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Hi! i want to upgrade my cpu, however i think my motherboard is very old so im not too sure, ill give you my computer specs, and everything i know about my motherboard. So bassically i would like to know wiether my motherboard is capible of having a cpu upgrade, ok heres the details

Current computer specs:

Intel Pentium D CPU 2.80Ghz (2 cores)
GT240 1GB GDDR5
3GB 800Mhz RAM
PSU 650W

see i think my gpu is not reaching its full potential because of my cpu, is this possible? ive seen videos on youtube of people with the same graphics card, same amount of ram, but with a quad core and running crysis on high or even very high sometimes, while i can only run crysis on medium, and still get slow down sometimes, heres my motherboard details:

Motherboard
Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model 0WG864
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model P965/G965
Chipset Revision C2
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801HH (ICH8DH)
Southbridge Revision B0
BIOS
Brand Dell Inc.
Version 2.4.0
Date 05/24/2007

Thats all the information i can get on it, i hope its enough! thanks in advance!

You could definitely upgrade your processor, because your mobo supports LGA775 (775 pins on a processor)

So if you wanted to get a better processor, make sure that it says "LGA 775" somewhere.
What is your budget? I can find you one.

Also, you are referring to "bottle necks"

boilerrat wrote:You could definitely upgrade your processor, because your mobo supports LGA775 (775 pins on a processor)

So if you wanted to get a better processor, make sure that it says "LGA 775" somewhere.
What is your budget? I can find you one.

Also, you are referring to "bottle necks"

Thank you for the reply!! right would it be possible to tell me, if any, quad core processors my motherboard can support? i think thats what i need, also will a quad core run games that dont use the 4 cores, better than my dual core, even if the clock speeds on each of the cores on the quad, is less than the clock speeds on the dual core? did that make any sense?!?!

also my current processor is using 65nm technology, does that mean my motherboard can only use 65 or can it use 45?

If the game doesn't utilize all of your cores, I believe the unused cores by the game will go more towards background programs. But, if the game only supports one core... And your clock speeds on the quad is lower than the dual, you most likely will see a drop in performance. But the trend of multicore use is catching on, and will be a good investment for future gaming.

Your motherboard should be able to support any processor that is LGA775.

I'm not sure about 65mm vs 45mm, I highly suggest you find someone who knows about that before you make a purchase.

boilerrat wrote:If the game doesn't utilize all of your cores, I believe the unused cores by the game will go more towards background programs. But, if the game only supports one core... And your clock speeds on the quad is lower than the dual, you most likely will see a drop in performance. But the trend of multicore use is catching on, and will be a good investment for future gaming.

Your motherboard should be able to support any processor that is LGA775.

I'm not sure about 65mm vs 45mm, I highly suggest you find someone who knows about that before you make a purchase.

thankyou very much for your reply, very helpful, see im thinking if i get a quad core, just say at 2.6ghz per core, and then get decent cooling, im hearing alot about this 'arctic cooling' or someing? and then overclock the cores to somewhere like 2.8 to even 3ghz and then for games that use two cores, it will be like using a 30ghz dual core right? or wrong? Also like you said, i need someone to help me clear up the whole 45nm and 65nm thing before i do anything. Im using Ebuyer and all the cpu's there are on 45nm technology.

boilerrat wrote:You could definitely upgrade your processor, because your mobo supports LGA775 (775 pins on a processor)

So if you wanted to get a better processor, make sure that it says "LGA 775" somewhere.
What is your budget? I can find you one.

Also, you are referring to "bottle necks"

There are some limitations, So don't go assuming just because its 775 it'll work.

Things that may cause it not to work

Bios not supporting 4 Cores (Typical with generic dell boards)
Mobo not supporting the higher FSB's of new 775s (1333 or possible 1066)
Mobo only supporting certain models/revisions (Pentium or the older E6xxx dual cores as opposed to newer E8xxx Revisions)


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http://surplusandparts.com/index.php?ma ... ducts_id=3

Looks like Pentium or C2D's with 1066 are the best you can do.

I forgot about the limiting with brands like dell.

hmmm yer, i should really get a new motherboard and cpu, but the amount of money that will cost is out of the question, is it possible to find out these limitations for my motherboard?

I posted them...Core 2 Duos with a 1066 FSB or the Pentium 775 Series.

If you really plan on getting a new mobo, make sure your case can fit the new one.

Look into "Form Factors" Common ones for computer cases from companies like ACER happen to be mATX, and you can't get very good parts that fit in the case... Mainly power supplies and mobos.

Dell computers use a BTX form factor last time I researched it.

The Kentsfield processors are all 65nm. The very popular Q6600 is a 2.4 quad core.

My mobo is capable of using 45, 65, 90nm and more CPUs.

SnipeHunt wrote:Dell computers use a BTX form factor last time I researched it.

The Kentsfield processors are all 65nm. The very popular Q6600 is a 2.4 quad core.

My mobo is capable of using 45, 65, 90nm and more CPUs.

thanks for the replies everyone, will my computer be able to have the q6600? also im not upgrading my motherboard,out of my money limit! also if the technology is 45nm, does that mean it isnt going to work on my my motherboard, thanks!

hello, how about this, will this work on my motherboard? it fits all the requirements Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor QX6800 (8M Cache, 2.93 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) with SPEC Code(s) SL9UK, SLACP


EDIT: ah wait, i looked on the internet, and they are very expensive, how come?

Because you looked at the QX6800. You want the much cheaper Q6600, which will be fine considering your graphics card is quite underpowered as well.

the clock speeds on the q6600, are quite low, if i get it should i overclock?

hey guys its all over, just found out dell motherboards do not allow you to overclock the cpu. so if were to get the q6600 2.4ghz i cant over clock it, so only crysis and perhaps far cry 2 will get a good boost while everything else will get saggy, nevermind, ill just settle for medium settings on far cry 2 and crysis, to be honest they look pretty good on medium anyway, and everything else on my computer can go high (avp,hl2, gmod,bf2, fallout 3) so not too much of a loss, if i ever get a large amount of money, ill buy a new computer case, motherboard and cpu, and then transfer my psu,hardrive, gpu and ram over, thanks guy for the help!

Just OC your Pentium D to at least 3.2+
These cpus were made for high frequencies,in fact 2.8ghz is the minimum speed
it can run at.

your MOBO is the problem for upgrade options. Which means your Dell case is the problem too since it only handles BTX sized MOBO's.
I am pretty sure it is the BIOS that needs to support QUAD core CPU's. If Dell made the MOBO and BIOS(or had someone make it exclusively for them) I am sure they limited the BIOS to handle whatever stock stuff they put in it.
To do a CPU Upgrade and KNOW it will work you should look up your Dell model (E520 or whatever) and see what other CPU's were offered. THEN check to see if the upgraded version used the same MOBO.

the answer is probably going to be to save for a new system... Build it yourself to save money and maximize upgrade options later.

Here is a nice page for reference(assuming you have the E520) Dell.com Support manual for E520

[R-COM]SocketMan wrote:Just OC your Pentium D to at least 3.2+
These cpus were made for high frequencies,in fact 2.8ghz is the minimum speed
it can run at.

Dell...Bios Lock...No Overclocking...and no the ocing programs don't work either.