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Question

Upgrading CPU and Power Supply

Sep 14, 2013 6:46PM PDT

I would like to upgrade my PC to an Intel Core i7, I have been told before my PC will need a new power supply as well.I am considering this i7 CPU at the moment: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002KQBC04/ref=olp_p...
I would like help choosing the correct i7 CPU and the correct power supply. Any help/tips on installing these would be very appreciated.<div>Thank You in advance.

My current PC specs:

Dell Studio XPS 8100

Windows 7 Home Premuim 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i3 CPU 550 @ 3.20 GHz (4 CPUs), ~ 3.20 GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Graphics: Asus Nvidia GT630 (2GB)
DC Power Supply Wattage: 350W

More techincal details on my PC here: ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/...


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Discussion is locked

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Answer
Corrected Link
Sep 14, 2013 6:49PM PDT
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Answer
I don't see where a current i7 will fit on that board.
Sep 15, 2013 12:48AM PDT

It looks like the CPUs are listed so you can hunt for those but as to the PSU it looks like no change is required if you use a CPU listed by Dell.
Bob

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Answer
I7 850
Sep 15, 2013 1:43AM PDT

Looks like a straight swap......no psu upgrade needed.

Before you get into this.
Dell shipped my machine with 6GB of low speed ram.
I changed to 2x2GB of high speed ram......nice bump.

This machine came with turbo disabled.
A little bios work.....nice bump.

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Answer
Should work without a PSU upgrade. Only thing is you should
Sep 15, 2013 2:09AM PDT

have the latest BIOS update to ensure support for the i870.

What OS (32bit or 64bit) and how much RAM are you running ?

VAPCMD

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Reply
Sep 15, 2013 3:54AM PDT

Thank You for all the answers.

I have 6GB RAM and I have a (64 bit) PC.

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(NT) Is that 2DIMMs at 2GB and 2 DIMMs at 1GB for 6GB ?
Sep 15, 2013 5:19AM PDT
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Answer
Checkout the details
Sep 15, 2013 10:58PM PDT

I agree that there shouldn't be a PSU replacement, BUT it won't hurt either. I tend to lean on having more rather than less. Buy a decent brand name with higher wattage and single rail type to install. Make darn sure that the physical size is a proper match. I further suggest before you do anything, that you BIOS update the PC to the latest release in order to best handle the setup.

Since, this is a Dell, as an OEM based PC some info maybe lacking. I suggest you find out the real details of the mtrbd. maker specs. Generally speaking Dell won't offer XYZ cpu is a good fit, but the mtrbd. maker should provide some listing of CPU upgrades. Though, Dell may sell cpu upgrades provided from their upgrade wares if so listed you needn't buy from them just review the list.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
Reply - BIOS
Sep 16, 2013 1:44AM PDT

I checked the Dell website and the latest BIOS verison for my PC is A05. I checked CPU-Z and my PC has A05 so I assume no BIOS update is necessary.

Also, my current i3-550 is 3.20 GHz, but the i7-870 is 2.93GHz. But the i7 should be a lot better?

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It depends....on what you use the PC for. If you use your
Sep 16, 2013 10:47AM PDT

PC for low CPU power requirements like browsing Web, creating short documents, small spreadsheets and briefings, etc., you won't see a big difference. On the other hand if you use the PC to create or edit documents spanning 50 to 100 pages or more, spreadsheets with 50,000/100,000 rows and 100 columns, large databases, video editing, photoshop...then you should a greater difference.

Once you reach a minimum CPU power, a simple one-page doc won't go much faster whether you process it on a system with an i3 CPU or an i7 CPU.

VAPCMD

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I7 870
Sep 17, 2013 2:54AM PDT

That's a 400 buck pop.....yikes!
Are you sure you need this?
Most folks don't run the kind of stuff that will take advantage of 8 cores.

I'm going to take a guess.......Games.
If that's true leave the cpu alone.
Look at the gpu.......a Hd 7750 should be a straight swap....2x the power.....about 75 bucks.

Tell us about your ram.
Number of sticks and the speed of each stick.