the existing ONE may not be able to take the heat produced by the newer Pentium 4 processors.It may cause the processor to overheat if the cooler is insufficient -this will cause thermal throttling which is when the CPU runs at a slower speed to protect itself!
  • bestyman
    bestyman Posts: 1,122 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Cheers ,
    So how do I find out if the bios settings need changing? Should I just fit it and see if it works?
    I will go look on dells site now re downloading new bios update.
    Thanks
    Mark
    On the internet you can be anything you want.It`s strange so many people choose to be rude and stupid.
  • chuckles1066
    chuckles1066 Posts: 2,670 Forumite
    bestyman wrote:
    Hi,
    I have a dell optiplex gx240 used as a music player /media centre. I have upgraded other parts but now its a bit lacking in the proccesor department when working/recording video files.

    At the moment I have a p4 1.5 cpu, A google would suggest its skt 478 and 400 fsb.

    I have found this one for sale

    Excellent Condition Genuine Intel Pentium IV P4 2.5Ghz Socket 478 CPU.

    512Kb L2 Cache.

    400Mhz FSB.

    1.75 Volt.

    Stepping Code SL6SA.


    Is it just a case of a straight swop or do I need to change fan also? Do I have to mess with the bios and if so how.

    Many thanks in advance

    Mark

    Some motherboards have a maximum cpu capacity..............it's not just to do with fitting a cpu into a slot..........voltages etc come into play.

    BIOS tweaks won't help you if the CPU you're trying to fit is way-y-y-y-y beyond the capabilities of your motherboard.

    :T :T :T
    You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take - Wayne Gretzky

    Any advice that you receive from me is worth exactly what you paid for it. Not a penny more or a penny less.
  • bestyman
    bestyman Posts: 1,122 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi,
    Ive looked at dell website and it says new bios has support for bigger cpus. Exactly how big it does not say but the site pasted below does a 2.8ghz conversion kid so sounds like it should be alright ?????http://www.partstockpc.com/upgradekit.htm

    I`ll post back when I`ve blown it up !, thats after Ive begged borrowed or stolen a floppy .
    On the internet you can be anything you want.It`s strange so many people choose to be rude and stupid.
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