Need a BTX motherboard that supports Core2Duo

brianwalshcork

Hello All,

I have a Dell precision 390, with a Pentium D 3.2 GHz EM64T processor, in a BTX form factor motherboard with a socket 775.

I need to get a faster processor, and the Core2Duo E8500 comes in at a good price, but I'll need to upgrade the motherboard - but is that even possible?

Asus don't seem to do BTX motherboards, and I've tried a couple of online retailers for BTX MBs but without any luck.

Even Intel -who designed the board, are pretending that it never existed:
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboard/index.htm?iid=mbd_body+dt_all

Has anybody found a way to get an upgrade to a Core2Duo when they have a BTX motherboard?

Thanks,
Brian

uberpixie

Buy a m-atx motherboard you like, if it doesnt fit in the dell case, buy a new case....

Thats it. That is all you can do really.

Or try to mod the dell case to fit the new motherboard.

You may also need a new psu if the one in the dell won't power a standard m-atx motherboard.

It may actually be worth your while just to build new from scratch and sell you dell or find another use for it.

brianwalshcork

Thanks uberpixie, I'll look into the mini ATX boards.

Selling isn't an option really at the moment - this is work thing, I've got 8 of these machines, and I'm just tryng to squeeze an extra 9 - 12 months out of them before replacing them with new machines the nehalem processor.

New processors and motherboards would be worth spending 240 odd euros on, having to go through the hassle of getting cases aswell is starting to sound like a bit of headche.

Brian

conzy

Even if you find a new BTX motherboard it wont play nice in a Dell.. What if they don't use the standard 24 pin ATX plug, what if the front panel pinouts are proprietary etc etc

If you have put up with Pentium Ds until now, Save your self a lot of hassle and wait the few months until Nehalem is out

the_syco

brianwalshcork wrote: »

Dell

Have fun not being able to reinstall Windows with your Dell disc. The disc will run on a dell system. New motherboard & new CPU... doubt it will reinstall, if you ever need to do so. Just keep it in mind.

AlmightyCushion

the_syco wrote: »

Have fun not being able to reinstall Windows with your Dell disc. The disc will run on a dell system. New motherboard & new CPU... doubt it will reinstall, if you ever need to do so. Just keep it in mind.

The windows disk should work, I used a dell windows disk when I had to re-install windows on a packard bell pc which had no disks and it worked like a charm

Sqaull20

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

The windows disk should work, I used a dell windows disk when I had to re-install windows on a packard bell pc which had no disks and it worked like a charm

+1

I have done it on different pc's before as well, you may have to ring microsoft to activate though.

Cuddlesworth

The old Xp disks were locked down to Dell machines, now they just ask for a key in other systems. The new Vista cds are once again locked down to Dells.