If I put a Core 2 Duo in my Dell XPS400, will it explode?

[shazamanam]

No? Well will it work?

 

[delluser1]

Won't explode, may or may not boot, if it does you may get a day out of it before it fries.
The voltage regulation module on the mb can't deal with it.

 

[shazamanam]

Well gosh dammit. How much do you think my Pentium D 930 will bottleneck my 9800GTX+ when it arrives?

 

[jeep11]

DellUser1 you know It's a desktop right?

 

[shazamanam]

ya it is a desktop. does that change anything?

 

[mighty442]

Well gosh dammit. How much do you think my Pentium D 930 will bottleneck my 9800GTX+ when it arrives?

Will you be playing mostly games on the system?

 

[shazamanam]

yup

 

[yipsl]

You should always call Dell tech support and ask if there are bios updates that support newer CPU's. The same holds true for Gateway and HP as well. People here generally build their own and don't always have time to look up another person's OEM machine for support.

Regular motherboard manufacturer's always have a CPU support list for each motherboard that provides both the bios version and the board revision for each CPU. You check your bios version at boot (you might have to go into your bios to disable a brand splash boot screen), but you have to physically open your case to look for the board revision printed on the motherboard. Each company's web site has examples showing you where to find it, whether it's at the edge of a board or next to the CPU.

Dell wants to sell new PC's and seldom supports new bios for next generation CPU upgrades. If the motherboard's not too proprietary, you can have a standard motherboard with a new CPU and RAM installed, but then your operating system won't work, even after a reinstall, because OEM versions of Windows look for an OEM motherboard and bios.

I'd consider just getting a new case, motherboard, CPU and memory and transfer everything that works over. You can get an OEM version of XP or Vista when you buy the new parts at a store like Fry's or online at a retailer like Newegg.

You finally asked the right question when you asked whether a Pentium D 930 would limit a 4870. CPU limitations do happen, but they can be mitigated by gaming at a higher resolution. CPU bottlenecks occur when the CPU isn't powerful enough to handle all the frames pushed out by the GPU. That varies by game as well as by gaming resolution. Some games are CPU bound while others are GPU bound.

What monitor resolution are you using?

 

[dragonsprayer]

lol! never worry about it

first off a cpu can do 2 things if it fits

1) work
2) not work

#1 is a no brainer

#2 is more complex! is your bios correct? normally a cpu upgrade requires a bios update

bad news you got a crappy dell with a in house mobo - what is that? dell builds and designs them - give them credit hp just slaps a part on an asus mob and calls it priporitary

proprietary mobo is a mobo made by the manufacture or modified by someone like asus for hp

so.... with open source mobos you have bios upgrades though the cpu cycle not with reference - it cycles and depends on marketing etc

BOOTOM LINE

TRY IT - IF IT FITS YOU CAN NOT HURT IT

check your bios - if it does not boot do not worry yet! research it!

lastly tear the oem craper out and replace it with a low cost mobo - you may have a few special conectors such as hp front panel but it is not that hard to work around it everytime