Processor Upgrade for Dell Optiplex 780

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Isaiah Wright

Reputable
Feb 1, 2015
16
0
4,510
Almost all of this info is from Cpu-Z
Timers
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Timers

ACPI timer 3.580 MHz
HPET timer 14.318 MHz
Perf timer 2.922 MHz
Sys timer 1.000 KHz


Processors Information
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Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 2 (max 2)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Codename Wolfdale
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket 775 LGA (0x0)
CPUID 6.7.A
Extended CPUID 6.17
Core Stepping E0
Technology 45 nm
TDP Limit 65.0 Watts
Core Speed 2996.1 MHz
Multiplier x Bus Speed 9.0 x 332.9 MHz
Rated Bus speed 1331.6 MHz
Stock frequency 3000 MHz
Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, EM64T, VT-x
L1 Data cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 6144 KBytes, 24-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control yes
FID range 6.0x - 9.0x
Max VID 1.275 V



Chipset
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Northbridge Intel Q45/Q43 rev. 03
Southbridge Intel 82801JB (ICH10) rev. 02
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size 8 GBytes
Channels Dual, (Symmetric)
Memory Frequency 532.6 MHz (5:8)
CAS# latency (CL) 7.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 7
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 7
Cycle Time (tRAS) 20
Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 60
Command Rate (CR) 2T
MCHBAR I/O Base address 0x0FEDA0000
MCHBAR I/O Size 4096
MCHBAR registers

Monitoring
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Mainboard Model 0C27VV (0x00000188 - 0x004A26C0)

LPCIO
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Hardware Monitors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware monitor ATI I/O
Temperature 0 44°C (111°F) [0x2C] (TMPIN0)

Hardware monitor AMD ADL
Voltage 0 0.90 Volts [0x384] (VIN0)
Temperature 0 44°C (110°F) [0x2B] (TMPIN0)
Memory
4x 2 GB Samsung PC3-8500F
DDR3

 
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Uh The Mainboard model is OC27VV by Dell Inc
BOIS AO6 if that means anything

Im mainly looking for a CPU that can render faster my CPU is not fast enough for recording and rendering videos or streaming. at an acceptable FPS i cant even stream with OBS with the lowest resolution without dropping frmas and maxing my CPU
 
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Solution
ive heard there exspensive the LGA 755 is outdated but i think it would be worth the money
idk if ill get a cooler if i buy it used.
However one processor caught me eye and that is the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Quad-Core Processor, 3 GHz, 12M L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB, LGA775 - http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Extreme-Quad-Core-Processor-1333MHz/dp/B000YQOHM2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_pc_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=05CMCKSFDVCNG049ZHAX

it looks like it would be a beast for this socket if i had the proper cooling. however would it work better with my mobo then the regular Q9650 Quad. Considering its only $30 more (im not sure if i should trust that) either way upgrading to a better processor would cost me damn near the same as i bought the computer for ($220 a fucking steal) so if i spen the money i wanna make sure what i get is right and works with my setup.
 
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Well i know that i was just wondering if i should go for the
( Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Quad-Core Processor, 3 GHz, 12M L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB, LGA775)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Extreme-Quad-Core-Processor-1333MHz/dp/B000YQOHM2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_pc_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=05CMCKSFDVCNG049ZHAX



Or the:
(Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 Processor 3.0 GHz 12 MB Cache Socket LGA775)
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Q9650-Processor-Socket-LGA775/dp/B001D86S3G

Which is better or will work better with my mobo and run good with all my stuff, would i need a new case because right now i have the one that comes with the motherboard.
 
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as usual lol whats a good motherboard then?
 
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You could get anything you wanted for that. All I was thinking of was something like -

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.78 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($70.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $371.74

- added ram guessing your current ram is old too.

 
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those are some really good specs especially for only $400 but i think id need a new case and maybe a decent graphics card to top it off i was thinking and Amd R7 series im not much of a fan of intel and im pretty impressed with Nvidias cards to be completly honest
 
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Nice thx i have just one more question before i close this topic, based off my specs on my current rig do you think i would be able to record. Well i know i can record video with bandicam but then randomly the video freezes out of nowhere. The thing is my computer didnt always do it it used to be able to record with bandicam just fine. And i personally have recorded on a single core Amd Athlon 64 3200+ (slightly old school but it was a custom built rig about a quarter as powerful as this ) without this problem.
 
