Dell Processor Upgrade

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I have a Dell Dimension XPS with a Pentium 2, 450 mhz processor.

Is it possible to upgrade the processor to something faster without also replacing the motherboard, or is it better to replace both?

Or is it better to just get a whole new computer?

Would the same answers pertain to a Dell Dimension XPS with a Pentium 3, 450 mhz processor?

Thanks,

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Cowboy is right (of course). I would also add that the simplest and “most bang for the buck” upgrade available is to add memory. You can go to the Dell support site https://support.dell.com/register.aspx%5B/url%5D , input your computers’ serial numbers, and get some good info as to what upgrades are available for your Dell(s). If you want to just breathe a little new life into your computer, I suggest looking into maxing out the memory first. If you’re looking to add new stuff like big hard drives, dvd rw’s , etc, I’d suggest looking at something newer and bigger, with especially a bigger power supply to run all that cool new stuff. Like Cowboy says, it all depends on what you want to do

kip

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The computer has 256 mb of RAM.

I believe that the maximum is 384 mb.

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With 256MB of memory, adding more probably won’t increase speed noticeably – even XP runs OK with that amount. Your real barrier appears to be the motherboard/CPU combination. Are you up for rolling your own (system)?

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I did that once before with suprisingly good results.

I checked a few places for prices, but it seems that when you start buying the case, motherboard, cpu, ram, and possibly a video card, you don’t end up spending that much less than buying a new computer.

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Well, numbers can be deceiving – if you spend, let’s say, the following:

• Motherboard/CPU combo – 150 USD
• Case w/power supply – 75 USD
• Memory – 50 USD[/list]You’re right about 275 USD, maybe a little more, because you can take all the other hardware from the previous machine. Video card, sound card, hard drive, CD-ROM….

  Another point to consider is if you buy a pre-built machine for 999 USD, the components are not going to be as good or powerful as you could do by buying them separately. Were I to spend the money on a system comparable to the one I use daily, it would cost me closer to 2500 USD – all told, I’m well under that if I add up the prices of the individual pieces inside of it. If you’re interested in the comparison that I did, let me know and I can post it.

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The motherboard/cpu combos that I’ve seen (with an Intel P4 processor) seem to cost more than $150.

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Sorry to be jumping in here so late, but the machine I’m on now is one I built myself from scratch a few years ago. It has an Intel SE440BX/2 motherboard in it and I don’t know if the exchanges between you and Howard confirm that that’s the board your machine has or not. You could run Belarc Advisor to see what it says. The reason for my popping in is that I did a BIOS update on this board a couple of years ago which upgraded its processor capability. When I set it up in this machine, I used a Pentium III 600 processor and several months ago upgraded the RAM to 640 (I already had a 256 and a 128 stick). Machine works just fine but I don’t play games or do graphics-intensive work. Just thought I’d comment…..

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The SE440BX and SE440BX-2 are different critters.
The original poster said there was a max of 384MB, which is a characteristic of the SE440BX.

Specs for both are at Intel web site, so it’s easy to check.

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Yup, I know that, Howard. With due respect to the poster and you, I was just poking to see if there’s any confusion on HIS part, since BOTH 440BX boards support 768 meg RAM. The SE440BX will take a Pentium III processor @ 450 meg too, but I don’t know if the “performance” difference between the PII and PIII would be significant. Data still worth checking out before ditching a computer…..

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I’ve got the SE440BX Intel spec.
SE440BX will support only 384MB, not 768MB.

See clause 1.7.1 of Intel document 691141-001.
Also in Overview on page 7.

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Better read the OTHER document too…..

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I’m guessing that your mobo is a varianr of the SE440BX.

I’ve got a Micron PII 400 that had 128MB.
Added 256, made quite a difference.

System is too slow to write DVD’s reliablely.

As we speak, I’m in the process of filling the last available slot with a USB 2 card, adding 2 externadl USB drives and, violating my SCSI religion, filling the last avadilable drive bay with, an ATAPI CD-RW.

Sometime later this year I hope to build a system.

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My on the matter…

If I were dealing with a system of this vintage and wanted a better performing machine, I would go about it like a scavenger. That is, I’d buy a case with a decent power supply, a new motherboard/chipset (and memory if required), and then take all the existing hardware (hard drives, CD, video/sound cards) from the Dell system(s) and plug it into the new white box. I prefer this approach because I am a system builder and don’t like buying pre-built machines. I find it’s also cheaper to piecemeal upgrade like this than unloading for a completely new system.

If you were looking to upgrade the processor only, you’d have to make sure that the motherboards in these machines could support whatever you wanted to move to. Chances are high that you won’t find processors that will fit these motherboards; they simply don’t make them anymore and the pinouts/form factors have changed. Crucial Technologies is my preferred vendor for RAM, and they have an excellent process on their website to guarantee compatible memory upgrades, should you go that route.

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I have no idea of the Motherboard.

It’s whatever was standard on this particular Dell model at the time I bought it. (December 1998)

The chipset is Intel 440BX AGPset.

My goal was just to make the machine faster.

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Ayup, that’s the SE440BX, Seattle mobo.

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Do you know whether this motherboard is an ATX form factor? If it is, shouldn’t I be able to put a new motherboard into my existing case?

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Yes, it is ATX.

You can find documentation at Intel web site.

However, check Dell web site to see if they did any monkeying.

As I understand it, Dell uses non-standard power supply.

If I were you, I would not replace the mobo, instead I’d buikd a new system, which I plan doing in a few months.

For example, you likely have some ISA cards.
I doubt that any worthwhile mobo sold today even has any ISA slots.

Some of the other devices may also be antiquated.

I’d say, start over.

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256 is fine for all but XP in my experience….even 2000 server runs like a demon with that amount of RAM, so long as it’s not hosting a SQL DB.

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