fastest CPU for an optiplex 745?

[Regk]

Hello All,

I recently was given an optiplex 745 with a pentium D 820. I know that the motherboard supports DDR2, and I was wondering what the fastest CPU I could get for this thing was. the motherboard is an 0RF705, and it is using the intel Q965 chipset.

Thanks!

 

[mfenn]

Hello All,

I recently was given an optiplex 745 with a pentium D 820. I know that the motherboard supports DDR2, and I was wondering what the fastest CPU I could get for this thing was. the motherboard is an 0RF705, and it is using the intel Q965 chipset.

Thanks!

Dell did sell the 745 with Core 2 Duos, so it is likely that you would be able to upgrade to one of the original Conroe chips after a BIOS update. The E6850 is the faster Conroe, but even something relatively pedestrian like an E6600 would be a massive upgrade from a Pentium D 820. Kentsfields may work, but I doubt that the 45nm parts (Wolfdale and Yorkfield) will.

 

[simonizor]

It is POSSIBLE that you could put a Core 2 Quad in that motherboard (it's socket LGA775), but the BIOS may only be programmed to accept Pentium 4 Ds. I couldn't find anything conclusive to point in either direction.

Whether a BIOS update for your motherboard is available that will allow you to upgrade to a Core 2 Quad (or even a Core 2 Duo) is unknown. I would definitely call Dell and ask them what type of processors that motherboard supports.

 

[humblechap]

Hi - I wondered if we can resurrect this thread?

I too have been given a Dell Optiplex 745. It has currently a Intel E2220 working perfectly onboard. I have now upgraded the memory to 8Gb and installed a 60Gb SSD drive, a Xonar DS sound card and a ATI HD 5450 graphics card. This PC zips along at a rare old pace. However. I wanted to install a E6850 cpu. I have a known tested and fully working E6850 but the little Dell 745 refuses to boot with it insitu. I have ensured that I installed the latest BIOS 2.6.4 and still no go. Fan spins loudly and orange lights are on the info panel.

Dell states that the e6xxx series CPUs are supported, and I have read of other people using a E6850, so why cant I? And what can I do to get it to work? Ideas anyone?

 

[Spikesoldier]

e6850 is a 1333MHz FSB chip. your e2220 is a 800MHz FSB chip.

id wager that the 745 only supports up to 1066MHz FSB chips, which interestingly may open up kentsfield as an option.

 

[StormSide]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 or E6700 is your best best. Like Spike said this board will not support
anything over 1066mhz.

 

[humblechap]

Gutted. What a dafty. I should have known that.

So which cpu is the fastest (1066) then? Surely the Dell 745 wont support a quad. Will it?

 

[humblechap]

e7600 looks good.

Frequency (MHz) 3067
Bus speed (MHz) 1066
Clock multiplier 11.5

 

[humblechap]

Actually e7600 is not supported either...

 

[BlueBlazer]

Take a look at this http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/opti_745techspecs.pdf

You may want check with Dell technical support directly whether your current BIOS version can support latest Core 2 Duo.

 

[Spikesoldier]

yeah I should have mentioned that you can only mess with the conroes, the 65nm chips. the e7600 is a 45nm chip and is not supported.

while the official spec sheet doesnt list the kentsfield quads, i would wager they would work, and would be an amazing upgrade from a pentium D.

 

[dbcooper1]

If you go with a quad, check the output of the PS; I think many of them came with a 300W or something close to that. Might still work depending on video and other load.

 

[humblechap]

Thanks for the answers Guys. I hope to purchase a e6700 as per StormSide's recommend. The q6700 is rare and hence rather too expensive. As for the e6850 that I purchased earlier, it has now gone into a hackintosh built pc. The fun never ends!

 

[jaydeee]

dell support site will surely give the information we all need.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Thanks for the answers Guys. I hope to purchase a e6700 as per StormSide's recommend. The q6700 is rare and hence rather too expensive. As for the e6850 that I purchased earlier, it has now gone into a hackintosh built pc. The fun never ends!

a kentsfield q6600 is not so rare and would be a much better alternative than a conroe duallie.

 

[gto1970]

Dell 745 SFF, Q6700 highest geekbench @ 64bit @ 7590 by me
http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1111369
32 bit test also highest geekbench @ 4963
http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/1112087
No heat problems using @ AMD Hd6350 graphics MGP 20(W) fastest Dell 745 @ geekbench. WOW!

 

[humblechap]

Finally went for the e6700. Just installed it instead of the e2220. Windows experience jumped from 4.9 to 6.1. So I am happy.

At £30 from eBay I think it's a bargain.

Thanks Spike for the recommend.

 

[teemoe]

I upgraded the processor from an E6700 to a Q6600. The quad core with a SSD drive flies now. Windows experience went from a 6.1 to a 7.1.

 

[jae]

Lol every year since 2010 this thread gets brought back up

 

[mfenn]

Locking necro thread.

mfenn
General Hardware Moderator