AMD athlon 6400+ upgrade in Dell Dim E521

[Toine1]

I want to upgrade my Dell Dimension E521
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 64 4200+ ADA42001AA5CU 89Watt, stepping/revision F2, Cmos 90Nm.
The Mobo is Dell OCT103 versionA03
N.bridge Nvidia Gforce6150 revA2
S.bridge Nvidia Nforce 410/430MCP rev A2

Did some search and figured out that the new AMD7750 does not work due the AM2+ Dell Bios issue.
Found guys here at the forum who have to upgrade to a Athlon 6000+ (125 and 89 watt version)
I could not figure out if the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ would work, it is a AM2 CPU so it will fit, but will my Bios accept it, could not find anything on the web.

I aways had in mind that the Bios should recognize, if the 6000+ 125 Watt CPU is recognize by Bios then I will allso be recognize the Athlon 6400+ 125Watt CPU, because they have the same revision F3 and Cmos90Nm, only the core speed is 200Mhz higher and the 6400+ is a black edition serie. Even the 6000+ 89watt which is different because of the 65Nm Cmos can be used in the Dell E521 according to this forum. So why not the 6400+.
Can I check something in the bios I have the last Bios installed???

Please help because the 6400+ will become very rare item now a days.

 

[loneninja]

The 6400+ is already very rare as it's no longer manufactured and it's also been overpriced. Newegg currently wants $169 for the 6400 and only $95 for the 6000, is 200Mhz (probably about 5% performance gain) really worth the extra money?

In my opinion just pick up an X2 6000.

 

[Toine1]

It is rare, but I found a supplier who is cheap, it is some 15euro's more expensieve then the 6000+ version.
Its supplied with cooler/fan/heatpaste so its a good deal, only my discission time is limited because its only few on stock.
So please help me????

 

[jitpublisher]

Since you have a Dell, you might try contacting Dell support and ask them.

 

[Toine1]

Dell does not give any answer allso on there forum no decent answer.
I aways had in mind that the Bios should recognize, if the 6000+ 125 Watt CPU is recognize by Bios then I will allso be recognize the Athlon 6400+ 125Watt CPU, because they have the same revision F3 and Cmos90Nm, only the core speed is less 200Mhz higher and the 6400+ is a black edition serie. Even the 6000+ 89watt which is different because of the 65Nm Cmos can be used in the Dell E521 according to this forum. So why not the 6400+.

It will be nice if somebody could help me, at least give comment on my statement here above.

 

[Toine1]

Because the 6400+ will cost me euro 95,--
the 6000+ (3.1ghz 65nm 89watt) cost euro 80,--
the 6000+ (3ghz 90nm 125Watt) euro 75,--.
So the price differance is low.
Ok maybe nobody can give me the answer for upgrading 6400+ in my Dell E521 but what about my theory :
I aways had in mind that the Bios should recognize, if the 6000+ 125 Watt CPU is recognize by Bios then I will allso be recognize the Athlon 6400+ 125Watt CPU, because they have the same revision F3 and Cmos90Nm, only the core speed is 200Mhz higher and the 6400+ is a black edition serie. Even the 6000+ 89watt which is different because of the 65Nm Cmos can be used in the Dell E521 according to this forum. So why not the 6400+.

 

[Axeon]

Some people have gotten the 6400+ to work, but its not worth it. The cooler that is in the Dell which is BTX only supports up to 89W processors, the maximum is the 6000+ 3.1Ghz 89W CPU. It will be recognized in the motherboard, and the BIOS and would be a great upgrade over the AMD 4200+

 

[megamanx00]

What is it with Dell and these Mini-BTX AMD systems? Is there a sale on this junk or something? Seems like alot of people are looking to upgrade them lately.

You probably need a BIOS update for it to work. There is a difference between the 89W Brisbane 6000+ and the 89 Windsor 6000+, so pay attention to that when seeing what CPUs the BIOS updates support. Since you're going to swap CPUs you should use some good thermal compound when putting back the heatsink, like Artic thermal silver 5, in order to increase cooling efficiency. I'd also replace the fan on that cooler with one that had a higher CFM rating, and probably fix one to the back of the case too for good measure. Well that's just me.

 

[MrCommunistGen]

I've been curious about this kind of an upgrade myself. They have an E521 where I used to work (and might be again too) that only has a 3000+ AM2 which is slow as can be... and I was thinking about upgrading it so that it'll multitask better. This thread has been very informative for me.

-mcg

 

[Axeon]

There is one aftermarket BTX cooler for the E521 and that is made by thermaltake. Its extremely rare to find tho.

 

[Toine1]

Mrcommunis: Here some search, I did on the web for the Dell Dimension:
The Dell can run on 125Watt [90Nm] or 89watt [65Nm] AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ CPU. But I can not see any attempt for running the 6400+ on the Dell dimension.
You can search all of this at this forum or the Dell forum for the 125Watt version complete with photo's. Some guy at this forum did a Bios downgrade to make the 6000+ running.
I'm only going for the boxed version, paste/fan/coolingblock, but the Dell cooler can handle it aslong your not overclocking. If the Dell E521 is stock even the PSU can handle the 125Watt CPU.
The Dell E521 Bios can not support am2+

Why so much on the Upgrading E521, Simple: there is not any info comming from Dell and the Bios is more a kind of a mystery box, bios overclocking is locked , so only forum can help here .

