Upgrading AMD CPU in Dell Optiplex 740 Enhanced

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ken h

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I have a Dell Optiplex 740 Small Form Factor, Enhanced, which currently has AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual Core 4450B 2.3ghz with 2GB RAM, motherboard Dell YP693.

As I understand it, and according to the info on Dell's web site, the 'Enhanced' version can be upgraded to first generation Phenom x4 Quad Core CPU's. I'd like to do this for non-gaming use. I also plan on upgrading the RAM to 4GB and even possibly adding a midrange graphics card at some point, although that may be limited by the small form factor size of the Optiplex 740. Dell lists three possible options, the one I'm considering is the Radeon HD4650.

I need advice on:

- What about the power requirements of the new cpu compared to the existing one? It does not appear there are any Phenom's with the TDP of 45 watts that the Athlon 4450B has; they all seem to be between 65 and 125.

- How fast of a new cpu can I use without upgrading the fan/cooler? Or what would be a decent cooling unit for the fastest Phenom I can run? Or are there other inexpensive ways to make a Phenom work reliably in this unit?

- Is the Dell recommended graphics card the best option, or are there others that would be a better value?

- Any other comments or suggestions?
 
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DandyMountfarto
Hi

dont know if anyone is still browsing this topic but having recently acquired an enhanced 740 and having some time and resources on my hand, i went ahead and tried some surgery.

the original config is an athlon 64 x2 5000b @ 2.6ghz, 2gb ddr2, geforce 9500gt, windows 8. original psu installed, 280w i think.

my main interst was the ability of the system to run an AM3 cpu. so first i started with a Sempron 145 - thought this would be safe - 45w tdp, single core @2.8ghz. turned on, booted to post...checked in bios, recognises speed but not cpu ID...but most importantly booted into windows, no issues, ran well, not at all sluggish or any reboots or system crashes or freezes.

so, on that evidence i went a little bit more daring and...
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ken h

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And why would that be? The 9850 & 9950 have the same basic specs; Phenom x4, AM2+.
 
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ken h

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Thank you very much for your reply.

Yes, the unit in the picture is the unit in question. I've already upgraded the RAM to 4GB.

- So then the 9550 CPU listed above will work? If so do I need better cooling?

- Recommendation on upgrading to a Graphics card? Other than size are there similar restrictions for power?

 
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ken h

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no, it won't...
not even if you have the necessary power supply it will not work because of the motherboard.
even though it is enhanced, the SFF have a power limitation.

as for GPU being you need a low profile card with limited power supply and space.
nVidia wise would be low-pro GT440 or less.
Click to expand...

Will any Phenom X4 will work?
 
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ken h

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tell me this:
what's the current power supply and give me the exact motherboard version.?
Click to expand...
The power supply is rated at 275w. This is from the Dell info on the Optiplex 740 small form factor.

The motherboard is 0YP693, version A02. This info comes from SIW (System Information for Windows) software.

Here are a couple of links to the info from Dell:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/op740/en/UG/sff_spec.htm

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/740_customer_brochure.pdf
 
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ken h

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it doesn't matter, you cannot overclock but yes there are BE versions.
(though I haven't tried AMD Overdrive on a Dell unit before)..
Click to expand...
Not interested in OC, just want to get into quad level performance.

Thanks for your help, I truly appreciate it.
 
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ohhwell

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We have been running a Phenom 9650 for over a year in an Optiplex 740 with the "Enhnaced" BIOS but that is with an upgraded PSU PSU. Running raid 0 with the stock MB too. It was a bit of a pain to get to work but it's doable with imaging software.
 
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ken h

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Well, I'm back.

After two years I finally did the deal and upgraded. The CPU is now a Phenom X4 9750 2.4gHz 95w. The graphics card is a XFX Radeon R7 240A CLF2 low profile. And I also added 2GB more ram for a total of 4GB.

Once I decided what I wanted to do and got the parts, it went exactly as planned. Everything booted right up with no problems. I picked the parts I did for value, trying to get as much bang for the buck as possible. There are faster graphics cards that have low power and a 9850 at 95w but both were much more expensive than what I got.

Among the lessons learned is that with a 275w power supply the upgrade options are very limited but for now it looks like this particular Dell Optiplex 740 SFF will run fine with a quad core 95w CPU and a graphics card with a GPU load of 122w (according to Tom's Hardware review). Operational temps are all within the recommended limits; CPU running between 19C & 23C, GPU between 38C & 48C (streaming HD video).

If you're going to upgrade one of these, be sure to get a single slot size graphics card for the entire length of it (no room for anything else) and for the Phenom X4 CPU get a 95w version (there is a 9850 with 95w and 9750, 9850 and 9950 with 125w versions).

