Upgrade Compatibility for Old Inspiron 530

[FFP001]

Just to get more life out of the old thing for a while...I've searched the boards and still cannot get a definitive answer to my question, so here goes: I've successfully upgraded my Inspiron 530 to 4 gigs RAM (yes, I'm aware I can only use 3.3 Gigs), have a GeForce 8400 GS video, and also upgraded the bios to 1.0.18 with no problems. I have the 0RY007 mobo (important point) and a 1.8 GHz E2160 cpu, and want to upgrade it to the E7500.

Other topics ( including a number of them on the Dell support pages ) have mentioned the E7400, E8400, and E8500 as being compatible, but I can get my hands on an inexpensive E7500. Foxconn's site (Dell's mobo manufacturer in my case) shows my Mobo as accepting an "Engineering Sample" E7500 with a pass, but apparently a "regular" (retail?) version was not tested. Will my system handle the E7500 OK, or does it have some unique "problem" as far as the upgrade goes (I see that it does have a higher multiplier than all of the other compatible cpu's)?

I've talked to Dell tech support and they can't tell me with certainty if this E7500 upgrade will work, so thanks for any clarification you can provide!

 

[Arkaign]

If a 7400 will work, the 7500 will work as well, 99.99999999999% probability. It's the exact same chip with a different hardwired multiplier (which the mobo has no choice but to accept). AFAIK, as long as the microcode is compatible with the mobo/bios/chipset, there's nothing stopping other variants of a series from working. At least I've never run into that personally. Identical voltage, features, bus speed, cache size, etc.

Further, it looks like this was actually sold with this configuration already :

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/dell-inspiron-530-desktop/1707-3118_7-33195384.html

 

[Arkaign]

Oh, and welcome to AT by the way.

I like that you call this PC 'old' 🙂 It's actually pretty modern in the big picture, a lot of folks here wouldn't consider something old unless it's really back there.

Final note : what OS are you running? I recommend W7 64-Bit if you want to take full advantage of your processor and 4gb memory.

 

[FFP001]

Thanks guys!

Re: the referenced system with the E7500, it looks like it may actually have the 2nd version of the motherboard (not my version), since it says that it supports quad-core technology...but it has a 300w psu, and I thought a 350+ was needed with their quad-core systems. So it looks good, but I can't be certain.

But like you said, I'm starting to think there's such a SLIM chance it wouldn't work that I might as well go for it. If the bios has a problem with the higher multiplier needed for the E7500, I could just use CrystalCPUID to set the needed voltage, right (since my dumbed-down bios won't let me change it there)?

 

[FFP001]

Oops...re: your question, I'm using 32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 (with all of the latest updates, etc.). I've heard a lot about Vista's "problems", but I've never had any (but I like to do a lot of tweaking...maybe that helps).

I may go to Windows 7 down the road, but for right now, there's no real NEED to do so (and some of the things can be added to Vista with the right downloads). Re: 64-bit, the same applies, plus I'll want to wait on 64-bit until it's more "mainstream".

 

[FFP001]

It works perfectly! E7500 with both cores at 2.93 Ghz, FSB at 1066 MHz...no problems at all.

Now I just need to save and upgrade the video (only $75 to do so right now, and cheaper down the road).

 

[richierich1212]

Wow can't believe I hadn't noticed your thread. I have a Vostro 400 (same as 530) and need to swap out the processor. Are you selling your E2160?

 

[FFP001]

Well...I hadn't yet thought of it, but since you ask...what's it worth to you? It could come with the new heatsink and fan from the E7500 if you like, because I had to use the old heatsink and fan for compatibility (proprietary Dell cpu fan connection). Then again, I guess you would have to do the same, since you're upgrading a Dell as well.