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Upgrade Dell Dimension 5100 CPU

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Anonymous
CPUs Authority

Does the old Dell Dimension 5100 Bios (Pheonix A01 on a Dell-0J8885 Motherboard) support a dual core CPU? I would like to upgrade the cpu, but am unsure if the BIOS would recognize and be compatible with a dual core. There dont seem to be any recent BIOS updates offered by DELL, and I have never replaced a CPU/flashed the bios before so I am wary. Thanks in advance!

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Anonymous
CPUs Authority

Should probably add that the specific CPU I would like to upgrade to is an Intel Pentium Dual Core E5500

Am I just SOL and should look into getting a new motherboard?
CPUs Master

dell support -http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=...

list of core 2 cpus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_micro...

psu calculator (very handy when upgrading components)
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

A guide to installing a LGA775 socket cpu if that is what you have
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2231

list of intel chipsets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_chipsets

Everest home edition link (tells you about your hardware)
http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Here is a few links I have found handy
While you read thru them write down specific questions you have and post those questions on this thread
I will then do my best to help :) 
Anonymous
CPUs Authority

Alot of those links we're pretty interesting and helpful to some extent but they don't really answer my question as to the software compatibility of my system with a dual core chip (the E5500 specificially). I know that the cpu socket is a LGA775 and thus the dual core CPU I selected will be fit into the motherboard, but I do not know if the BIOS on the motherboard support dual core CPUs since it is a rather old board and the BIOS have not been updated in a long time and DELL isnt offering any future updates.

Any idea how I could go about finding this out without installing the CPU and seeing if the BIOS freak out on me?
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CPUs Master

Ok after some digging the best CPU that could POSSIBLY work
is the Pentium 965 EE
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27615
also look at this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_D
Or it looks like you can use a Pentium D (primitive dual core-two P4 cpus together on one chip essentially)

this is a guide to installing LGA775 cpus
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2231

I just did mine
Went from a Pentium D 945 3.4ghz to a Core2Duo E4300 1.8ghz in a Dell Optiplex 745
The C2D at 1.8ghz outperforms the 3.4ghz Pentium D

I looked up the 5100 and WILL not do Core 2 Duos

If you can find a Pentium D at a higher speed real CHEAP (no more than 30-40 USD)
possibly on Ebay used with a good Dead on Arrival (DOA) policy (30 days is good)
then go for it.

Really should consider getting new system.

I am on a TIGHT budget and picked up the Optiplex 745 for $75 USD used on Craigslist

It now has E4300,2gb ram,250gb sata II HD,Sapphire 1gb 4650 video card for total cost of $135 USD.

What I am saying is avoid putting too much into the 5100.
If you want to upgrade dont go over $75 USD total or otherwise you can start to look around for used systems.
Anonymous
CPUs Authority

Thank you very much for help, I'll look into seeing if I can find one of the Pentium D's at a higher speed for a reasonable price. I was afraid that it might indeed be the case that the 5100 would not support dual core CPUs.
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