[SOLVED] Intel Processor Upgrade

[Yourdroid]

Hello. I'm not the strongest when it comes to tech. I am looking to do a slight upgrade to my processor. Eventually i will upgrade the GPU and such as well but right now the processor is my biggest bottleneck. I am currently running an Intel Core i3-8100 4 core 3.6 Ghz. I tried looking up info on intel's website to find how much i can upgrade without having to change motherboards and it sounded like any of the Intel Core series should all fit. So i should be able to upgrade to an i5, i7, etc without much hassle. Does this sound correct to those of you on here who clearly know more than me?

I tried looking up my motherboard to provide info on that and when i ran a search for msinfo32 and got this if it makes a difference.
BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
BaseBoard Product 0DYHRY

If i upgrade to an i7-9700 8 core 4.7Ghz that runs the same wattage (65) would i need to worry much about an increase in heat? Not sure if the potential increase in heat is enough that i need to look into my rig's cooling.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[jeremyj_83]

Hello. I'm not the strongest when it comes to tech. I am looking to do a slight upgrade to my processor. Eventually i will upgrade the GPU and such as well but right now the processor is my biggest bottleneck. I am currently running an Intel Core i3-8100 4 core 3.6 Ghz. I tried looking up info on intel's website to find how much i can upgrade without having to change motherboards and it sounded like any of the Intel Core series should all fit. So i should be able to upgrade to an i5, i7, etc without much hassle. Does this sound correct to those of you on here who clearly know more than me?

I tried looking up my motherboard to provide info on that and when i ran a search for msinfo32 and got this if it makes a difference.
BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
BaseBoard Product 0DYHRY

If i upgrade to an i7-9700 8 core 4.7Ghz that runs the same wattage (65) would i need to worry much about an increase in heat? Not sure if the potential increase in heat is enough that i need to look into my rig's cooling.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

It sounds like you have a prebuilt Dell computer. What is the full model number of the computer? For Example Dell Optiplex 970. If possible what is the case size as well (small form factor, mini tower, or micro tower).

 

[XxDarkMario20xX]

If you want to keep motherboard then you need to find out if it can surrport the 9th gen of i7 but with dell computers they use there own stuff and make it hard up upgrade!

 

[Yourdroid]

It sounds like you have a prebuilt Dell computer. What is the full model number of the computer? For Example Dell Optiplex 970. If possible what is the case size as well (small form factor, mini tower, or micro tower).

System Model Inspiron 5680
and the case looks like a standard desktop size. Doesn't look mini but it's not giant. Not sure how to check exactly what it is considered but the dimensions are roughly 8.5-9" wide, 18" tall, & 16" deep. Hope that helps

 

[jeremyj_83]

System Model Inspiron 5680
and the case looks like a standard desktop size. Doesn't look mini but it's not giant. Not sure how to check exactly what it is considered but the dimensions are roughly 8.5-9" wide, 18" tall, & 16" deep. Hope that helps

From what I have found that system can take an i7-8700. Toms Guide did a review of the top of the line model and it had the i7-8700. In theory you could get an 8700k into it, but there are no guarantees. While the chipset is one that can take 9th Gen, it requires a BIOS upgrade and I am sure that Dell hasn't released one that will allow for 9th Gen compatibility. Your main problem in going with a bigger CPU will be in terms of cooling. While the TDP of the i7-8700 & i3-8100 are the same, they will use very different amounts of power. Under load the i7-8700 can easily draw more than 100W which will overload the stock Intel CPU cooler. In theory you can replace your CPU cooler as well as the CPU. The reason I say theory is I don't know if Dell has made a custom mount for their motherboards. If the mount is standard for aftermarket coolers, the biggest question will come down to clearance in the case for how big of a cooler you can put in.
https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/inspiron-5680-gaming-desktop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

Inspiron Gaming Desktop Setup and Specifications | Dell Deutschland

 

[Yourdroid]

From what I have found that system can take an i7-8700. Toms Guide did a review of the top of the line model and it had the i7-8700. In theory you could get an 8700k into it, but there are no guarantees. While the chipset is one that can take 9th Gen, it requires a BIOS upgrade and I am sure that Dell hasn't released one that will allow for 9th Gen compatibility. Your main problem in going with a bigger CPU will be in terms of cooling. While the TDP of the i7-8700 & i3-8100 are the same, they will use very different amounts of power. Under load the i7-8700 can easily draw more than 100W which will overload the stock Intel CPU cooler. In theory you can replace your CPU cooler as well as the CPU. The reason I say theory is I don't know if Dell has made a custom mount for their motherboards. If the mount is standard for aftermarket coolers, the biggest question will come down to clearance in the case for how big of a cooler you can put in.
https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/inspiron-5680-gaming-desktop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

Inspiron Gaming Desktop Setup and Specifications | Dell Deutschland

Thanks for all of the info!

So i finally had a chance to get in contact with Dell support directly. Specifically i got transferred to the "Out of Warranty Team". I'm pretty sure they just lied to me, but i'll have to buy a much smaller and cheaper upgrade and try installing that instead to find out. If it doesn't work i'll put the old one back in i guess. But i was told i can't upgrade the processor at all. And that if i wanted to eventually get a faster processor i would have to buy a new machine.

Lesson being to never buy a dell again. Just get a custom build like i did a long time ago. smdh.

 

[Karadjgne]

Dell runs a proprietary bios revision. Pretty much that means that you can only count on exactly what was the top of the line cpu in the top of the line model of your pc series. From everything I can find, that means 9th gen was not added to bios revisions and the best cpu you can use is the i7-8700. No K versions.

What you'll also find is that in the 'next year' model, and there is a newer version of your pc, it comes with a 9400f and 9th gen bios, but the motherboard could be the same or different since Dell uses Asus, Msi and Gigabyte as the OEMs in different models and series.