Upgrading Mother board of Q6600 in a Dell

Hello

I have a Dell XPS 420 with a Q6600. I am would like to know if it is worth taking the processor out and buying a regular ATX motherboard and put it in a regular case and overclocking the CPU?

I am planning to buy a 450 GTS video card and a new power supply. I want to have a good gaming system using the Q6600. I will transfer the memory and other things to the new case.

Which of these motherboards would be a good one to use?
Intel P45 LGA 775 DDRx2 PCIx1 Maximus II GENE 140 dollars used
Intel P35 LGA 775 DDR2x4 PCIx3 P5K-E 68 dollars used
Intel G41 LGA 775 DDR3x2 PCix2 G41MXE 50 Dollars used
Intel P45 LGA 775 DDR2x4 PCix3 84 P5Q 84 dollars used
Inter P45 LGA 775 DDR2x4 PCIx2 P5Q-E 84 dollars used

Is this worth it?

I would spend the money to get a 460 instead of the 450 there is a world of difference.

I do not know if the screws (holes) line up correctly or not, you will have to research that first before you purchase an aftermarket board.

isn't that the first model Dell that allowed overclocking.?
check into that too.

with that being said, I'd also upgrade gfx card first..
the GTS450 is a solid choice, I have one, you do not need a power supply upgrade to run that, it can run fine on Dell psu.
the GTX460 or greater will need 2 6-pin plugs so then you wold need a psu upgrade.

i think that I have heard of the Ledtek before but do not know much about them, never heard of Elsa Gladic at all...
GTX460 might require psu upgrade since it requires 2 6-pin plugs.
the GTS450 will run on your Dell psu.
I prefer nVidia to ATi..

what will fit the case the gfx card or the psu.?
standard ATX power supply so both will fit.
but the GTS450 if your staying with you current psu is a good move
and if to go with the psu and GTX460 please before you buy look into overclocking that unit, I do think that model is overclock-able..
but if it's not then stay with the GTS450, it's a better pairing.

" I willing to buy one of the used mb in the beginning of my post if it will allow me to safely overclock software wise. I can buy a new case cheap. "

not a bad idea... thinking more seriously about it now.?

but yes, the GTS450 is a good pairing for stock Q6600 and overclocked is good for the GTX460.

if a new motherboard then you will have to re-install your OS and all other software.
i'm confused slightly hold on and clear this up...
so now you might want to keep the hardware out of the Dell except the motherboard, right.?
so you will have a Dell case and motherboard but nothing else in it and a slightly better unit up and running.?

so a LGA775 motherboard, what RAM do you have now.?
don't count on the fans just yet but you can get them for like $15 shipped and one at least usually comes with the case.
also what size board, mATX or ATX.?
that really depends on wanting to maybe run dual video cards and/or how many pci slots you need..

sell the RAM and get 4GB(2x2GB) of DDR2 800MHz, that's a must for me and you if you want to have as much optimal gaming as possible.
I'm not saying that you can't game at 667MHz but the difference between dual channel 667MHz and dual channel 800MHz to me,
was actually more significant than I thought it would be.
I'll run through the list of motherboards and then maybe suggest my own..
where are you located and what's your budget.?

navy man..?

got ya..
where you from and your welcome for the help..

haha.
born in cleveland OH and then raised in buffalo, ny.
lived in chicago a while and now reside in south florida.
college in tennessee, long story.. LOL

i lived there to in mariemont / fairfax area...
small world.
i also dwell'd in the minors for the Reds for about 3 years, made it up to AA ball in chattanooga (lookouts)
twice, before and again after blowing out my right leg.
I could go on with life but i'll stop now.... LOL

so now where are we, settled on GTS450 and/or what else.?

it is fun there.
i was there briefly when in the navy, I got into trouble....
I'd like to hear more, maybe we'll go private message and keep this thread technical...LOL

now as for the mobo and Dell case are we modifying it with a Dremel cutting tool and keeping it to use (I've done it before);
or are we now keeping the case with the old motherboard in it (stick it in the closet or on eBay.. lol) and getting new case.?
I like to be in current time with the ideas..

planning on running dual video cards in the future.?

OK
getting a better pic now...
and from the boards you listed the DDR3 board would of course mean buying more RAM, is that in the budget.
and on a side note, I do not like LGA775 running DDR3 RAM, it should stay no faster then DDR2 800MHz.
personally i do not trust the compatibility.

right, not for the Q6600..

right LGA775 boards run better on DDR2 800MHz RAM and not the DDR3 boards that were made for the LGA775.
DDR2800 in dual channel is all you need for LGA775.

SB is better technology all the way around if compared to the equivalent of last years technology.
i5-760 - last years, now on sale with the release of SB and does perform well in comparison but SB is a little faster without doubt..
also same for the i7 SB but last years LGA1366 i7 builds are still superior but the SB even competes with those.

I'll have some motherboards recommendation later today, been busy back at work.

Cool ok

Yes have it.

I bought the QLeadTek WinFast 450, not the OC for 138.
There is a Japanese brand 450 that is OC to 829MHZ for 125.
But the store people said the QLead Tek was their pick if they had to buy one.
They said both are good as far as quality goes and the Japanese one has a 1 year warrenty and support.

I didnt buy the Japanese one because I was concerned that the gpu interface and settings will be all in Japanese and maybe hard sometimes if I wanted to make any changes to the settings.

Should I go back and get the Japanese card that is OC to 829?

I know everyone says the card should be fine as far as the psu, but I want to make sure. The card package says 450watt min for psu and the store people kept on telling me I need more power than wants in my Dell.

My Dell XPS 420 says 375 on the PSU but everyone here says it is higher than that.

Thanks

I found a used Q9450 at 2.66. Will this be better than my Q6600 for gaming?

It is 150 dollars.

This might be better, I can only change processor and build new system later.

I will look.

If I update my bios, what will it do for the system? I can upgrade from A03 to A07.

Thanks Will try

I am temped to get the 460 card. I read that the 6600 is not too bad with it.

Yes I will buy the adapter. Performance should still be good right?

375