Could you put a i7 2600 in a Dell Optiplex 390?

[blokewhoknowsnothingabouttech]

Hi, I own a Dell Optiplex 390 MT with a i5 2400 & as you may know, the I5 was the most powerful processor that could be specified. However, on the similar looking 790, for example, there was the option of an i7 2600. So what I want to know is, can I put a i7 2600 in my 390? Now, I know it may be considered a bit daft to think about this, what with the two PCs being part of a different series of optiplex but they are both visually similar and they are both were released at similar times. I'm also not sure if they use the same motherboard. If they do, is there any reason why a i7 2600 cannot be used in the 390?

Cheers in advance,
Robert

 

[t53186]

The only for sure way to know is find your service tag and go to the Dell support site. After you search for your product you can get a wealth of information including what you are asking. link : http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04?c=us&l=en&s=bsd

Dell system boards MB, are proprietary and at times what should work as a replacement part won't, sometimes you need a bios update, and maybe, someone with a match to your model has done that and will offer their advice as well

 

[blokewhoknowsnothingabouttech]

The only for sure way to know is find your service tag and go to the Dell support site. After you search for your product you can get a wealth of information including what you are asking. link : http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04?c=us&l=en&s=bsd

Dell system boards MB, are proprietary and at times what should work as a replacement part won't, sometimes you need a bios update, and maybe, someone with a match to your model has done that and will offer their advice as well

Unfortunately I cannot give you the service tag as I'm away from my PC. What I can tell you is the service manual makes no mention of an i7 ever being an option you could spec and, as I have said, the i5 2400 is the most powerful processor that was available on the 390. But dispite this I'm not sure if the motherboard is the same as the one on the 790, in which case the i7 should work and the only reason it was not available to spec on the 390 is due to it being in a lower product series than the 790

 

[spdragoo]

http://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/en/Documents/Optiplex-390-Technical-Guidebook-101311.pdf

Doesn't look like the Optiplex 390's motherboard supports i7 CPUs. I think you have the best CPU possible for that particular motherboard. Why is that? Because for whatever reason, Dell decided to lock down the systme to prevent their use, apparently so that people wouldn't buy 1 model & just upgrade parts here & there (even though an H61 chipset should theoretically not only handle a Core i7, but even handle Ivy Bridge CPUs)...

 

[blokewhoknowsnothingabouttech]

http://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/en/Documents/Optiplex-390-Technical-Guidebook-101311.pdf

Doesn't look like the Optiplex 390's motherboard supports i7 CPUs. I think you have the best CPU possible for that particular motherboard. Why is that? Because for whatever reason, Dell decided to lock down the systme to prevent their use, apparently so that people wouldn't buy 1 model & just upgrade parts here & there (even though an H61 chipset should theoretically not only handle a Core i7, but even handle Ivy Bridge CPUs)...

But all you've given me there, is the dell service manual (which I've already read) and thus I only have Dell's word that it won't work. (Because it can't be specified.) Can you clarify your answer as to why it will or won't work. Is the motherboard used a different model? Does the motherboard in the 390 have something disabled in some way that stops a 2600 from working? You've already said the chipset should theoretically be able to handle one, so why can't it? Is the chipset different?

 

[spdragoo]

Well, Dell did make the motherboard. This isn't like buying a DIY board from Gigabyte or ASRock. Dell used the general specifications for the H61 motherboard, but they're not required to make it a) compatible with every single facet of the H61 chipset, b) make it compatible with standard PSU power connectors, c) build the board using standardized screw holes/offsets to allow the board to be moved to an aftermarket case, or d) even make the motherboard conform to ATX size standards.

But here:

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Optiplex-Motherboard-Systemboard-LGA1155/dp/B00A7F1FJ8: Optiplex 390 part # 0M5DCD

https://www.amazon.com/Optiplex-Motherboard-HY9JP-0HY9JP-Micro-ATX/dp/B01CYIOP42/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1502988223&sr=8-7&keywords=dell+optiplex+790+motherboard: Optiplex 790 part # 0HY9JP

https://www.hardwarespares.com/spares/dell-parts/optiplex/motherboard-optiplex-390-small-form: Optiplex 390 SFF part #0F6X5P

https://www.hardwarespares.com/spares/dell-parts/optiplex/motherboard-optiplex-790-small-form: Optiplex 790 SFF part #0D28YY

Different part #s (& they even look different visually), plus being different chipsets, means you can't expect them to be able to use the same CPUs. And since Dell is the one that specifies what compatibility they want to have for their motherboards, you pretty much have to depend on them to provide information about what can be upgraded & needed drivers/BIOS updates/etc.

 

[william p]

http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/1469023
Here's one running that CPU at userbenchmark.com
Dell doesn't comment on parts they didin't sell. dell community forum is sometimes better about this. Unless dell makes them take "too useful" pages down.