Dell XPS 400 CPU Upgrade Compatibility

[Jon66238]

So I just got a Dell XPS 400 for $20 off a friend of mine. I didn't really need it but I got it anyways because I thought I could upgrade the CPU in it and run Windows 8.1 and give it to my grandma for her birthday next month. She really needs a new computer because she is still running Windows 98 first edition. The motherboard it LGA 775 and I have a pentium 4, pentium dual core, and celeron that are all LGA 775 with the pentium 4 being the best at 3.0ghz. I don't really want to use the pentium d that came in the system because it's actually older than any of the other LGA 775 CPUs that I listed off. Any help would be appreciated and I don't want answers like don't get a Dell or buy a new PC, because this PC would be like new to my grandma coming from windows 98. Thanks in advanced!

 

[manv]

You are gonna have a headache if you try to run windows 7 above on a pentium 4. I strongly recommend you against getting a windows 8.1 license for that PC as it would be a total waste of money . Use the windows XP which came with the system.

 

[Jon66238]

It probably will end up giving me a headache. Do you think a core 2 duo will work in the system? I've read that it will and some have said that it won't. I'm maxing it out with 4gb of ram so that should help it. This shows proof that it will even with 1gb of ram. Bare in mind I have a 64bit version but it is a 64bit CPU: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EksRYrLD5jY

 

[Math Geek]

i just threw one of those systems away. i don't recall what mobo is in that system. i actually have and still use an xps 420 system with a q6600 cpu in it. no idea if they are the same mobo model.

can you get the mobo model from the 400 system and i'll compare it to my 420 to see if they are the same. might get lucky and be able to put a decent c2q cpu in it like the newer models came with.

near as i can tell it only supports up to pentium 4 cpu's but won't hurt to compare mobo models.

 

[Jon66238]

I just left for vacation so I'll check when I get back Sunday night/Monday morning. From what I could tell from a quick google search of Dell xps 400 motherboard, it has a FJ030 motherboard in it. Which one does yours have. I'm getting a LGA 775 core 2 duo when I get back so if there the same I'll stick that in the system. Even if they aren't the same it won't hurt to try

 

[Math Geek]

the 420 has a 0TP406 mobo in it. so they are different models for sure. looks like you're stuck with a pentium d on that system.

i still have the pentium d that came out of the system in a box if you need one. let me know and i'll send it for the cost of shipping collecting dust now in my workshop

 

[Jon66238]

Thanks for the offer but I got a pentium d for the system already so I'll stick it back into the machine and get it going. Do you think a pentium 4 3.0 ghz would change anything or should I just keep the pentium d in it? I'll have to fool around with it once my heat sink and the plastic shroud piece come in from my eBay order I placed a few days ago. It doesn't have to be a power house for gaming or anything lol just for my grandmas Facebook and grandpas eBay/Craigslist account

 

[Math Geek]

i don't recall how they compared to each other honestly. been a while since those cpu's came out. i'd assume the newer one would be the better one, whichever that is.

just so much newer tech info in my head, the old stuff has been pushed out. either way, it should be fine for her needs. win 10 is pretty light on the resources and would run pretty well on the old parts if you want to go there. i have win 10 running on some pretty low end stuff and it runs just as good as it did with win 7. 4gb ram is plenty for win 10.

 

[Jon66238]

I'll try all my LGA 775 CPUs when my stuff comes in and I get back home. The pentium d is q2 of 2005 and the pentium 4 is q1 of 2006 so not too big of a difference. I think I'll probably go with the 3.0ghz pentium 4 instead of the 2.8ghz pentium d. I guess hands on testing will be the best thing to do now. Thanks for all your answers.