Like I originally said, I'm not a gamer so for my use this is a solid upgrade in all respects. And it didn't break the bank either.
 
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vdl0_0

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Nice :) I have one of these old boxes was thinking of putting a faster cpu in it (has a 5400B currently) but want to keep it fairly quiet. Can you comment on noise level, and did you need to make any cooling mods? Thanks.
 
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ken h

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The only noise difference is the new graphics card which has a fan, but the preexisting CPU fan and hard drive fan make more noise. It's a typical business class desktop; not terribly loud but not quiet either. I keep it in a cabinet behind glass so I really don't hear it.

I figured I see if the cooling was a problem before doing anything, but the factory unit is fine. All I did was clean things up and reapply thermal compound.


Now I'm looking at what I might be able to do next, because I have access to dozens of 740's (long story).
- What if I try a Phenom II x4, because they do have 95w versions of those. IIRC, there is some issue with the mobo or BIOS that the Phenom II will not work where a standard Phenom will, but the socket is AM2+ so maybe....
- If there is a GTX750 Ti low profile single slot, that might even lower power consumption and improve graphics performance.
- Get the max 8GB of RAM
- Replace the hard drive with an SSD and save more power.

Wow, maybe that's a project!



 
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ken h

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If it'll run a 9750 95w, it'll run a 9850 95w; both are Phenom X4. The Phenom X4 9950 might be another story because none of them are 95w; they are either 125w or 140w.

The question is, will it run a Phenom II X4 95w?

 
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TheDellGuy

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No AMD Phenom II x4 are socket amd3 the dell is am2
 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Never say never, if you can afford it - GALAXY GeForce GTX 750 Ti GC Slim 2 GB http://store.galaxytechus.com/GALAXY-GeForce-GTX-750-Ti-GC-Slim-2-GB-GDDR5-PCI-Express-30-DVIHDMIVGA-Graphics-CardbrbrBONUS-Low-profile-brackets-now-included-freebrbrFree-Gift-150-In-Game-for-Warface-Path-of-Exile-and-Heroes-of-Newerth_p_90.html
It should work, but you will be stretching your power supply too much.

I will check my archives for maximum CPU reported to work on Dell AM2+ motherboards, I am not sure, but I think Athlon II x4 640 or something similar might work, need time to check.
 
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ken h

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The Dell I have has an AM2+ socket and the Phenom II X4 will run in either AM3 or AM2+, according to the info on CPU World.

 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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The Dell I have has an AM2+ socket and the Phenom II X4 will run in either AM3 or AM2+, according to the info on CPU World.
Click to expand...

Dell PC CPU support is based on Dell BIOS, so if BIOS has support for certain processor - it will work, general AMD/Intel rules do not work for Dell PCs, it was tested many times.

So the chances that AM3+ CPU will work here are slim to nothing, so if you are willing to try, at least find place with good return policy, I am not joking.

Need more time to check.
 
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ken h

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Thanks for the reply. I've looked at that card because I think it uses even less power than the XFX R7-240A-CLF2 I use now. The problem is it's height is 1.57" high and there is only room for a single slot 1" card. Barely.

I've read speculation that someone will come out with a single slot low profile version of the GTX 750 ti, so we shall see.
 
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ken h

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Right, agree.

So the chances that AM3+ CPU will work here are slim to nothing, so if you are willing to try, at least find place with good return policy, I am not joking.
Click to expand...
I agree that a AM3+ CPU will in all likelihood not work. What I'm guessing about is a Phenom II X4 that is supposed to work in AM2+ and AM3 sockets, and yes I agree that it all comes down to the Dell BIOS. The release date for the most current BIOS is 7/10/2012, and it was last updated 3/21/2014.

In any event, thanks for your info and if you find anything definitive please let me know. Like you say, I may get an inexpensive Phenom II X4 off ebay, with a good return policy, and see what happens.

 
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Kisianik

Kisianik

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Crap, I missed that you have SFF and I forgot that you need single bracket/single slot, very thin card, in this case you have to look for HD 7750
VisionTek 900549 Radeon HD 7750 1GB GDDR5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=CNbuoenegr4CFcRafgodFnkA4w&Item=N82E16814129263&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Desktop+Graphics+Cards-_-N82E16814129263&ef_id=U1AScAAAAaJkYQYW:20140428081604:s
A little bit overpriced, but this is the only choice

And regarding low profile single clot skinny GTX 750, I guess it is not possible http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/single-slot-geforce-gtx-750-ti,3761-4.html you can see the test and results.

 
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