Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

[Maxxarcade]

Got a nice Dimension 5100 here that I want to put together. It has a P4 3.2 with 2M cache, and PCI Express.

According to Dell, the max RAM is 4x 1GB sticks, however other places say 4x 2GB sticks is supported.

Dell also says the max CPU is a single core 3.4Ghz. So does that mean a Pentium D won't work?

Anyone upgrade one of these before, that knows the true limits of the board?

[ratdude747]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

i would not do a pentium d anyway... too hot for a dell without major mods

put a decent graphics card in it, put in some good ram, etc.

what hd is in it? it might be good for sata 3g...

what os(s) do you plan to use?

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

Got a nice Dimension 5100 here that I want to put together. It has a P4 3.2 with 2M cache, and PCI Express.

According to Dell, the max RAM is 4x 1GB sticks, however other places say 4x 2GB sticks is supported.

Dell also says the max CPU is a single core 3.4Ghz. So does that mean a Pentium D won't work?

Anyone upgrade one of these before, that knows the true limits of the board?

When it comes to large companies that sell laptops and rebuilt desktops the documentation from the manufacture is almost always wrong.

Reason is they wrote it when the system is new and then they never update it. In your case when the system was new there probably weren't any [or they were still rare] 2GB sticks around to test it with yet and Dell didn't want to get sued if it didn't work so they didn't make any claims.
- That happens A LOT.

To make matters worse, places like Crucial only go by that same documentation so they usually don't have the correct limitations in their databases either.

It's the same situation with CPU's.
If it wasn't released when the documentation was written then it won't get added later even if it works.

BIOS updates -usually- fix the compatibility issues for new CPU's and new RAM SPD information but there is nothing that tells you so for sure.

Intel however DOES go back and update that information for the chipset on the board.
When you want to know the ~TRUE~ capabilities then go look up the chipset at Intel and hope the BIOS updates included the necessary patches.
[If you have an AMD board you are probably screwed on that and will have to just try things.]

Your board has an Intel 945G Express chipset.
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1052310

It supports C2D:
http://www.intel.com/Products/Deskto...G-overview.htm

The discussion about RAM is on page 15:
https://cdn.badcaps-static.com/pdfs/...1e1f80583c.pdf
The chips on the module need to be x8 or x16 and the entire module x64
.... like this one...


Yes - C2D at 533 or 800 FSB
Yes - 2x2GB

.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

i would not do a pentium d anyway... too hot for a dell without major mods

put a decent graphics card in it, put in some good ram, etc.

what hd is in it? it might be good for sata 3g...

what os(s) do you plan to use?

It's not a clam shell case.
No heat issues.

[ratdude747]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

It's not a clam shell case.
No heat issues.

is it a standard dell cooler? yes!

the non-shell units are not bas bad but they still get hot to a degree.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

Here's what I found out:

Updated the BIOS to the latest version, and my Pentium Dual Core E2160 still doesn't POST, despite being listed as supported by the chipset in the Intel docs. I ended up using a single core 3.2Ghz with 2MB cache.

I ordered a 2GB kit of G.Skill DDR2 800, though the board only runs it at 533. Tested with Memtest86+ with the same model RAM kit borrowed from my HTPC before I ordered the new set. Will add a second 2GB down the road if it is worth the performance increase.

Reason I got DDR2 800, was so that the RAM would be useful in newer systems (like my HTPC) if the Dell ever breaks down.

Going to use Windows 7 Pro x64. It seems to run better than XP on this system. I ordered the OEM version with the RAM kit.

The video card I used is a Geforce 7600GT.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

Might try the other BIOS.
Dell might not have updated microcode for newer CPU's but maybe eMachines did.

While back I got a box of 10 eMachines replacement boards. They were FIC OEM socket 478 boards. If I remember right they were model VC37-xx. They all had the same eMachine Part Number because they were intended as replacements for the same machines which did not support Prescott. Well, I noticed different board revisions with different chipsets even though they had the same eMachine PN.
Turned out the newer rev [and newer chipset] supported Prescott even though nothing anywhere [other than Intel] said it would and the eMachines BIOS update included the code for Prescotts even though nothing said so.
- I suspect when the older chipset ran out they updated the chipset without saying so because they didn't want people deliberately breaking their boards in order to get an RMA replacement that added Prescott support.

.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

Might try the other BIOS.
Dell might not have updated microcode for newer CPU's but maybe eMachines did.

While back I got a box of 10 eMachines replacement boards. They were FIC OEM socket 478 boards. If I remember right they were model VC37-xx. They all had the same eMachine Part Number because they were intended as replacements for the same machines which did not support Prescott. Well, I noticed different board revisions with different chipsets even though they had the same eMachine PN.
Turned out the newer rev [and newer chipset] supported Prescott even though nothing anywhere [other than Intel] said it would and the eMachines BIOS update included the code for Prescotts even though nothing said so.
- I suspect when the older chipset ran out they updated the chipset without saying so because they didn't want people deliberately breaking their boards in order to get an RMA replacement that added Prescott support.

.

I'm not sure what the OEM equivalent board would be. This is a BTX form factor system too. I've never seen one until now. It gets a bit disorienting to work with :-)

It's also possible that my E2160 CPU is dead... I tried to use it in a couple boards that didn't support it, and might have damaged it.

If the system is a dog with the single core, I might try updating the BIOS with an OEM Intel one, and test the E2160 again.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

Oops.. Confused threads...

That one is by Intel for Dell.
Probably wasn't a retail version and Dell is probably the only official BIOS.

.

[Delos]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

Might try the other BIOS.
Dell might not have updated microcode for newer CPU's but maybe eMachines did.

While back I got a box of 10 eMachines replacement boards. They were FIC OEM socket 478 boards. If I remember right they were model VC37-xx. They all had the same eMachine Part Number because they were intended as replacements for the same machines which did not support Prescott. Well, I noticed different board revisions with different chipsets even though they had the same eMachine PN.
Turned out the newer rev [and newer chipset] supported Prescott even though nothing anywhere [other than Intel] said it would and the eMachines BIOS update included the code for Prescotts even though nothing said so.
- I suspect when the older chipset ran out they updated the chipset without saying so because they didn't want people deliberately breaking their boards in order to get an RMA replacement that added Prescott support.

.

his right some dell 5100 don't support the pentium d which is the highest you can go if your bios is upgraded and your version board supports it a pentium d will work like it does on mine. I have also tried different cpu and they don't seem to get damaged when i put it in the wrong board.

anyways good luck

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

his right some dell 5100 don't support the pentium d which is the highest you can go if your bios is upgraded and your version board supports it a pentium d will work like it does on mine. I have also tried different cpu and they don't seem to get damaged when i put it in the wrong board.

anyways good luck

I've thought about trying a Pentium D 820-840. Still haven't determined which version board the system has.

The E2160 turned out to work great in another system. In fact I have it running at 2.88 Ghz in a Gigabyte G41M-ES2L.

[Scenic]

Re: Dell Dimension 5100 Upgrades

and maybe even faster with that Asus P5K..