Maximum upgrades for Dell Inspiron 530s (C2D)

[Shrek]

It's all about learning for me; that, and I happen to have a DG33M03 board although it is not in use at the moment.

 

[Remeca]

The thermal paste came today, the CPU is coming around Tuesday, so I thought while I waited I'd practice and try the tape mod on the Pentium E6600 tonight, and if I'm successful, maybe I'll try it on my Dimension 5150 with a Pentium D 945 too.

I was surprised, it worked kinda on the Pentium e6600. BIOS didn't see a change, still showed 3.06GHz, same with Windows info. HWmonitor and CPUz showed it going up to 3.8GHz. Unfortunately it wasn't stable, and Windows would give me a hardware error and shut down after 5 minutes.

Had a thought. Took out the 667 1gb stick, put in 2x1gb 800 I remembered were in my Dimension currently not being used. It can live with 4x1GB at 667 for Windows XP. Anyway, now it's running perfectly stable at 3.8GHz, so far, with 6GB of 800. I ran userbenchmark a few times, not sure about the results. It's an improvement from the first run overall (due to RAM?), but it's either misreading the CPU speed or it isn't really improving performance at all or I don't know how to read the results.

Before RAM upgrade to 6GB 800Mhz and CPU to (allegedly) 3.8GHz:

Please click the green human to continue - UserBenchmark

After:

Please click the green human to continue - UserBenchmark

www.userbenchmark.com

 

[Shrek]

I'm one who avoids overclocking like the plague; I just can't afford instabilities, I just need things to work.

 

[Remeca]

C2D E7500 installed, ran no issues first time with the tape mod @3.6GHz. I think this is progress. It now feels like the only time I'm waiting around for the system to do something, the HDD is spinning and clicking away like crazy. Next weekend I have another 2x2GB of that OCZ Platinum ddr2 ram coming (gotta look nice with 4 matching sticks). I'll have an SSD ordered and delivered by then. That will be the extent of the upgrades.

 

[Shrek]

I'm a fan of the 3.5" Seagate FireCuda hybrid to keep my machine running fast.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'm a fan of the 3.5" Seagate FireCuda hybrid to keep my machine running fast.

And those work well.

C2D E7500 installed, ran no issues first time with the tape mod @3.6GHz. I think this is progress. It now feels like the only time I'm waiting around for the system to do something, the HDD is spinning and clicking away like crazy. Next weekend I have another 2x2GB of that OCZ Platinum ddr2 ram coming (gotta look nice with 4 matching sticks). I'll have an SSD ordered and delivered by then. That will be the extent of the upgrades.

I'd still recommend you get a Q9560 or Q9550, just in case you need the extra cores for some reason. The tape trick also seems to work on them, so you'll likely get a similar boost.

 

[Remeca]

And those work well.


I'd still recommend you get a Q9560 or Q9550, just in case you need the extra cores for some reason. The tape trick also seems to work on them, so you'll likely get a similar boost.

I'll probably do the Q9550 down the road. New GPU too when prices aren't insane. Now that this is winding down, my main PC is ramping up, just picked up some upgrades for it and am going to have to figure that out.

 

[lexluthermiester]

just picked up some upgrades for it and am going to have to figure that out.

If you need some help or insights, you know where to come. I'm certain I speak for many here at TPU when I say we'd be happy to help.

I'll probably do the Q9550 down the road.

Speaking of, you got $50? You'd end up with a spare mobo and ram as well!

[FS][US] - C2Q 9550 CPU and board (SOLD)

SOLD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Intel Motherboard DP43BF Core 2 Quad 9550 CPU Mushkin PC3 12800 Matched set 2X4 9-9-9-24 Rosewill RCX Z775 80 mm cooler The GPU I would like to keep for testing. SOLD Let me know if anyone is interested

www.techpowerup.com

@Jetster
Give this gentlemen a PM chat and see if you can work a deal!

 

[Remeca]

If you need some help or insights, you know where to come. I'm certain I speak for many here at TPU when I say we'd be happy to help.

I am impatient and want to put my stock 4770 HSF on my new 4790k, although I am not sure that will be sufficient. I am looking at many fans on Amazon, it's just hard to fight that voice saying "It's good enough." The CPU also came with a much better than Optiplex motherboard (MSI Z97 Gaming 7), but it's presumed not working because it wouldn't post. Might be worth investigating that too, even if it would require a new case if it were to be working.

Speaking of, you got $50?

[FS][US] - C2Q 9550 CPU and board (SOLD)

SOLD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Intel Motherboard DP43BF Core 2 Quad 9550 CPU Mushkin PC3 12800 Matched set 2X4 9-9-9-24 Rosewill RCX Z775 80 mm cooler The GPU I would like to keep for testing. SOLD Let me know if anyone is interested

www.techpowerup.com

@Jetster
Give this gentlemen a PM chat and see if you can work a deal!

I saw that and wished it had been posted earlier, would have saved me some time and money. Now that I'm at the finish line, I don't know what I'd do with a third lga775 PC.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I don't know what I'd do with a third lga775 PC.

Don't turn it into a third system, take the CPU out, plug it into the current one and keep the mobo and ram as spares! Only suggestions though...

 

[Remeca]

So frustrated. Bought another 2x2GB OCZ platinum ddr2 800, and the PC will not boot with more than 2 of them together in most combinations. They all work individually in all slots, both kits work together in both slots, one time I got 3 of them to boot together, but can't get it again. I added a different 2gb and 1gb so now it has 7GB of very confused ram, which it thinks is fine.

 

[Shrek]

You still overclocking the CPU?

 

[Remeca]

You still overclocking the CPU?

Yes, Windows and BIOS still see 2.93GHz, but HWmonitor shows a maximum of 3.6. You think that is messing with the ram compatibility?

 

[Shrek]

That's my guess.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Yes, Windows and BIOS still see 2.93GHz, but HWmonitor shows a maximum of 3.6. You think that is messing with the ram compatibility?

Very likely. Drop back to defaults, install the extra RAM and that retest your OC one step at a time. PAR for the course unfortunately.