DC7600 CPU Upgrade

[Lucozad]

Cheers Paul, are you sure that this graphics card will be suitable for my DC7600 SFF?, Sorry, it's just im really really cautious with spending my money.

http://www.fixya.com/support/t3778461-hp_dc7600_sff_tried_install_2_graphics , Here is a link of someone who tried.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Interesting.

Well, maybe that wasn't the card I used.

Now that I think of it, I have the HD 2400 Pro like the one in the link below.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATI-Radeon-HD2400-Pro-256Mb-PCIe-LP-CP306-/230652902635?pt=UK_Computing_Co...

 I always thought the more powerful XT model came with a fan only.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=2400+XT&_sacat=27386&_sop=2&_dmpt=UK_Computing_Computer_Compon...

I definitely understand your concern.  I ordered an x1300 on eBay for my dc7600 originally, to match whatever cards were offered in the model. The seller sent me what looked like an x1300, but W7 reported it to be a Radeon HD 2400, so I know it works, but now I am quite sure it was a 2400 Pro, not an XT.

Go with your gut feeling.

Paul

[Lucozad]

Im thinking of just going with the x1300, which is what HP have as one of there upgrades, I guess it will have some slightly better peformance, but im just going to use this as a leisure PC, maybe the odd gaming. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That will be fine.

I don't think there is too much to worry about.  The x1300 is a good card.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATI-Radeon-X1300-256mb-PCI-E-Low-Profile-Graphics-Card-/160812576855?pt=UK...

[Lucozad]

Hello,

I purchased the x1300 graphics card, from the link you quoted before. I think it will be good.

Do you reckon I will see a difference in peformance between my P4 HT 630 3.0ghz and my future upgrade P Dual Core 945 3.4ghz?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Oh, yeah!

I definitely noticed a significant boost in CPU performance, and I had the P4 640 3.2 GHz processor.

Make a note of the processor WEI score now, and then run it again after you install the 945.

I would max out the memory too.

You will not believe it is the same PC with 4 GB of PC2-5300/6400 memory, the P D 945 and the discrete video card.

[Lucozad]

Hey Paul,

Done the CPU Upgrade, the comp is looking brilliant, I also decided that some MX-4 Artic Cooling Paste would be better, so I got some of that. My Current temeperatures for my motherboard when idiling is 36 degrees, CPU is 20 degrees. Are these temps Ok. 

Also my Processor WEI score before was 4.1, and now it is 5.1 Woot!!!, it still fails to beat my laptop which is 7.2, however for a PC which is 7 years old 5.1 is smashing.

[Lucozad]

Hello, by the way have you done any form of overclocking on this CPU, I know these pentium D's run Hot, but according to CPUID Hardware monitor, the cpu is 21 degrees.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Glad your processor upgrade went as planned.

I never measured the CPU temp in mine. I figured as long as the fan stayed in idle, the temps were fine.

The Temperature to monitor is TCase, and the max is 63.4C for the 945, according to Intel's specs.

So, it sounds to me like you are well within the boundaries for heat.

You cannot overclock any CPU or memory in a HP business desktop. There are no BIOS settings to do that.

So, you are just waiting for the video card to arrive, and to add memory, and you will have one nice machine!

Not at all bad for a 7 year old PC.

Paul

[Lucozad]

Yeah, I found out that the HP Bios Utility doesn't allow overclocking, furthermore, I don't think I acutally require it because, the computer seems to be really snappy and quick, I have not experienced any lag. I will have to routinely clean the heatsink, because the dust builds up very quick, I also gave the fans and the motherboard a good clean using some q-tips. 

I don't think I have enough money to max out to 4gb, it seems to cost about £40, to buy decent max memory, at the moment I have 2.25 gig, but it is not dual symmetric and is only assymetric, so that itself limits the performance. 

Anyway, I have successfully learnt how to do a simple CPU upgrade, which im quite proud off. I also seem to have a d530 CMT but I don't know I can do much with it. It isn't a LGA775 either because it has pins on its CPU. And from the HP quickspecs I can see that it only supports upto Penitum 4 and Not Pentium D. I don't think much can be done with it, anyway.

Thanks for all the feedback and Help you have given me, I will tell you how the graphics card upgrade went soon.