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just so you know the QX will not work with the q45 chipset that is used on the 780 optiplex motherboard. I have a 780 mt that I am upgrading as well. 16 Gigs ram, E7500, ocz R7 ssd. go with the Q9650 for the best upgrade. on ebay around 70.00 bucks
 
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I'm very skeptical of people saying things "Wont Work". I heard that for 8 years about overclocking my Dell E520, and I'm at 3.73/4GHZ QX6800 right now. If you just want a plug in upgrade then Q9650 is OK. Delidded.com shows QX9650 @ $100. My QX6800 isn't listed for my G965 chipset. It runs as Q6800 in BIOS. Voltage and multiplier are controlled by "Throttlestop" software in Windows. A lot of support lists don't get updated for newer procs. Dell says 4GB RAM @ 667, I'm running 8GB @800. So did you TRY the QX9650, or is it just not "LISTED"? Did you put heatsinks on your Mosfets? Run the 1.3A fan power off of a Molex instead of the motherboard? Personally I think a stock speed LGA775 IS a little outdated, but with a good overclock it can still hold it's own. Of course this is my hobby and I don't mind the time it takes to test these things. For me the Q9650 @ $70 is a waste of money. The QX9650@ $100 is a gamble at some level but at least there is a possible payoff. There are places to find some extra watts on a Dell BTX motherboard to support an overclock. My point of view may be different. But so are my results.
 
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I was able to get my hands on a couple of these PC's for $40 a piece a few days ago. Both came with the e8400 CPU and 4X1GB PC3-10600 Elpida RAM.

As you know williamp, from a previous Dimension e520 post, I also have a few e520's I have been frankensteining with good results as well.

So here is what I can tell you with my testing thus far.
I have tested both the quad core processors I have on hand on lone from my other systems with mixed results. Granted these are both 1066 Mhz fsb models of socket 775 but it might prove to hold true for all the quad extreme series including 1333 Mhz fsb qx9650.
It posts

-ALERT! INCOMPATIBLE PROCESSOR DETECTED! SYSTEM HALTED!- with the qx6800.

My guess is that Dell knowing that they didn't incorporate the 4 phase VRM with this board excluded the Extreme CPU series (130w TDP) specifically from the Bios.
This is speculation unless someone else has tried it with any good results. I would if I had a qx9650 lying around to pop in and try but I don't.
And yes this is on the most updated A15 bios and same results in both PC's.
When I popped it back into the e520 its business as usual.

It turns out the Xeon x3230 (q6700 with 10w lower TDP) I have works wonderfully and is able to get a FSB overclock pretty easily with SetFSB freeware version 2.2.134.98 using PLL Cv183APAG.

I have been able to take it up 49Mhz to 265/380 (315Mhz) on the slider from 216/380 (266Mhz) getting 3.142 Ghz OC I haven't prime 95 tested this yet... might do that tonight. But I have ran some passmark tests using this clock and it hasn't froze up on me or anything yet. So about 49Hz up seems to be what I am looking at on the FSB for the x3230 at stock volts. Translates to about 15% increase on average for the processing power overall. And pretty cool at that. No higher then 64C using the stock mini aluminum chunk heat sink that came with the e8400 which doesn't get as hot as a quad so they pretty much just made a solid aluminum brick with some fins as an afterthought to cool it. I will put on the much larger 3 copper heat pipe and aluminum fin dell cooler next run and see what the temps look like. I'm sure there will be a significant drop. This with just the stock single fan. If I add a fan to the other side of the heatsink as I usually do then I am sure it would be in the mid to high 50c range easy at load. X3230 @3.14Ghz from 2.66Ghz not woohoo great. It's not a q9650 great and it sure as hell aint no i5-4690 great.

So to answer your ultimate question Isaiah, if you can afford a $750 build, and trying to make things work in a not ideal layout of BTX design with further drawbacks of being past it's prime isn't your cup of tea, then by all means, yes you would do good to get yourself a good budget build like i7Baby outlined for you and I would second the GTX960 especially if you are going to do any kind of gaming.
An AMD R7 Card or a GTX950 would be a tighter budget choice but should handle the video editing necessities fine. If your thinking of gaming the performance trade off just wouldn't be worth it for me. I wouldn't go any lower than an R9 280x or GTX 960 myself and I'd really prefer better than those (but wouldn't we all!)
Shop around get good prices and try to squeeze a 144hz 24" monitor into the budget if you can. That would round it all out nicely.
That's just my two cents.

