Dell Dimension 8400

[lancethepants]

I'm looking at upgrading a dell dimension 8400, and was looking at the intel e5300 cpu. It looks like the motherboard can handle any processor with a 800mhz front side bus, but I'm not sure if it'll handle it, being a 45nm process.

thanks for any insight

[ScottW]

You should call Dell. Their motherboards are insanely un-upgradable. You'd want to make sure that it can handle the CPU voltage, FSB, pins, etc.

[osprey4]

I think the question concerns the CPU, not the motherboard.

What I cannot seem to find is the CPU compatibility of the BIOS. Obviously, you cannot stick just any old socket 775 CPU into any motherboard. I'll look around.

Ok, found this thread on the Dell forum.

You can upgrade to any Socket LGA775, 5xx, 6x0 or 6x2 processor, with 90nm architecture, but not the 6x1 processors.
8400 systems do not support dual core [Pentium D] or Core 2 Duo processors. The 670 3.8Ghz is the largest.

Sounds like it's time to start saving toward a new system.

[lancethepants]

thanks osprey4

I ran cpuz and saw that the current proc runs on the 90nm process. So after that I highly doubted it'd be able to handle anything on the 45nm scale. Your link now confirms that. I was sure it wouldn't run core 2 duo, but was hoping that maybe a dual core pentium might work. This is for a friend, so I'll just tell him he's pretty much stuck with what he's got.

thanks again osprey4

[ScottW]

Yes I know it was a CPU question: my point was that dell boards are very inflexible in regards to any upgrades (CPU, RAM). Dell tech support is usually the best source for this info just because the upgrade options are so specific and limited, unlike a standard motherboard which accepts and can be configured for many different CPU types and speeds.

[osprey4]

Scott, are you saying this based on personal experience or just hearsay? I've done CPU and RAM upgrades to a variety of machines and I wouldn't say Dells are any different.