Dell XPS Gen 3 CPU upgrade question

I would like to upgrade the CPU on my 3 year old Dell XPS Gen 3. It
currently has a Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz Prescott in it. The CPU shares
the same socket and bus speed with the Intel Core 2 DUO E4500, which
would be a worthy upgrade. Here's my motherboard and chipset info from
PC Wizard 2008:

Motherboard:

Manufacturer : Dell Inc. (Dell)
Product : 0C8180

Chipset:

General Information :
NorthBridge : Intel i925X
SouthBridge : 82801FB/FR (ICH6/ICH6R) LPC Interface Bridge

NorthBridge Information :
Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
Manufacturer : Intel (Dell Computer Corp)
Codename : Alderwood
Revision : B1
Bus Speed : 199.5 MHz
FSB Frequency : 798 MHz (QDR)
FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
RAM max. Support : DDR2 (533 MHz)

Can I swap out the CPU using the existing motherboard? Please let me
know if I need to provide any other information.

Thanks!

--

On Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:41:30 -0600, "Dirk " <dirk@notvalid.net> wrote:

>I would like to upgrade the CPU on my 3 year old Dell XPS Gen 3. It
>currently has a Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz Prescott in it. The CPU shares
>the same socket and bus speed with the Intel Core 2 DUO E4500, which
>would be a worthy upgrade. Here's my motherboard and chipset info from
>PC Wizard 2008:
>
>Motherboard:
>
>Manufacturer : Dell Inc. (Dell)
>Product : 0C8180
>
>Chipset:
>
>General Information :
>NorthBridge : Intel i925X
>SouthBridge : 82801FB/FR (ICH6/ICH6R) LPC Interface Bridge
>
> NorthBridge Information :
>Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
>Manufacturer : Intel (Dell Computer Corp)
>Codename : Alderwood
>Revision : B1
>Bus Speed : 199.5 MHz
>FSB Frequency : 798 MHz (QDR)
>FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
>RAM max. Support : DDR2 (533 MHz)
>
>Can I swap out the CPU using the existing motherboard? Please let me
>know if I need to provide any other information.
>
>Thanks!

Doubtful. Simpler to just buy a new motherboard, if not a whole new
computer.

For the XPS Gen 3, the proprietary motherboard implies another computer... Ben
Myers

On Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:05:16 -0800, Paul Knudsen <pknudsen@NOSPAMyahoo.com>
wrote:

>On Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:41:30 -0600, "Dirk " <dirk@notvalid.net> wrote:
>
>>I would like to upgrade the CPU on my 3 year old Dell XPS Gen 3. It
>>currently has a Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz Prescott in it. The CPU shares
>>the same socket and bus speed with the Intel Core 2 DUO E4500, which
>>would be a worthy upgrade. Here's my motherboard and chipset info from
>>PC Wizard 2008:
>>
>>Motherboard:
>>
>>Manufacturer : Dell Inc. (Dell)
>>Product : 0C8180
>>
>>Chipset:
>>
>>General Information :
>>NorthBridge : Intel i925X
>>SouthBridge : 82801FB/FR (ICH6/ICH6R) LPC Interface Bridge
>>
>> NorthBridge Information :
>>Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
>>Manufacturer : Intel (Dell Computer Corp)
>>Codename : Alderwood
>>Revision : B1
>>Bus Speed : 199.5 MHz
>>FSB Frequency : 798 MHz (QDR)
>>FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
>>RAM max. Support : DDR2 (533 MHz)
>>
>>Can I swap out the CPU using the existing motherboard? Please let me
>>know if I need to provide any other information.
>>
>>Thanks!
>
>Doubtful. Simpler to just buy a new motherboard, if not a whole new
>computer.

