Upgrading my Dell Dimension 8400

[McChowder]

The chipset is an Intel 925 Express (Alderwood). I think it is a Socket 775. Right now I have a Pentium 4 530 w/HT. I have around 1.5 gigs of DDR2 ram. I was wondering what the highest processor upgrade I could get for my current setup. I have never upgraded a processor, but would like to learn how. Help!

 

[Batou1986]

don't think your gona do much upgrading the cpu cause you cannot get bios updates to enable any of the newer Intel cpu's a new gfx card say 1950xt or 8800gtx would not be a bad upgrade
and atleast 2 gigs of ram

you will be able to run stalker fear oblivion css bf series all on high settings and not dump alot of money on outdated tech i say this with confidence because my friend has almost the exact same system: Dell dimesion 8400 P4 775 @ 3.0 ghz with 2gb of ram and a 1900xt his raptor hd also was a nice improvement

save your cash and build yourself a nice mid level dx10 k10 platform in a few months

if your not building a gaming pc then cpu and ram

 

[McChowder]

Thx, but i dont play any computer games. 1.5 gigs of ram is enough for me. I know that building my own computer is what i should do, but i dont have money for it. I figure I want to squeeze as much as I can from this dell. I'm guessing that upgrading the processor to a higher P4 or a P4 exteme edition will only cost at most $200 (w/heatsink & all). I just need help on finding the fastest upgrade I can do, and learn how to install it. HELP!

 

[Batou1986]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116196 bam thats it and a sweet deal for 80 bucks

 

[McChowder]

Thx! But i want to make sure this is the fastest i can get. From this link from Intel's site: http://compare.intel.com/pcc/default.aspx?familyID=1&culture=en-US I think that there might be a faster one I could get, but i dont know for sure. And also, would a P4 exteme edition work in my chipset? If is does, is it much better than the regular P4 w/ht?

 

[Batou1986]

the extreme editions i believe have a higher cache but honestly are not worth the extra cash un less your trying to build a relay extreme rig with extensive mods and overclocking and all of the extreme editions are atleast $1000 usd even the p4

secondly the P4 series is out of production so they are hard to come by especially retail packaging

the link previously posted is prob your best bet that package comes with cpu, heatsink and fan with pre applied thermal paste and easy instructions on how to remove your old one and put the new one in take my advice remove the green shroud thats over your rear exhaust fan and heat sink and use the stock heat sink that comes with the new cpu not dells

 

[McChowder]

Thank You! I'm Gonna Order It!

 

[Batou1986]

might want to wait on some replies im not 100% sure about compatibility with other 775 socket cpu's such as the D and core2 series you may want to call dell and ask them

 

[Sasqui]

Thx, but i dont play any computer games. 1.5 gigs of ram is enough for me. I know that building my own computer is what i should do, but i dont have money for it. I figure I want to squeeze as much as I can from this dell. I'm guessing that upgrading the processor to a higher P4 or a P4 exteme edition will only cost at most $200 (w/heatsink & all). I just need help on finding the fastest upgrade I can do, and learn how to install it. HELP!

Do not attempt an EE CPU with it - Tried it in a friends XPS - the power supply only had the 4 pin CPU connector (not 8), the thing would barely boot.

The 631 or any Prescott 775 (non EE) should work fine since the 530 is 800 FSB. I agree with all of the other stuff said, just make sure about memory speed support and compatibility.

 

[McChowder]

I've decided to get a Pentium 4 560 to replace my Pentium 4 530. Since I never have replaced a CPU before, I need help. Can I buy just the CPU (no fan) from ebay and replace the P4 530 and use the same fan that I was using for that on the new P4 560? What should i do?

 

[tony929292]

the extreme editions i believe have a higher cache but honestly are not worth the extra cash un less your trying to build a relay extreme rig with extensive mods and overclocking and all of the extreme editions are atleast $1000 usd even the p4

go on ebay saw p4ee 3.4 for about 200

it 800 fsb but still fast
for the price
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-INTEL-P4-3-...ryZ80144QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

sorry it a 478

 

[Kursah]

I've decided to get a Pentium 4 560 to replace my Pentium 4 530. Since I never have replaced a CPU before, I need help. Can I buy just the CPU (no fan) from ebay and replace the P4 530 and use the same fan that I was using for that on the new P4 560? What should i do?

Should be no issues there. But get some Arctic Silver 5 for when you install the heatsink on your 560. It will help it run cooler, and you need some sort of compound to seat the heatsink on your processor. Get some rubbing alcohol (at least 70% if not 90%+) and some q-tips, clean both your sink and your 560 until no more black is on the q-tips. Then apply AS5, install and go. Piece of cake!

 

[McChowder]

So i should buy a different heatsink for the new CPU? Or can I use the same one (the one that came w/P4 530). Just to give more info, i have a dell dimension 8400.

 

[anticlutch]

Honestly, just get rid of the old heatsink. If your budget permits, and if your case has sufficient space, get an aftermarket heatsink to replace the ones that come with the cpu (the stock heatsinks are usually loud and inefficient, with the exception of the newer heatsinks that come with the Core 2 Duo's). $80 for the processor and $40 or $50 for the heatsink should be enough.

Some suggestions:
Zalman CNPS7700-Cu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118115

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (very pricey, but well worth the money)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

Zalman CNPS9500-CU (also pricey, but well worth the money from first-hand experience).

edit: Or another way is to find someone who isn't using their stock Core 2 Duo heatsink and get it off of them for a low price... the stock heatsinks that come with the C2D's are quiet and very efficient from what I've seen

 

[Sasqui]

How much are you spending... here's a newegg link to a 650 for about 180 pounds with HS/Fan:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116196

 

[muon]

Update to the latest BIOS beforehand. Memset can be used to tweak the memory if you want. And get out of that 1.5GB configuration. You want to be running in dual channel with 2 identical chips. Assuming you have a 1 gig chip and 512 stick, get rid of the 512 and get another 1 gig chip capable of the at least the same speed and timings.

I think you underestimate the improvements in perceived speed through optimising your RAM.

Also, why is the Arctic Freezer 7 Pro so expensive on newegg?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-017-AR

Thats UK prices which has VAT and a general premium to consider. The AF7 is supposed to be a low end cooler.

edit: There are more sensible prices from ebay retailers http://cgi.ebay.com/Arctic-Cooling-...ryZ80149QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ARCTIC-COOLING-...oryZ3673QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[McChowder]

So the latest BIOS for my Dell Dimension 8400 should be on the dell support website, right? I think I already have it. So will the new P4 560 work?