Possible to upgrade CPU to one not listed in manual?

[dwhaley720]

Hello,

I'm looking to possibly upgrade the CPU for my EliteDesk 705 G4 Desktop Mini 65W to a Ryzen 7, but I see in the manual that the only supported processors are:

AMD A10-9700E processor
AMD A6-9500E processor
AMD Ryzen™ 5 2400GE Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with Radeon™ RX Vega 11 Graphics
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics

Is the firmware strict in that it ONLY allows those specific CPU models (in my case my motherboard only supports Ryzen models), or are those more-so recommendations and I could get something like the AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 4750G since it has the same wattage (65 watts) and supports the B350 chipset that this motherboard has?

Thank you.

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@dwhaley720,

Welcome to our HP community forum!

Yes, on first sight, it does appear that the only processors compatible with your HP EliteDesk 705 G4 65W DM are the Bristol Ridge and Raven Ridge core AMD processors:

Links: CPU-Upgrade: AMD A6-9500E CPU and: CPU-Upgrade: AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G CPU.

However!

Looking at its bigger sibling, the HP EliteDesk 705 G4 MT, we can see that the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 and the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X are, in fact, compatible with the HP EliteDesk 705 G4 platform: UserBenchmark: HP EliteDesk 705 G4 MT Compatible Components.

This is absolutely relevant, because this processor cross-compatibility also applies to other HP platforms, such as the HP EliteDesk 800 65W G4 DM and the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF/TWR, where an i7-8700K (95-watt TDP) can be fitted in all of them, including the 65W DM model.  I should know, because the HP EliteDesk 800 65W G4 DM was one of my upgrade projects.

Anyway, in my anecdotal/semi-professional opinion, chances are pretty good that the aforementioned Ryzen 7 processors are going to be compatible with your DM, but I can offer no absolute certainty.  I would purchase one of the Ryzen 7 processors from a Seller who allows for returns, in case it doesn't work -which would be surprising to me.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[dwhaley720]

Oh this is great to hear! I think the 2700 was one I was looking at, but then I deviated away from it because it didn't seem to have integrated graphics. I do have a discreet GPU installed, the AMD RX 560. Will the 2 Display ports that are directly connected to the motherboard still relay the connection to the dGPU even if there is no iGPU? (I think it will but I could use a second opinion)

Also, I assume the Pro 2700X being a higher TDP that my current heat sink and fan won't be able to cool it, so I'd likely have to go for the 2700. I can't seem to find the Pro variant of the 2700X anywhere, anyway.

And thank you for sharing me your experience! That was quite the upgrade you did.

[NonSequitur777]

@dwhaley720,

Whenever you install a discrete graphics card, your PC automatically disables your processor's iGPU if it has this feature.

For a non-iGPU processor such as the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700, you'll need a discrete GPU anyway.  The video ports connected to your motherboard will not work.  However many video ports your graphics card has will all work just like it does now, there will be no difference whatsoever.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[dwhaley720]

That's unfortunate, considering the GPU only has a single video port. Meanwhile, the motherboard has two that'll go unusable. I suppose I could just get a splitter.

Thank you for helping me!

[NonSequitur777]

@dwhaley720,

You are welcome -glad I could assist!

Please follow up once you got the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 installed.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[dwhaley720]

I will if I do! There's a chance I won't go through with it as it's starting to turn into a larger money investment than I initially thought, as DP splitters are roughly $40-$70 if I want a decent one, plus having two non-functioning Display Ports on my PC slightly irks my OCD. 😅 I still appreciate the help and feel better knowing that I do have options. Hoping this will also be useful information to anyone else that wants to upgrade their CPU for this specific machine, as I've seen people seem to struggle with it in other forums.

[NonSequitur777]

@dwhaley720,

Summarizing: in order for a non-iGPU processor such as the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 to work in an HP EliteDesk 705 G4 Desktop Mini 65W, you'll need a discrete graphics card.  The only discrete graphics card for an HP EliteDesk 705 G4 Desktop Mini 65W I could find at the moment is the one the OP has installed: an HP AMD Radeon RX560 4GB Display Port GPU Graphics, reportedly with p/n: L35096-001 or L21472-002:

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777