"Dirk " <dirk@notvalid.net> wrote in message
news:waidnU9O2LyHUw7anZ2dnUVZWhednZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>I would like to upgrade the CPU on my 3 year old Dell XPS Gen 3. It
> currently has a Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz Prescott in it. The CPU shares
> the same socket and bus speed with the Intel Core 2 DUO E4500, which
> would be a worthy upgrade. Here's my motherboard and chipset info from
> PC Wizard 2008:
>
> Motherboard:
>
> Manufacturer : Dell Inc. (Dell)
> Product : 0C8180
>
> Chipset:
>
> General Information :
> NorthBridge : Intel i925X
> SouthBridge : 82801FB/FR (ICH6/ICH6R) LPC Interface Bridge
>
> NorthBridge Information :
> Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
> Manufacturer : Intel (Dell Computer Corp)
> Codename : Alderwood
> Revision : B1
> Bus Speed : 199.5 MHz
> FSB Frequency : 798 MHz (QDR)
> FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
> RAM max. Support : DDR2 (533 MHz)
>
> Can I swap out the CPU using the existing motherboard? Please let me
> know if I need to provide any other information.
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
>


Intel Core2Duo E4500 specs from Intel :
http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLA95

XPS Gen3 specs/docs from Dell:
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1052939

According to the Dell documents, you're limited to a Pentium 4 560 / 3.6GHz
Prescott as a ceiling for that board. Here's a listing from pricewatch.com
for that specific CPU:
http://www.pricewatch.com/microproce...tium_4_560.htm

The Core2Duo CPU won't work. I don't know enough about the XPS Gen 4/5, or
6XX/7XX models to tell you if a board upgrade/swap is practical or even
possible for your machine.

You might wish to post your message here (the XPS desktop board over at the
Dell support site) to get a more definitive answer:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...=Tech_Talk_XPS


I suspect that a better option might be to sell the system and move to a
newer XPS depending on why you desire the upgrade.


The system you've got is still a fine machine in many regards.


Stew

The XPS Gen 3 motherboard layout is the more classical kinda-sorta ATX, line the
Precision 360 and the Dimension 8400. The only possible upgrade board would be
a later XP Gen ATX model. A lot of the XPS Gens use the newer BTX form
factor... Ben Myers

On Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:42:24 -0600, "S.Lewis" <Gossamer@interesting.com> wrote:

>
>"Dirk " <dirk@notvalid.net> wrote in message
>news:waidnU9O2LyHUw7anZ2dnUVZWhednZ2d@comcast.com ...
>>I would like to upgrade the CPU on my 3 year old Dell XPS Gen 3. It
>> currently has a Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz Prescott in it. The CPU shares
>> the same socket and bus speed with the Intel Core 2 DUO E4500, which
>> would be a worthy upgrade. Here's my motherboard and chipset info from
>> PC Wizard 2008:
>>
>> Motherboard:
>>
>> Manufacturer : Dell Inc. (Dell)
>> Product : 0C8180
>>
>> Chipset:
>>
>> General Information :
>> NorthBridge : Intel i925X
>> SouthBridge : 82801FB/FR (ICH6/ICH6R) LPC Interface Bridge
>>
>> NorthBridge Information :
>> Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
>> Manufacturer : Intel (Dell Computer Corp)
>> Codename : Alderwood
>> Revision : B1
>> Bus Speed : 199.5 MHz
>> FSB Frequency : 798 MHz (QDR)
>> FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
>> RAM max. Support : DDR2 (533 MHz)
>>
>> Can I swap out the CPU using the existing motherboard? Please let me
>> know if I need to provide any other information.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --
>>
>
>
>Intel Core2Duo E4500 specs from Intel :
>http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLA95
>
>XPS Gen3 specs/docs from Dell:
>http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1052939
>
>According to the Dell documents, you're limited to a Pentium 4 560 / 3.6GHz
>Prescott as a ceiling for that board. Here's a listing from pricewatch.com
>for that specific CPU:
>http://www.pricewatch.com/microproce...tium_4_560.htm
>
>The Core2Duo CPU won't work. I don't know enough about the XPS Gen 4/5, or
>6XX/7XX models to tell you if a board upgrade/swap is practical or even
>possible for your machine.
>
>You might wish to post your message here (the XPS desktop board over at the
>Dell support site) to get a more definitive answer:
>http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...=Tech_Talk_XPS
>
>
>I suspect that a better option might be to sell the system and move to a
>newer XPS depending on why you desire the upgrade.
>
>
>The system you've got is still a fine machine in many regards.
>
>
>Stew
>

"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:96c9p3tk9h7ikrb6hvept74k66pvgelhng@4ax.com...
> The XPS Gen 3 motherboard layout is the more classical kinda-sorta ATX,
> line the
> Precision 360 and the Dimension 8400. The only possible upgrade board
> would be
> a later XP Gen ATX model. A lot of the XPS Gens use the newer BTX form
> factor... Ben Myers
>


Thanks, Ben. I know you've worked on a bunch of PWS-based Dells (Precision
and XPS systems) and have a ton of experience with both.

