Mobo on old Dell Dimension XPS?

[ben-the-slacker]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering about what kind of motherboard the Dell Dimension XPS M166 has. I'm assuming it's an Intel motherboard but I need the model. And if it is an Intel mobo, do ya think it'll run a AMD K6 processor if I decide to upgrade?

ThnxInAdv.

[BFlurie]

It's Intel. I'm pretty sure the proprietary Dell BIOS won't allow it -- I had to flash a MrBIOS BIOS to get mine to run an AMD. And I'm not even sure it supports dual-voltage CPUs (I got a Powerleap adapter to run the AMD).

[Theophylact]

Definitely an Intel, totally proprietary (even if the boot screen says AMI). BIOS upgradable only for minor details (not for booting from CDROM, for example). Won't run anything but genuine Intel. Takes an uncommon, expensive DIMM. Can't buy an upgrade motherboard from Dell. Box won't take anything but a Dell motherboard.

I've been there with a Dell P90, which is why I'm not buying Dell for myself anymore.

[NDuser]

I have a DELL XPS R-400....

What can the guru's tell me about my upgrade options?

[Imanage]

I've heard Dell does something different with their power connector to the mobo so I don't think you can even replace the mobo to reuse the case. From the Dells I've worked with, they don't even have a standard ATX layout for the back connectors.

If you can afford it, for not much more, go with a new system rather than upgrade the dell.

[scotlandtb]

Yep I Agree I think Dell PSU's are configured differently, we use Dell here and when my home system went kaboom I borrowed 3 PSUs from here, wouldnt even light the LED on my system. Has the bulk standard ATX adapter and says it is standard voltages, just think they have wires switched.

[800XL]

The XPS M uses an Intel TE430VX "Tiger Eye" board I believe. The AMI Bios string should end in "CY0J" if so. Options are pretty limited for upgrades, but if it is a TE board it should take a 233MMX with no fuss. You'd need a bios upgrade and a voltage adapter to take it any further. (Like say up to a K6-2 400, max) I recall the Unicore/MRBios upgrade being kinda flakey on these boards.

NDuser: XPS R-400 should be an Intel SE440BX "Seattle", probably a ver. 2 but I'm not sure which the XPS R uses. I always get the XPS R and the XPS T confused. Intel does not officially support any Coppermine core CPU in either ver 1 or ver 2 Seattle board, but they can work. A slotket with an FCPGA P-III or Celeron has a chance of working. (CPU Just needs to be 100Mhz FSB.) The different board revs react differently, so it can be pretty tricky getting them going.

[ben-the-slacker]

Thanks guys. The Dell case looked ATX from the way the i/o stuff in the back were positioned...o well.

I don't think upgrading to 233 would make that much of a difference, so I'm proly not going to bother. But thanks anyways for all the suggestions, 'preciate it.