Since you have the Optiplex 780 it wouldn't be that hard to invest a little bit into it and have a pretty good second machine.
Granted it is older and outdated, but it can still probably fit your needs quite nicely given the right options.
It can also be fun if not a bit challenging to make it work if that's your kind of thing. It is mine.

Like RickMcGeeknerd did to his opti I'd max the RAM to 16GB and a add decent SSD boot drive. Good easy update that doesn't have to be too pricey. Also go to Dell's website and grab the A15 Bios update utility. It will run staright from windows. Make sure you've got the newest update on board before proceeding to plopping in different CPU's. If your really going to get serious with the video card you'll need a much better PSU as well. But that's a given. That's the easy stuff.

In order to put it to the best use I would opt for a Xeon CPU option like an x3370 SLB8Z (around $55-120 USD give or take on ebay). If you can find one an x3380 would be the tops. I can only find this on ark.intel.com though. Those x33XX series will work in the optiplex with no modification, just swap the CPU.
Also there are several LGA 771 socket CPU's which will work with a mod to the CPU and a small mod to the socket on the dells motherboard. Plenty of info on the web outlining the specifics of this. The xeon x5470 @ 3.33Ghz (around $60 USD from china all day long on ebay some can be bought with the sticker 771 to 775 mod already in place on the CPU). That or maybe the xeon e5450.
These are especially good choices over a q9650 since most can be had for cheaper and there's a working PLL for setfsb so you could get a good bump on the stock speeds some with any luck.
Yeah it's nice to have the unlocked multi and voltage of a quad extreme but the higher end xeons would probably get you near the same range of performance without a massive OC in any case and be much cooler and more efficient at the same time. Keep in mind the opti 780 won't do 1600 Mhz FSB Cpu's. Only as high as 1333 FSB and I am not sure about the TDP rating but maybe 120w and below? It could be less. I haven't looked over the Dell specs of this. in fact it was googleing this info that led me to this post.
So I still have some studying to do and maybe I will find a clear answer. At least I sure hope I can. This way I'm not buying CPU's I can't use. I will be getting a couple xeon x3370's myself for these two machines after Christmas... I'm currently broke! LOL

When it comes to the GPU choices that's the snafu of dell btx madness. The CPU heat sink shroud is in such a configuration inside the case that most standard good double spaced video cards just won't work without a drastic modifaction of the video cards stock heatsink/fan assembly or some kind of re-work for the stock heatsink shroud for the CPU in the Dell.
The CPU cooler is a proprietary affair as the mounting holes through the motherboard don't work with anything I can find. ( I haven't resorted to zip-ties yet. I have been tempted.)
Either way being that the peripheral slot where the Graphic card mounts into the case in the rear only has one opening for it any double spaced card needs to be "modified" somewhat to work.
I have cut and bent the slot brackets as needed and cut parts of the shroud covering... (usually plastic depending on card) to get this to work.
Gotta get creative.

I'm a bit of an old pro at it having owned 3 generations now of Dell BTX cases. Funny that dimension e510's, e520's and optiplex 780's haven't changed much if any over the years in respect to the way they are layed out. All those dells have almost the exact same internal dimensions and similar options. I wonder if you can hybrid the VRM from an older e520 motherboard! Ah but then you'd have to modify the Bios.
A little outside my scope for both of those things. LOL


More recently due to the craze of ITX power builds and better technology there are quite a few more powerful choices out there which would suit your needs with the least amount of modification necessary for a good GPU...R9 Nano? That's probably overkill.
You could nickname your dell optiplex "The Bottleneck".
You could always opt to water cool the PC!!! LOL sorry.
A dell optiplex extreme water cool build. Gangsta. LOL

Ah hell I guess I can end this book on that ridiculous note.
If just hearing me talk about all of this is giving you a headache then maybe a nice neat new build is the best bet for you. You'll be more up to date overall as well.
A good $750 dollar build might be fun also... but I prefer to pimp the ghetto fabulous Dells.

Hope any of this could help.
-John
 
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