For my own benefit, drilling down the online docs, it appears the XPS Gen
3/4/5 and XPS 600 all use the quick-release ATX system board mounted on
trays.
The XPS 600, the last of that series case/board:
http://www.zdnet.fr/i/edit/pr/2005/0...600_illus2.jpg is
also the last of the "clamshell" hinged case.

The changeover to BTX boards seems to begin with the XPS 700 (the change
over to the "scoop" type case/chassis).
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/200...s_story4+1.jpg

I peeked over at ebay for XPS 600 motherboards. Very few of them, and the
prices were a joke ($499+). It's likely that an entire XPS 600 tower could
be bought over there for not much more than that.

The 600 apparently has support for both the Intel EE CPUs and CoreDuos as
well as SLI:
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1052939



Anyway, any meaningful upgrade to the OP's system appear to be potentially
cost-prohibitive and/or complicated as you've already pointed out.


Stew

Yes, XPS Gen boards are priced prohibitively... Ben

On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:45:53 -0600, "S.Lewis" <Gossamer@interesting.com> wrote:

>
>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>news:96c9p3tk9h7ikrb6hvept74k66pvgelhng@4ax.com.. .
>> The XPS Gen 3 motherboard layout is the more classical kinda-sorta ATX,
>> line the
>> Precision 360 and the Dimension 8400. The only possible upgrade board
>> would be
>> a later XP Gen ATX model. A lot of the XPS Gens use the newer BTX form
>> factor... Ben Myers
>>
>
>
>Thanks, Ben. I know you've worked on a bunch of PWS-based Dells (Precision
>and XPS systems) and have a ton of experience with both.
>
>For my own benefit, drilling down the online docs, it appears the XPS Gen
>3/4/5 and XPS 600 all use the quick-release ATX system board mounted on
>trays.
>The XPS 600, the last of that series case/board:
>http://www.zdnet.fr/i/edit/pr/2005/0...600_illus2.jpg is
>also the last of the "clamshell" hinged case.
>
>The changeover to BTX boards seems to begin with the XPS 700 (the change
>over to the "scoop" type case/chassis).
>http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/200...s_story4+1.jpg
>
>I peeked over at ebay for XPS 600 motherboards. Very few of them, and the
>prices were a joke ($499+). It's likely that an entire XPS 600 tower could
>be bought over there for not much more than that.
>
>The 600 apparently has support for both the Intel EE CPUs and CoreDuos as
>well as SLI:
>http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1052939
>
>
>
>Anyway, any meaningful upgrade to the OP's system appear to be potentially
>cost-prohibitive and/or complicated as you've already pointed out.
>
>
>Stew
>
>
>

Ben Myers wrote:

> The XPS Gen 3 motherboard layout is the more classical kinda-sorta
> ATX, line the Precision 360 and the Dimension 8400. The only
> possible upgrade board would be a later XP Gen ATX model.

Would I be able to use another ATX board like this one?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...oduct_id=02803
71

--

In a word, NO! The form factor of the XPS Gen 3 board looks standard, but looks
are deceiving. Here are the ways that the XPS Gen 3 board is different from a
standard board:
1. The cutouts on the back of the case, and they are integrated with the
mounting plate.
2. The front panel connector is really different
3. The connector for the processor cooling fan is 4-pin and keyed, with
apparently different leads than the usual un-key 3-pin fan connector

In short, you would have to do some very serious work to fit most any standard
board in the chassis. Don't even go there.

When I read the technical specs for the XPS Gen 3, the motherboard seems little
different that the Dimension 8400, but the case is definitely fancier and the
power supply is unique... Ben Myers


On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:46:13 -0600, "Dirk " <dirk@notvalid.net> wrote:

>Ben Myers wrote:
>
>> The XPS Gen 3 motherboard layout is the more classical kinda-sorta
>> ATX, line the Precision 360 and the Dimension 8400. The only
>> possible upgrade board would be a later XP Gen ATX model.
>
>Would I be able to use another ATX board like this one?
>
>http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...oduct_id=02803
>71