Optiplex GX280 upgrade to run Windows 10

[Misterfish]

My elderly GX280 has a Pentium 4 3.00 Ghz 2.99 Ghz processor.

The mobo is -
Dell Inc. 0C7195
Serial Number: ..CN698614CS03B3.
Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. A08 03/03/2006

When I tried to install WIndows 10 I am told by MS that the "CPU is not supported" (and then offers me a look at new computers...) so my question is

Is there a Windows 10 supported CPU that I can squeeze into this motherboard - or is there a later Dell mobo that will both fit the tower and accept a supported CPU?

My reason for an upgrade rather than a new PC is that I am a pensioner on a tight budget - and I also need a mobo with two Sata and two IDE hard drive ports for my existing HDDs

If anyone can advise me I'll most grateful.

Misterfish

 

[akseli]

Do you really need to insist on W10? It's rather difficult.

I know Athlon XP isn't supported, and I have a vague feeling 32 bit version of Pentium 4 also are missing some required instructions, but later 64 bit versions might have all that are required.

The thing just is, such detailed information is really hard to find. I think your best bet, if you really insist on Win 10, is to try out a 64 bit and VT capable P4. They are rare and as such, more expensive.

(the fact, that Win10 doesn't require VT support is irrelevant here, because it requires support for a set of instructions, and for such an old CPU like Pentium 4, the VT models were most advanced and most likely to have all of the required ones)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Pentium_4_microprocessors#Prescott_2M_.2890.C2.A0nm.29

At least, it requires XD bit, that one I could google and I'm pretty sure that's at least one you are missing, but it might not be only requirment that's difficult for Pentium 4 to meet.

And on top of that, aparently no Optiplex GX280 model supports Pentium D, which many (if not all?) models support Win10. And I think it doesn't support the VT capable Pentium 4 662 either, because it's too power hungry.

I think this is a good source,
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/158040-windows-8-doesnt-install-on-many-pentium-4athlon-xp-processors/

So you need a CPU that has NX and SSE2. They are plenty of Pentium 4 models on the above list that should work on your Optiplex. But first check your current one with CPU-Z.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
And check to verify that it doesn't have both SSE2 and NX, because in case it already has both, it has to be something else. (NX can be disabled from bios though)

As for upgrading anything so old with new board, not really worth it. You are better off trying to find a whole core2duo based computer locally. Aparently some GX280 were sold as BTX, which are really rare, some ATX which is common and sure, you should be able to fit any ATX board on it, IF it's ATX.

Google for images of ATX and BTX, they are easy to differate from side by side images. BTX is kinda like ATX installed "wrong way", it's like mirrored, and yes, they are not compatible.



I'm assuming you installed the 32 bit version of Win10 right?

 

[brathnach]

HI Misterfish,

Had to post a reply here as I attempted an install of Windows 10 on a GX280 small form factor around a week ago. I attempted various different ways and came up to nothing. The problem being that the cpu does not support nx (hardware based problem). If your tower is anything like my desktop its just not worth the hassle due to as akseli said the cpu (p4 3.4GHz in my case) doesn't have NX support and so can't be enabled in bios.

The closest I could find is installing some patch on Enterprise W10 preview which you can imagine is just pure messy. My advice to you, as I ended up doing myself, is sticking a copy of Windows 7 32 bit on it (if you haven't already). Otherwise Linux Mint is great if that tickles your fancy. If you do go down this route, find the necessary drivers from the dell website and install them in compatiblity (xp) mode and you'll have a PC that will last another number of years. Personally, I have PCs that I can run Windows 10 on but am holding back until it matures a bit.

Jim