Maximum upgrades for Dell Inspiron 530s (C2D)

[Remeca]

Doesn't that need a 6 pin connector? which the Dell 530 probably does not have.

I'm using a GPU that requires a 6 pin connector now. My bigger concern would be lack of UEFI compatibility with newer GPUs.

 

[theFOoL]

I'm using a GPU that requires a 6 pin connector now. My bigger concern would be lack of UEFI compatibility with newer GPUs.

Heh didn't know uefi required a good GPU

 

[Remeca]

Heh didn't know uefi required a good GPU

No, I've read about newer GPU's not working in PC's without UEFI. Even ones as old as the RX500 series.

 

[Shrek]

What is the capacity of the 530s power supply?

I have a Dell 545s whose power supply needed recapping and I don't think it was ever pushed for load.

 

[Remeca]

What is the capacity of the 530 power supply?

I have a Dell 545 whose power supply needed recapping and I don't think it was ever pushed for load.

I thought it was a 250 in my OP, but I've since checked, it's 350W. I would replace it before getting a GPU that required more than what I have now, and it isn't a proprietary one like my Optiplex, I should be able to put any ATX PSU in there.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Could get a split molex

It would need to be a SATA power connector splitter as the 530s PSU has no molex plugs.

I'm using a GPU that requires a 6 pin connector now.

How are you doing that? Does your PSU look like the following?

 

[theFOoL]

What.... How lame sir

 

[lexluthermiester]

What.... How lame sir

Maybe, it depends on whether they have a slimline version of the 530s or the desktop version.

 

[Shrek]

I thought the 530s was the slim unit and the 530 the desktop.

 

[Remeca]

Maybe, it depends on whether they have a slimline version of the 530s or the desktop version.

Desktop. As you can see, the PSU does have a 6pin connector, which I am using instead of the sata to 6pin adapter I had to use with this card when it was in my Optiplex.

 

[Shrek]

Ah, the 530 not the 530s

 

[Remeca]

Ah, the 530 not the 530s

Is that the naming scheme? Wonder why I thought S. That should clear some things up.

 

[theFOoL]

Hmm I like the look of this but I'd change the LED to green

 

[Retrorockit]

Doesn't that need a 6 pin connector? which the Dell 530 probably does not have.

That's why a discussion of PSU requirements followed. But the older 305W 2 rail PSU could probably run one with an adapter. The newer 290W IDK.

 

[Shrek]

I find it amazing how useable Core 2 computers remain, even in this day and age.

I have

• Two Core 2 duo DDR2 machines
• Two Core 2 quad DDR3 machines

all of which run Windows 10 well

 

[theFOoL]

I find it amazing how useable Core 2 computers remain, even in this day and age.

I have

• Two Core 2 duo DDR2 machines
• Two Core 2 quad DDR3 machines

all of which run Windows 10 well

Once I'll upload my Windows 11 Images will try to install it and be amazed how 11 is? This image has the TPMpass fix

 

[Shrek]

This is the specs:

Appendix: Dell Inspiron 530s Series Owner's Manual

Mine has a Core 2 Duo E6600, although the motherboard (Foxconn g33m03) officially supports up to a Q9650.

https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Foxconn/G33M.html

Will the Dell BIOS support a Core 2 quad?

 

[theFOoL]

Will the Dell BIOS support a Core 2 quad?

Just Google it - Sad but Meh LINK

 

[Remeca]

Will the Dell BIOS support a Core 2 quad?

It had a quad as an option, so I would say yes.

Dell Inspiron 530 Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 500GB HDD, 4GB) Specs

Dell Inspiron 530 Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 500GB HDD, 4GB) overview and full product specs on CNET.

www.cnet.com

 

[Shrek]

Just Google it - Sad but Meh LINK

The OP seems to also have the DG33M03; it is the DG33M02 that can't run the quad.

 

[eidairaman1]

I find it amazing how useable Core 2 computers remain, even in this day and age.

I have

• Two Core 2 duo DDR2 machines
• Two Core 2 quad DDR3 machines

all of which run Windows 10 well

I had a 754 SC cpu on W7,.

 

[theFOoL]

I had a 754 SC cpu on W7,.

How's that going for you?

 

[lexluthermiester]

I find it amazing how useable Core 2 computers remain, even in this day and age.

I have

• Two Core 2 duo DDR2 machines
• Two Core 2 quad DDR3 machines

all of which run Windows 10 well

The limitations are CPU instruction sets. The C2D/C2Q line just don't have many of the newer, well utilized, features. Even 1366 gen CPU's are lacking a few, such as AVX. While OS software will run, there will be an increasing number of software titles and games that do not.

Will the Dell BIOS support a Core 2 quad?

Yes, that system supports all of C2Q range except maybe the Extreme range, not sure about those. The G33 chipset was an economy/budget offering for the last gen of 775 CPU's and was design to support the Quad range or CPU's.

Just Google it - Sad but Meh LINK

The user "Speedstep" needs to be ignored. The limitations that user described are complete nonsense. There are plenty of G33 based systems that fully support Quads that only have 3 phase power, to no ill effect. The logic and reasoning he presented are deeply flawed and flat out wrong. ALL versions of the G33 chipset will support Quad core CPU's. However, the "Extreme Edition" CPU's are an area of concern, but that is the ONLY concern. A concern negated buy an upgrade of PSU to a 350w or better.

 

[Shrek]

100W at 1V means 100A; that is quite a load on the VRM

 

[lexluthermiester]

100W at 1V means 100A; that is quite a load on the VRM

If you think about it, that is a walk in the park for most VRMs. On average, most CPU load line VRM's can handle 60A each or better, even back then. They had to as Pentium 4 CPU's were just the previous generation of CPU's and were VERY power hungry. So spreading that 100A load across 3 VRM's is more than doable. Now consider that the Q9650 is a 95W part(and yes TDP is often the same number as the power wattage draw): 95w x 1.35v = 70.37A. So 70A spread across 3 phase VRM is nothing-sauce. Even when overclocking with the wattage bumped up to the 150W range and the voltage bumped to 1.5V, you still only get 100A because of how the Wattage/Voltage calculations work. While that may seem counter-intuitive it is how the physics works out. So again, more than manageable for 3 phase VRM's.

Those numbers can be run at the following site:

Convert Amps, Volts, and Watts (A, V and W)

Converts Amps, Volts and Watts (A, V, and W). Calculates power, current and voltage

convert-formula.com

This is why the statement in that Dell thread by "SpeedStep" is without merit. They seem to fail to understand how power regulation works.