CPU Upgrade Advise!

rock2112

Honorable
Jun 23, 2013
2
0
10,510
Hello People!
I currently have a Dell Inspiron 530 desktop. My computer has been well taken care of since the day it was bought. However, I would like to upgrade my processor. I currently have an Celeron 450 2.20 GHz installed. A friend of mine suggested I purchase an Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 CPU SLA94 2.4 GHz 2M/800. I did recently upgraded my PSU to 500 Watts. What I'm concerned about is the difference in the processors GHz. Will it matter. I have no idea but I don't want to make a purchase before asking someone. I did stumble upon this site so here I am asking a very import question. I really hope someone can be of help. I did check my motherboard. Next to the CPU fan on the board it says DG33Mo3. I don't know if that will help answer my question Thanks.
 
the trick is your mb bios. while your friend is theoretically correct, and a Core 2 Duo E4xxx cpu could work (as should any E6xx0); just because the socket can hold the cpu doesn't mean it will work with the mb.

I'd contact dell and get a list of supported cpus for your computer's mb, and the bios updates needed for those cpus supported.
 

mcaalrington

Distinguished
Feb 1, 2010
70
0
18,630
Is this your motherboard-> http://www.foxconnsupport.com/download.aspx?models=en-us0000319&category=C000000001&brand=en-us0000001&Series=en-us0000002&chipset=en-us0000111&keywords=&sort=

Model G33M?

Latest BIOS is dated 8/11/2008

Here's another link: http://www.foxconnchannel.com/ProductDetail.aspx?T=Motherboard&U=en-us0000319&Language=en-us


Latest bios supports even the e8600.

Find at least an e8400 or q6600 used for like $50 if you're only upgrading the CPU. They have more cache than the e4xxx series.
 


You are lucky one - you can install Q6600.

The Inspiron 530 has two variants of motherboards, both made by Foxconn and based on the G33M series. The G33M02 which supports up to Core 2 Duo processors (the e8600 is the fastest compatible cpu)and the DG33M03, which supports up to Core 2 Quad processors. Inspiron 530 systems sold with Pentium Dual-Core or Core 2 Duo processors can not be upgraded to Core 2 Quad processors without adding at least a 350W power supply and swapping motherboards to the DG33M03 motherboard. The reason the G33M02 doesn't support Core 2 Quad processors is because it only has 6 voltage regulator ICs, the DG33M03 has 11.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Inspiron#Inspi