Dell 730x Motherboard Replacement for i7 965 Extreme

[viscott]

My Dell 730x currently has factory installed a MSI - MS-7543 Ver : OC Motherboard.
The Memory Limitation is 6GB. I want to replace the Motherboard with the ability to expand up to 24GB.

I have a i7 965 Extreme 3.20Ghz Processor maxed out with 6GB of Ram.

I was looking at ASUS P6T7:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131390

And replacing the memory with 12 GB of CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

Any thoughts on the ease of upgrade. Will it be a simple swap out of the MB?

Anyone done this on this model with the big aluminum case?

Thanks in advance,
Jon

 

[aford10]

The upgrade is fairly simple. You'll simply unplug everything, swap out the motherboard, then plug everything back in. It's a good idea to do a fresh windows install when changing motherboards, as you'll be installing a whole new set of drivers.

Is there a reason you want 12GB of RAM? Not many users even need 6GB.

 

[viscott]

The upgrade is fairly simple. You'll simply unplug everything, swap out the motherboard, then plug everything back in. It's a good idea to do a fresh windows install when changing motherboards, as you'll be installing a whole new set of drivers.

Is there a reason you want 12GB of RAM? Not many users even need 6GB.

Just running Windows 7 X64 with Outlook and IE open I am using up 38% of my RAM. When using Photoshop CS4, Lightroom 2.6, Fireworks CS4, Ultra Edit and other tools all at the same time my RAM gets maxed out pretty quickly. Especially when I am editing a lot of photos at once. Not usuing the computer for gaming. More as a graphics, development workstation.

My concern is the form factor with the 730x case and the components that came configured with the stock 730x. If everything really will just simply swap out with the Dell cooling, theater lighting etc...

Did quite a bit of searching and have yet to find anyone or information on anyone that has actually done this themselves. I know the 730 and 730x case are the same. But this is a 730x i7 965 Extreme configuration. So yes, I am hoping it is just a simple swap and new OS installation on a new driver.

Has anyone done this or know about the components?


XPS 730X Intel Core i7-965 Extreme (3.2GHz, 8MB cache)
MSI - MS-7543 Ver: OC Motherboard
Memory 6GB Tri-Channel DDR3 at 1066MHZ (3x2GB DIMM)
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate
System Color Aluminum with Clearcoat Chassis
2 - ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB
1 - 300GB Western Digital Velociraptor (1 Spare Velociraptor to do new configurations and swaps)
2 - WD Black 1TB
Blu-ray Disc (BD) Burner (Writes to DVD/CD/BD) and DVD-ROM
Soundblaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (D), PCIe

 

[aford10]

The case is 'fully ATX compliant.' It will fit any ATX motherboard.
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Dell-XPS-730x-H2C-Intel-Core-i7-Gaming-System/?page=3

 

[gammer77]

Hi there, Just seen your post. My 730x MB went out 2 months ago. I was told a third party MB would fit. After trial and arror and 2 MB later a matx MB fit. Even at that the back slots still did not line up like they should have. Plus trying to figure out the wiring was fun. The FX lights well I could mot get them to work ,best I figure with NO HELP from dell is its got a compatability issue with the soft ware.I do believe what Dell did was took the 7XX case and turned the MB mounting bracket around some how.Hope this helps....

 

[viscott]

I opted for upgrading the Hynix Korean Memory for CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Memory. Seems like a simpler solution then bastardizing the computer as it is currently configured.

 

[aford10]

It's a simple solution, though, not very cost effective.

Let us know if you need anything else. Good luck.

 

[johnnyc_11]

I know this post is several months old, but thought I'd chip in just the same. I bought a barbones Dell 730 off of eBay and upgraded it with an ASUS P6T7 WS Supercomputer Motherboard equipped with an Intel core i7 980EE. My experiences are posted in the facebook 730/730x group: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=93963126733&topic=11932.

I had an air cooled rig so I did not have to decide whether or not to keep the H2C. I personally believe the Coolermaster V-10 is a better cooling solution than the Dell H2C, and I used the Coolermaster V-10 in my new "DELLASUS". I have an unmodified 730x with the 965 CPU and H2C cooling. Side by side core temps comparisons with both computers overclocked to 4 GHz show the Coolermaster V-10 consistently running 10 to 20 degrees cooler at idle and load.

You do lose control of the fans and lights, but the goos news is that they return to a default state; the LED's are on at full intensity white, and the fans I guesstimate are running at 30% and do not respond to PWM information from the motherboard. The fans are running good enough to cool my case so I haven't messed with them. The LED's I simply taped colored filters over.

Overall a very satisfactory result I am thrilled with and I would encourage any 730 or 730x owner to upgrade; especially any owner considering a Dell Alienware simply because they want a 980. Why spend some $5000 dollars on an Alienware when you can do a simple upgrade on your 730/730x for much less than half the cost?

 

[pds]

I know this is an old post, but for anyone googling this, the Dell XPS 730x does indeed support 12gb ram.

And check Facebook for a Dell XPS 730x support page.

 

[viscott]

I know this is an old post, but for anyone googling this, the Dell XPS 730x does indeed support 12gb ram.

And check Facebook for a Dell XPS 730x support page.

That is correct. I recently upgraded to 12GB of Crucial Ram:
http://www.crucial.com/search/searchresults.aspx?keywords=CT1826862%20

Also as mentioned there is a great support group on Facebook. Information on all sorts of tweaks and modifications, including BIOS updates to 1.0.6.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/93963126733?view=doc&id=10150188481491734

--Jon

 

[swolenator]

I know this is an old post, but for anyone googling this, the Dell XPS 730x does indeed support 12gb ram.

And check Facebook for a Dell XPS 730x support page.

That is correct. I recently upgraded to 12GB of Crucial Ram:
http://www.crucial.com/search/searchresults.aspx?keywords=CT1826862%20

Also as mentioned there is a great support group on Facebook. Information on all sorts of tweaks and modifications, including BIOS updates to 1.0.6.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/93963126733?view=doc&id=10150188481491734

--Jon

I was wondering if you found it gave any speed boost and was worth the upgrade? How about for gaming?