Optiplex 745 Processor Question

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SlyConvict

SlyConvict

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Hello,

So - I have some friends that are new parents and as such have limited finances due to the added expenses of raising their 3 month old... They have a computer that I would like to upgrade for them rather than them having to foot the bill for a new computer. They don't do any extreme gaming or anything like that but they do own a business they are getting off the ground and as such need a semi-much more improved system. Currently they are working with:

Dell Optiplex 745 STOCK version - Comes with a socket 775 LGA motherboard and a cheap video card, Dell's version of DVI... The driver for it was an Intel Accelerated Graphics. I have replaced their video card with my old one, Radeon HD 6450 and I've upgraded their memory from two 1GB (2GB total) to four 1GB (4 GB total) memory. I think I can upgrade them to 8 gigs on the memory but I'm not sure.

The chipset for the board (as reported by CPUID) is Q965 with a Southborder of 82801HB/HR (ICH8/R)...

I'm wondering if I can remove the 6300 1.86mhz processor and drop an E-8400 processor on the board and if anyone here is familiar with this system that might be able to guide to what is the max I can cap the system out to.

I know on ebay I can buy the E-8400 for about 20 bucks and the 8 gigs of memory for around 50 so I'm thinking I can upgrade them for about 100 bucks opposed to them having to fork out 5 bills or more on a new system...

Can anyone offer advice?

Dan
 
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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And after you did that - they'd still be stuck with a crappy computer - despite your laudable efforts.

Keep an eye on for the Newegg Shellshocker bundles - get one for around $300 and while they won't be gaming on it, it will beat the pants off anything that you can stick into the old one. Computers are like that - they really have a finite lifetime and then a bottom of the barrel new one beats the pants off a barn-burner of 8 years ago.

Keep your eyes open for deals and special - Slickdeals is a good website. With some patience, you might be able to snag a pre-built desktop with OS included for not much more than $300.
 
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SlyConvict

SlyConvict

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That didn't answer the questions, but thank you for the input. We are all fully aware of how outdated the computer is but my Optiplex 330 is just as outdated and with a few modifications to it's core components I have a relatively new computer... and I 'am' a gamer - so, while it's outdated, the upgrades do server their purpose. I upgraded all components on my computer and added an internal 5-in-1 card reader for less than $100... this is 1/3 the amount you're asking me to be patient spending - but the goal here is need vs want - they don't "need" a new computer with all the newest fashions, they want something that is a little better than they have.

Questions still stand as indicated in my previous post.
 
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SlyConvict

SlyConvict

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Okay - with a little more research (I still have questions) it appears to me that the best E-series Core 2 Duo I can put in the board is the E8600 - based on this link:

http://ark.intel.com/compare/35605,33910

But it looks like the best E-series the chipset can handle is the E-6700, based on the info at this link:

http://ark.intel.com/products/27732/Intel-82Q965-Graphics-and-Memory-Controller#@compatibility

I'm not sure I'm reading this info correctly nor am I aware of any other resources I can use to investigate the matter myself...

As such, am I reading this correctly, and what would be my best options (besides buying a new computer), I can buy a processor for less than 50 bucks - I can't do that with a 'new computer' option.
By "options", if I am reading the information correctly, what I mean is: There are many other processors on those two links that would be compatible with both the board and the chipset; some of them exceed 3.0ghz - are theyu better than the E-series options I have or are the core 2 duo's my better option even though their speed is slower?
 
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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OK, I'll play. It's a heck of a lot more entertaining tha shopping for a replacement phone for mine that got fried in a lightning strike. :)

You picked the beefiest of the old Core 2 Duos,
However, it's a Wolfdale with FSB speed of 1333Mhz - while the currently installed processor is a Conroe with FSB speed of 1066Mhz.

Use this comparison between the installed and your selected processor.


But it looks like the best E-series the chipset can handle is the E-6700, based on the info at this link:

http://ark.intel.com/products/27732/Intel-82Q965-Graphics-and-Memory-Controller#@compatibility

I'm not sure I'm reading this info correctly nor am I aware of any other resources I can use to investigate the matter myself...

As such, am I reading this correctly, and what would be my best options (besides buying a new computer), I can buy a processor for less than 50 bucks - I can't do that with a 'new computer' option.
By "options", if I am reading the information correctly, what I mean is: There are many other processors on those two links that would be compatible with both the board and the chipset; some of them exceed 3.0ghz - are theyu better than the E-series options I have or are the core 2 duo's my better option even though their speed is slower?
Click to expand...

You can use Passmark to compare CPU performance in benchmarks. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

I really can't tell where you were going, it sounded more as if you were thinking out loud.

If you want to upgrade the CPU and leave all the other components in situ, you should take care to stay where all the external interfaces are the same. That means things like the FSB.

Read this (wikipedia, I know, but still informative). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front-side_bus

You can look around, use Passmark CPu benchmarks and see what you can buy for your $50 - $20 (hopefully you get a new, boxed CPU, not a used one of uncertain quality).

While you are on the Passmark site, spend a minute comparing your chosen CPU to the low-end, current Intel Pentium and AMD processors. I know the most recent, overclockable Pentium costs around $75. Now admittedly you can't put it into that motherboard, nor can you use the memory. And you'll need an OS, so costs mount up really quickly,

I'm just not really sure that anyone will notice your upgrade. In those days, be best Bang for the buck upgrade was to boost memory by a few MBytes - up to the 4MB that the 32-bit Windows versions could use and if you had integraded graphics, by a little more. More than that hardly ever made sense.
 
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SlyConvict

SlyConvict

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aw crud, I didn't even look at the FSB, I simply went to compare what I did with mine (replaced a 6400 with an 8400) and had favorable results but my FSB remained in tact.... if I made that switch I'd cause drag because of the 1333 so, yeah... thatsa my bad on that... Hmpf...

No, I really wasn't thinking out loud, I was more trying to ensure it was known that I am attempting to research this on my own, but I'm not familiar with the chipset of this board and as such, not sure of my limitations - or - solutions, for that matter.

Purchasing a newer system is a concept that they are entertaining but the extra 200 bucks or so that it would set them back has a HUGE short term to potentially long term negative impact on them so, beings how they're friends and I've been in their shoes, I'm trying to resolve their discomforts while utilizing the most cost effective means.
200 bucks to you and/or I, at this present time in our lives (at least in mine) wouldn't damage us nearly as much as it could them so - it's not really an option that I 'prefer' to see them entertain.

But then again, the idea of "sometimes you just have to bite the bullet" is always prevelant under all circumstances and knowing when to make that choice is ultimately the saving grace of sanity.
 
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