Dell 545 MT Motherboard+CPU upgrade

[Ximon]

Hello, I am thinking on further upgrading my 545MT (I already have 550 Seasonic PSU and AMD R7 250 1GB DDR5). I won't be doing it right now, but in some undefined time, but doesn't hurt to start planning early. I have a stock motherboard (DG33M06) with Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz and 8GB RAM. I was thinking that I could replace that with the following:

Motherboard- ASRock MicroATX DDR3 1066 NA Motherboard N68C-GS4 FX

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-MicroATX-Motherboard-N68C-GS4-FX/dp/B00S8JUJLA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1427749290&sr=8-13&keywords=micro+atx+motherboard+cpu+combo

CPU- AMD FD6300WMHKBOX FX-6300 6-Core Processor Black Edition

http://www.amazon.com/AMD-FD6300WMHKBOX-FX-6300-6-Core-Processor/dp/B009O7YORK/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427750265&sr=1-2&keywords=amd+fx+6350

CPU Cooler- ARCTIC Alpine 64 Pro Rev. 2 CPU Cooler - AMD, Supports Multiple Sockets 92mm PWM Fan at 23dBA

http://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-Alpine-Pro-Rev-Cooler/dp/B002CIDIPW/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427750428&sr=1-3&keywords=amd+fx+cooler

Would all this work together (Seasonic 550W, AMD R7 250 1GB DDR5, 8GB [stock RAM, unsure if it's DDR2 or DDR3, but the Motherboard seems to take DDR2 and DDR3] and the new components listed above)? Would 550 Watts be enough for it? Will the motherboard be a right fit for the case (The one that I have now [DG33M06] is described as microATX) ? How hard is it to replace a motherboard in the 545 if anyone has done it before? Thank you in advance.

P.S. If there is something better that you want to suggest, go ahead, my budget for that upgrade is $200.

 

[kanewolf]

Remember that you will have to spend $100 for a new OS when you change the motherboard because you can't reuse the Dell OS that was installed ...

 

[Ximon]

Would I be able to use the OS that came with it and install the retail copy of Windows 7 Upgrade?

 

[kanewolf]

Would I be able to use the OS that came with it and install the retail copy of Windows 7 Upgrade?

Not legally. Probably not technically either. The OS installer probably checks for Dell "fingerprints". I don't know if you could use the Windows upgrade on a bare disk with the Dell XP as "proof" Even if that worked, you are still violating the license agreement for the OS.

 

[Ximon]

Why would they do this.... Anyway, I guess, I'll just keep it like it is and make my own build in future and then no one is going to tell me what mobo I can use . Thanks.

 

[kanewolf]

Why would they do this.... Anyway, I guess, I'll just keep it like it is and make my own build in future and then no one is going to tell me what mobo I can use . Thanks.

Why do they do it. Because it is part of the contract Dell signed with Microsoft to get low pricing.

 

[Ximon]

I just have another tought, would it be worth doing a replacement from the Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33 that I have with the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Quad-Core Processor, 3 GHz, 8M L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB, LGA775 (http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Extreme-Quad-Core-Processor-1333MHz/dp/B000TQ2H7Y/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427748356&sr=1-9&keywords=Intel+Core+2+Quad) ? Meaning would it be benefitial for me to do that, or is it better to just wait few years andinvest that 200 and make a build?

 

[kanewolf]

I just have another tought, would it be worth doing a replacement from the Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33 that I have with the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Quad-Core Processor, 3 GHz, 8M L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB, LGA775 (http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Extreme-Quad-Core-Processor-1333MHz/dp/B000TQ2H7Y/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427748356&sr=1-9&keywords=Intel+Core+2+Quad) ? Meaning would it be benefitial for me to do that, or is it better to just wait few years andinvest that 200 and make a build?

You need to verify that your motherboard and BIOS support that chip. Just because Intel chose to make it doesn't mean that Dell decided to support it.

 

[Ximon]

I just checked, doesn't look like it is, oh well, will be saving for a new build then, thanks for your help.