Solved Optiplex 745 Processor upgrade

[KAAMO]

Hey Guys,

I have a Dell Optiplex 745 with an E6400 @2.13ghz. I was wandering if it would be possible to install an E8400 @3.0ghz? Would my mother board be able to take this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I strongly suspect it can.

Both are socket 775 processors and will fit the motherboard.

I'd guess you could go as strong as a quad 6600, but there is always a chance you'd need a BIOS update.

Google tells me that there is a BIOS as late as 2.6.4 from March 2010.

Really, I wouldn't expect a significant difference going from E6400 to E8400, but I don't know what you're paying for it nor what you expect.

 

[KAAMO]

Thanks for your fast reply.

I just want slightly better performance in excel and powerpoint mainly. I've found one for £12 used so its not too heavy an investment.

I heard that DELL restrict what processors can be used in an attempt to stop people upgrading their rigs.

 

[Mellon Head]

I heard that DELL restrict what processors can be used in an attempt to stop people upgrading their rigs.

OEMs do that. You'll find a lot of OEM machines that can only take one or two different processors, because the BIOS is locked down that way. I had an old HP that would only take one (and only one) model of Athlon X2. Trying to find one to replace the old one when it went south was a real pain.

 

[KAAMO]

After a bit of research on google, it appears that there are split opinions on whether it would work or not :/ Would it be possible to overclock my current e6400 to around 3.0ghz? Or is that another way DELL has screwed me over

 

[Mellon Head]

Most OEM BIOSes don't have the settings to change that would allow you to overclock the rig. You could look, but I doubt that the FSB speed is controllable from BIOS. That would mean OCing is a no go.

 

[KAAMO]

Thanks for your answers guys

 

[Michaelflat1]

The mobo supports up to C2Q Q6700 and 8GB DDR2-800 and no NO overclocking on a dell unless its BSEL and since that board supports up to 1066mhz bus and the C2Q is then your stuck at the 2.4ghz