Upgrade Dell Dimension 5100 CPU

[Guest]

Does the old Dell Dimension 5100 Bios (Pheonix A01 on a Dell-0J8885 Motherboard) support a dual core CPU? I would like to upgrade the cpu, but am unsure if the BIOS would recognize and be compatible with a dual core. There dont seem to be any recent BIOS updates offered by DELL, and I have never replaced a CPU/flashed the bios before so I am wary. Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

Should probably add that the specific CPU I would like to upgrade to is an Intel Pentium Dual Core E5500

Am I just SOL and should look into getting a new motherboard?

 

[king smp]

dell support -http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs

list of core 2 cpus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors

psu calculator (very handy when upgrading components)
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

A guide to installing a LGA775 socket cpu if that is what you have
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2231

list of intel chipsets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_chipsets

Everest home edition link (tells you about your hardware)
http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Here is a few links I have found handy
While you read thru them write down specific questions you have and post those questions on this thread
I will then do my best to help

 

[Guest]

Alot of those links we're pretty interesting and helpful to some extent but they don't really answer my question as to the software compatibility of my system with a dual core chip (the E5500 specificially). I know that the cpu socket is a LGA775 and thus the dual core CPU I selected will be fit into the motherboard, but I do not know if the BIOS on the motherboard support dual core CPUs since it is a rather old board and the BIOS have not been updated in a long time and DELL isnt offering any future updates.

Any idea how I could go about finding this out without installing the CPU and seeing if the BIOS freak out on me?

 

[king smp]

well take a look at this link:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/243859-28-dell-dimension-5100-upgrade-question

hope that link works- the dell support one on prior post didnt

Let me try again

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5100/en/sm/specs1.htm#wp1097553

The THG thread didnt %100 answer the question but it is some good info

I will keep digging

 

[king smp]

Ok after some digging the best CPU that could POSSIBLY work
is the Pentium 965 EE
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27615
also look at this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_D
Or it looks like you can use a Pentium D (primitive dual core-two P4 cpus together on one chip essentially)

this is a guide to installing LGA775 cpus
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2231

I just did mine
Went from a Pentium D 945 3.4ghz to a Core2Duo E4300 1.8ghz in a Dell Optiplex 745
The C2D at 1.8ghz outperforms the 3.4ghz Pentium D

I looked up the 5100 and WILL not do Core 2 Duos

If you can find a Pentium D at a higher speed real CHEAP (no more than 30-40 USD)
possibly on Ebay used with a good Dead on Arrival (DOA) policy (30 days is good)
then go for it.

Really should consider getting new system.

I am on a TIGHT budget and picked up the Optiplex 745 for $75 USD used on Craigslist

It now has E4300,2gb ram,250gb sata II HD,Sapphire 1gb 4650 video card for total cost of $135 USD.

What I am saying is avoid putting too much into the 5100.
If you want to upgrade dont go over $75 USD total or otherwise you can start to look around for used systems.

 

[Guest]

Thank you very much for help, I'll look into seeing if I can find one of the Pentium D's at a higher speed for a reasonable price. I was afraid that it might indeed be the case that the 5100 would not support dual core CPUs.

 

[Guest]

Best answer selected by KantosTH.

 

[king smp]

Pentium D is dual core
A high end Pent D is a decent chip for general computer work.
Good luck
Thank you for selecting me as best answer