Opti 745 (Q965 chipset) versus Opti 760 (Q43 chipset)

[veemike]

I've had my 745 mini tower for 2.5 years. It's been fine. It has the Dell motherboard 0RL705, Intel Q965 chipset, E6400 CPU, 4MB 800 Corsair memory (all four slots occupied), running XP Professional (32 bit). There's the OEM 305 watt psu running everything.

I have the opportunity to get an Opti 760 motherboard that has the Q43 chipset. Presuming I plan on doing a clean Windows 7 (64 bit) install, is there any reason why swapping out the 745 board for the 760 board wouldn't work? I beleive I can still use my E6400 processor (but now with quad upgradability) and all my other peripherals that are plugged into my 745 board. Right? Would I need something more than the OEM PSU?

Lastly, I run this PC as my law firm desktop. I use voice recognition and OCR software, sometimes simultaneously. I don't think I need anything in the new Intel I3-5-7 lineup.

Comments please.

 

[itadakimasu]

make sure that they have the same connectors.

I once tried to swap a gx520 motherboard for a 745 motherboard and there was nowhere to plug the optical drive in w\out buying a sata adapter for it.

Just a note... I've seen some 760 and 960 "barebones" systems on ebay @ a really good price that include the case, psu, mobo ( new ) for around or even under $100. It's a little less desirable though now since ddr2 prices have skyrocketed.

 

[veemike]

Just a note... I've seen some 760 and 960 "barebones" systems on ebay @ a really good price that include the case, psu, mobo ( new ) for around or even under $100. It's a little less desirable though now since ddr2 prices have skyrocketed.

Right. I recently purchased Corsair ddr2 memory (4 X 1gb 800) to occupy all four dimm slots.

I think I've answered my own question, that I can swap out my OEM 745 motherboard for a 760 board so I may have core2quad upgradeability, some thing that I do not have with my current Dell Optiplex 745. The 760 mb also allows me to get a core2duo CPU with 4mb L2 cache. My 745 is limited to the E6600 cpu.

For my uses, especially the voice recognition software, I could use the extra L2 cache and higher CPU speed.