Some people have gotten the 6400+ to work Axeon can you give me any name

 

[Axeon]

Sorry i'm trying to find that thread , just hold on. I know i saw it somewhere lol.

 

[Axeon]

You can see in this thread the OP got a 6400+ working and even wants to find the temps for it lol.
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19055493/19178479.aspx#19178479

 

[Toine1]

Can not wait

 

[Toine1]

Thanks Axeon, but what do I see I'm wrong, the 6400+ is not the fasted for the Dell E521, it is the opteron Quad CPU. This is a workstation CPU and can used in the Dimension E521 Mobo Am2 socket?????
Sorry but I can not believe this, because the Dell's Bios and Mobo is so limited.
I think I do not take the risk here and go for the Athlon 64 X2 series.

 

[Toine1]

Hí, Zipzoomflyhigh, because I can not overclock the Dell bios. It must be done by Software which is only limited (you can not adjust the Volts). So I went for the best performance, (in cache and Ghz I'm I right??), I do not care about the Watts. The 6800+ is boxed so compleet fan/heatsink/paste. I still think the 6800+ is the best performer and the Quad Opteron does not fit, not all the AM2 can be fitted in this Mobo.

But Zipzoomflyhigh is a 6000+ 65nm 89Watt 3.1Ghz not a beter CPU then the 5800???? It from the same model range??????

 

[Axeon]

Is that 6400+ a quad core work CPU? Well I guess its just luck lol. And yes Dells are fairly limited in terms of upgrading and overclocking, modding etc. They're also bad for high performance video cards. That 6400+ is not a Operaton, its just a plain Dual Core CPU i think. Heres newegg link, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103191

As for the 6800+ I high doubt it'll work in that dell.

 

[Toine1]

Axeon, please read my first post and open the AMD link with the Athlon 64 X2 alternatives and my stock Athlon 64 X2 4200+ at the topic start.
The 6400+ is not a Quad or Opteron (I never say this) but it is the best AM2 CPU in performance that will fit into my Dell Mobo, see the link your posted from the Dell forum.
IF the Athlon 64 X2 6400+ is solt out, then I'm going for the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 65Nm 89Watt which is a beter performer than the +5800 at the same Watts.
The differance in performance between the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 90Nm 125Watt and the 6000+ 65Nm 89Watt is negligible, so here I will go for the lower Watts.

 

[Axeon]

Ah, I see my apologies. Yes that 89Watts is better for the cooler because I don't think that it'll handle that bid of a CPU. Anyways tell us how it goes! Also what kind of graphics card do you have in there? That CPU could be bottlenecked if you still have that 6150 in the computer.

 

[Toine1]

Axeon what do you mean by the 6150?????
The Nvidia Graphiccard is now the 7300LE but it will be replaced by a ATI HD4780 or Nvidia9800GTX+ depends on the space is left over.
The 6400+ is some 6% faster then a 6000+ read this on the site.

 

[Axeon]

^ +1, Agreed, get the 6000+ CPU with the 3.1 Ghz clock it run cooler than all the rest. My apologies yet again, I was thinking about the Dell C521 and that comptuer has a 6150 installed.

 

[Toine1]

Oo you mean the 6150 is an Intel Dual core E6150. Heat is not a problem it will be solt with a heatsink and overclocking a Dell can only be done limited by software.

BTW the 6000+ 89W will be my next choice, speed looks to me the same as the 6000+ 125W.
The 6000+ 125W 3Ghz and L2 cache= 1024
The 6000+ 89W 3.1Ghz and L2 cache= 512
See the link for more info I addit at the topic start.
Only one thing I'm anxious about, is the 65Nm 89w design is a new type so this can give a risk because the last Dell bios is from sept 2007. But some guys at the forums did use it succesfull, so I will take that risk.
Thank you for all the help.

 

[Axeon]

No, I meant GeForce 6150e integrated graphics/GPU.

 

[Toine1]

Thanks but the AMD 64 X2 6400+ is solt out in my country or some supplier do ask to much $$$$. I want to thank everybody for their help here .
If you are intented to upgrade the E521 CPU to the AMD 6400+ here a very good site:
http://computerwine.blogspot.com/2008/11/upgrading-dell-desktop-e521.html

I'm now going to a quad system using a old ATX case and use some part from the Dell. Mobo will be a AM3 & DDR3 based, si I'm prepared for a future CPU upgrade.

 

[Toine1]

Oeps you are pissed , so let me explain:
My first choice was the 6400+, I know it was a limited on sale and limited on stock, thats why I was in a hurry, sorry about this and now its solt out .
Upgrade to a AMD 4core will cost me a lot more, I'm still prefer the AMD 6400+ upgrade, but I'm not going to the $$$ limit, 95euro is a good price not the actual 150 euro.
The Dell is a BTX and not a ATX so it will be a lot of work to figure this out, or use my old ugly ATX case.

Note need a modern V.card for the Dell Dim.E521 thats fits, go to the Gigabyte for the 9800GTX+ or the HD4780 they are compact and will fit under the cooler house.