DC7600 CPU Upgrade

[wfejnieh2]

Hello!

I have 2 dc7600 Convertible Minitowers, now and I've upgraded each to the Intel Pentium D 945 Processor. I also have a HP Media Center m7250n I bought NEW Nov 2005. It came with the Intel Pentium D 820.  I also upgraded it by replacing the Processor with a Pentium D 945.  The m7250n had no trouble recognizing and accepting the new processor.  I had updated the BIOS to ver. 3.17 (20 Apr 2006);.  The D 945 has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 95 Watts; just as the Pentium D 820.  This is a critical variable to consider in attempting to upgrade your Processor (after passing all of the system compatability hurdles).  If you upgrade a "stock" system with a Processor having a greater TDP than the current processor installed, you must upgrade the processor's Heatsink and fan to accomidate dispersal of the added Temperature the new processor adds!...and possibly having to upgrade your power supply for the increase in demand.  The Pentium D 950 has a higher TDP than the D 945.  Stick with the Pentium D 945!  CRITICAL in ANY Processor upgrade is the process of removal and reinstallation!  Motherboards sporting the Socket 775 (LGA775) have "pins" that contact the "smoothe" Processor as opposed to the Processor having the "pins" plugged into a "socket".  These contacts on the motherboard are easily damaged.  Be Aware!  The second Critical phase of an installation is mounting the heatsink/fan assembly to the Processor!  Even with the assumption the Processors had equal TDP and no upgrade was necessary.  If you don't apply the "thermal grease" (or "paste") properly, the system temperature runs Critical just "idleing"1  I personally consider the proper application of the thermal grease during the assembly of the new Processor the greatest challenge you face in your Processor Upgrade!

wfejnieh2

Pentium D 950

[wfejnieh2]

If I received a thermal shutdown error while booting, after upgrading or just replacing a Processor with equal Thermal Design Power (TDP), I'd question whether the heatsink/fan was properly installed with the correct application of "thermal grease".
wfejnieh2.

[tabyhassan]

MY pc hp compaq dc7600 desktop i fit a poccssor dual core help me can i fit it

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, tabyhassan:

No Pentium 'E" series dual core processor will work in the dc7600.

Nothing can be done to make one work either.

The best you can do is the Pentium D 945.

If you need Virtualization Technology then the Pentium D 950 will work too.

Paul

[nickleodeon48]

Is this where I should ask my questions? Mystery games are easier to solve than finding this for a first timer, if this is really it.

I own an HP Compaq ultra slim cpu, motherboard is dc7600 w/ intel pentium D 945, 2.5GB memory, no provision for a video card. I installed a sound card, thats all. I'm thinking of replacing the microprocessor with a Pentium D 965 or C2D. But after reading all that postings, I ended confused. I intend to increase memory to 3 GB since there are only 3 slots. What about a 2,1,1 GB memory to make 4. What i cannot do is place a fast video card bec there is no provision for a video card. The bios doesn't say anything about FSB, front-side bus or how to change the multiplier. To open the bios v.1.61, I press F10, not F11. The heatsink has 2 fans. I think Intel Pentium D945 is enough for me "IF" I could only find ways to tweak it so I can make it perform a little better bec. I think its underrated. HP should know better than to put cuffs on the hands of the users. What can I do? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The best you can do is where you are now. You can use a P D 950 if you need VT but the speed is at the max already.

There is no way to overclock a processor in any HP business desktop.

You can try a 2,1,1 memory, as I know the CMT will accept 2 x 2 GB of PC2-5300 or 6400 memory (running at 667 MHz), but I cannot guarantee that will work.

HP wants you to buy a newer model PC if you want more power.

It is not in their best interests to allow you to upgrade a machine forever. There is no money in that for them.

Paul

[nickleodeon48]

Business wise ur right. However, 2x2GB leaves 1 slot empty. (Correct me if I'm wrong) as far RAM is concern, you cannot leave an empty memory slot w/o paying a price in speed. The question is , cant I use P D 965 or even a C2D for my dc7600? I thought all P D use LGA775 sockets only and can be upgraded to____what? What really riles me is the inability to install a fast video card. Am I missing something? I stopped using computers for 10 yrs. I jumped from PIII to P D 945. I used to build my own computers. Thanks anyway.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I don't know much about 3 slot memory. I would think it wouldn't matter because how can it run in DDR mode without two channels (4 slots)?

The Intel 945 chipset does allow for some C2D processors but unfortunately the dc7600 all form factors, is limited to the Pentium D 950.  Must be a BIOS limitation HP stuck on those models.

There are no PCIe video slots, so you can't upgrade the video.

That is the reason I personally stick to the HP convertible mini tower models as they are pretty easy to upgrade.

I had a dc7600 CMT which I gave to my son a while back. I upgraded mine to 4 GB of memory (4 x1 GB) and installed an ASUS 8400 GS video card in it and upgraded from the Pentium 4 640 to the Pentium D 945.

The PC worked very nice.

When I want more, I just go on eBay and look for some good deals on off lease HP business PC's.

Last month, I got my hands on a nice dc7800 CMT, 80 Gb, 2 GB RAM, DVD-RW with the Pentium C2D E6850 for $100 delivered. 

I gave that one to my mother to replace her aging Dell Optiplex GX260.

Paul

[nickleodeon48]

Thanks, looks like a mexican standoff. For nor now I'll stick with my setup until I'm financially stable again and buy a whole unit again. Right now I cannot just buy anything like I use to bec I'm in a fix. But here you cannot just go to a store and buy a good HP motherboard. Microprocessors are everywhere but not motherboards! Independent manufacturers ..yes..but no..I don't like them anymore. Thanks anyway. My HP is still doing fine. I think I'll look for a 950.  

[nickleodeon48]

Thanks alot Paul. That takes alot off my mind. At least I have something to work on. The HP Compac Ultraslim has 3 RAM slots and suppose to accept 3 1GB RAM. Kinda strange though bec it suppose to go1, 2,4,8,16 GB. I think I'll stick to HP specs. @least until I find a 950. Have a good day. B-D