PC hardware forum: upgrade dell processor?

the video card is already installed, and yes i had to modify the case slightly for it to fit. and as i said i have no problems playing diablo 3, or modern warfare 3. 2 very modern games. my problem is that my computer sucks at multi tasking, which i kno is not the video card, or ram. which leaves the processor.

Well besides the cpu, your PC bios has to accept the cpu or it class of cpu to the best it can. Because this is a Dell or OEM type PC it doesn't always lend itself to extreme upgrades. Being a LGA775 socket it will accept many a different cpu, BUT no guarantee it will actually run with it. I suggest if you hadn't yet do the bios update, its important for cpu updates reasons and other issues it may correct. BUT 100% you have no real problems now before doing the bios update, but at least Dell makes this an easy process, like A08 to A12 doing some bios???.exe update(or similar).

All I can suggest is to look up the specs of the E2160, find its class and type and ratchet up the next cpu that provides better performance. Similar specs do apply but the overall cpu rating is better, like a

http://ark.intel.com/products/29739/Intel-Pentium-Processor-E2160-1M-Cache-1_80-GHz-800-MHz-FSB

Find a cpu with better specs of the similar FSB, etc. as so....

http://ark.intel.com/products/series/29731

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/291176-28-e5400-e2160

tada -----Willy

considering the price id gladly get the E220, but whats the difference between tray and box? also, is 2.2 ghz as big of a boost over 1.8 as it sounds like? also, how do i check my gpu? not sure if thats causing any of my issues or not. seen somewhere that the gpu can clash with the cpu or something like that.

I'll let this explain:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/306100-28-boxed-intel-processor-tray

It all about retail vs plain(OEM) sales. It also refers to the warranty issues involved and of course price.

When you get a retail kit, you get everything, fan, info, any s/w or docs and overall basic help details. You lose all this with a plain box or just the cpu alone, nothing else is present in the sale, thus the price difference.

FYI- Just so you know, used and new really isn't much difference either provided they actually work when installed. Of course, no idea how an old cpu was treated.

tada ------Willy

do i need the oem if im doing this on a dell? also, will the hsf in my pc (same one that came from dell) work with the new one or should i buy the full package? lastly, my pcs owner manual says i can use the Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Processor (3.0 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 1333 MHz FSB). but it has a plga 775 socket whereas my current cpu is the lga 775. will it still work?

retail CPU and the much longer warranty.

Also ...might need to update the BIOS to ensure it recognizes the new CPU.

VAPCMD

The cpu itself will be capable in a Dell or any other PC that can use such a cpu or "class type". That's why you upgrade along similar lines.

As for HSF, will it certainly will fit and all, but you have to be sure its rated for that cpu. If that is the setup that comes with the cpu originally, then its rated for "wattage level" of the cpu in most cases to handle that heat dissipation. You still need to clean and then re-apply compound, etc. before use. If you want to go with some fancy heatsink and/or cooling method then be sure its rated for that cpu. If factory supplied it will work in most PC setups, if you get too customized, size may matter and/or location, so don't discount that. Re-using the Dell case definitively makes that a point to consider.

If you manual or tech source offers that, then go with it. LGA vs PLGA, may refer to the socket of course but also the "full name" of socket, we techs usually say LGA and leave it at that. But, it could mean that's actually what it wants. Too many PCs later to run into exact needs and not be so generic, once you delve into it all. I provide the explication below:

http://communities.intel.com/thread/26755

http://communities.intel.com/message/69296#69296

Also, surf the Intel website for specific Q&A on any cpu topic.

tada ------Willy

The e2160 is rated at 65w.
The e6850 is rated at 65w.

That would seem to say the your original hsf will work fine.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:wOyJ3JiOSS0J:www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optix_330_techspecs.pdf+Dell+OptiPlex+330+MT&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjzzqisDGt9eSCl67rzPQQavzsIWcAtmdY63Hnr8p-mTpJ34VzWiBuRy95eyulTylfRoU4XGSk-SV7HKjkN-RNDycGy8esg5Bo1zaiS9ZmdUheseAf0ELWbZ2U72IzPulRNoC1G&sig=AHIEtbRnQ1l0Bo0qQh96DAXMIMWRGDDoPw

Page 8 seems to show the supported cpu's.

If it was me I'd look at free stuff first.
Remove unneeded products and services.
Be malware free.
Keep the swap file quiet.

idk what ur talking about by swap file. and im running win 8 if u wanna be specific on directions.

Old machine.........new OS.
Are you aware Dell does not support your combo?
Your in uncharted water.

i am aware, but it came vista basic which sucks, windows 8 is much faster.