Can I upgrade my procsesor

msf12555 · 09-20-2007, 03:05 PM

I have a Dell Inspiron 531 with an Athlon X2 4400+. Can I upgrade my processor, and if so, what is the highest I can go? Thanks!

ThatGuy16 · 09-20-2007, 05:48 PM

I think its socket AM2, its fairly new, right? So if the motherboard will support it you can go up to the 6000, or 6400+. I think you could call Dell and ther should tell you, but sometimes those customer service guys know less than you do. I can't find the motherboard model anywere.

msf12555 · 09-20-2007, 10:27 PM

I think that it is Socket AM2, but like you said, I can't find info on the motherboard maker anywhere, even on Dell's website. Assuming that it is, how hard is it to swap out a processor?

oscaryu1 · 09-20-2007, 10:27 PM

AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 dual-core processors up to 5600+

Thats the max from DELL.

http://www.dell.com/content/products...n&s=dhs&~ck=mn

oscaryu1 · 09-20-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msf12555

I think that it is Socket AM2, but like you said, I can't find info on the motherboard maker anywhere, even on Dell's website. Assuming that it is, how hard is it to swap out a processor?

You take the heatsink off, release the clip, and and take the CPU out. Simple, quick, and easy. Then just put the new one in and re-do the steps and you good. There's the chance you'll need new thermal paste and an better HSF if you upgrade though...

msf12555 · 09-20-2007, 10:45 PM

Thermal paste? Sorry, this is all new to me. I've upgraded graphics cards and hard drives, but never a processor. Do I have to do anything with power settings or adjust the bios at all? And what about the fan do I have to do?

oscaryu1 · 09-20-2007, 10:51 PM

Replacing an CPU is just about as easy as replacing an PSU or upgrading an GFX.

Find your processor you want to upgrade to, and get some thermal paste. I would recommend:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

And no, BIOS will do all that. I do not know what fan you have, but I have heard that DELL sometimes does not use generic HSF's so you may have some trouble there.

msf12555 · 09-20-2007, 11:14 PM

I found this fan on Dell's website. Do you think this would work? Thanks for answering all these questions for me by the way.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A1151108

chupacabra · 09-20-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msf12555

I found this fan on Dell's website. Do you think this would work? Thanks for answering all these questions for me by the way.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A1151108

It should work, but dell site is overpriced IMHO, you can get that one from newegg for like 50$

msf12555 · 09-20-2007, 11:17 PM

Do you think it will be compatible with my inspiron 531? Dell doesn't tell me crap about this kind of upgrading.

09-20-2007, 03:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
msf12555 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	Can I upgrade my procsesor I have a Dell Inspiron 531 with an Athlon X2 4400+. Can I upgrade my processor, and if so, what is the highest I can go? Thanks!

09-20-2007, 05:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
ThatGuy16 Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 5,105	I think its socket AM2, its fairly new, right? So if the motherboard will support it you can go up to the 6000, or 6400+. I think you could call Dell and ther should tell you, but sometimes those customer service guys know less than you do. I can't find the motherboard model anywere. __________________ CPU: C2D E8400 @ 4Ghz 1.23v HSF: Apogee GTX MB: Gigabyte X38-DS4 Ram: 2x2GB G. Skill DDR2-1068 HDD: 320GB Seagate PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit GFX: HD3870 @ 837/1152 LCD: LG 22" L226WTQ My Old 3DMark06: 20008 =(

09-20-2007, 10:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
oscaryu1 VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 10,012	AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 dual-core processors up to 5600+ Thats the max from DELL. http://www.dell.com/content/products...n&s=dhs&~ck=mn __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

09-20-2007, 10:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
oscaryu1 VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 10,012	Replacing an CPU is just about as easy as replacing an PSU or upgrading an GFX. Find your processor you want to upgrade to, and get some thermal paste. I would recommend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007 And no, BIOS will do all that. I do not know what fan you have, but I have heard that DELL sometimes does not use generic HSF's so you may have some trouble there. __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

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09-20-2007, 10:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
msf12555 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	I think that it is Socket AM2, but like you said, I can't find info on the motherboard maker anywhere, even on Dell's website. Assuming that it is, how hard is it to swap out a processor?

09-20-2007, 10:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
msf12555 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	Thermal paste? Sorry, this is all new to me. I've upgraded graphics cards and hard drives, but never a processor. Do I have to do anything with power settings or adjust the bios at all? And what about the fan do I have to do?

09-20-2007, 11:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
msf12555 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	I found this fan on Dell's website. Do you think this would work? Thanks for answering all these questions for me by the way. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A1151108

09-20-2007, 11:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
msf12555 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 11	Do you think it will be compatible with my inspiron 531? Dell doesn't tell me crap about this kind of upgrading.

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