Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
21 Posts
0
4935
Dell XPS 9100 Upgrade Questions. i7-930 to i7-975x, 970, 980, 960? Graphics GTX 1060/970?
Hi Evereyone,
Looking for some help on this. I have this older XPS 9100 that still runs fairly well but I'm looking to do some upgrades on it before I buy a new computer. Maybe get another year or two out of it.
My current set up:
i7-930 (2.8ghz)
24gb DDR3 Ram
Radeon HD 5800
1TB HD Seagate 7200 RPM
Stock PSU at 525 Watts.
Mobo: 05DN3X version A00 with BIOS version: A04.
I was researching into getting a GTX 970 or a GTX 1060. I'm now leaning to a 1060 because it uses less power. Plus, my rendering programs can make use of its Cuda cores. Not going with Radeon again. The 970 has more Cuda cores, but also uses more power.
This upgrade shouldn't be a problem right?
As I was researching graphics card, I stumbled upon processors and they seem to be very cheap these days (on ebay of course). I'd like to get a faster processor, since I can't overclock ( I think DELL locks BIOS). Faster processor would definitely help with my 3D modeling / Renderings. My question is, I shouldn't have a problem upgrading the CPUs right? Or does this particular mother board only take certain ones within this 1st generation of i7's? I read another post where someone upgraded from 930 to 980x and then his computer wouldn't turn on. Later he said it was his motherboard so he bought a new one and it worked. Maybe he just shocked it to death. I don't want to brick my computer, as its the only one I have.
I would like to get a 6 core processor (970), but could also settle for a 960 or 975x (4 cores, but faster processor) since those only cost about $100 where as the 970 and 980s costs about $200+. Combined with the graphics card that would be about a $400 upgrade.
Is it worth it ( a 400mhz speed increase)? Or should I just upgrade the GPU and not risk messing with the CPU?
Ultimately, I will upgrade to a new computer, but for now I would like to do these upgrades to get me by for a little while longer (a year or two) since it has served me very well for the past 6!
Any advice?
Thanks and sorry for the essay, but I just want to make sure I get it all out. haha.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
•
54.9K Posts
0
September 28th, 2016 08:00
The 525w PSU should be fine for the GTX 1060. Plus, you can move it to the new system when you get it.
Validated CPU with Dell 5 digit part number =
HXGV2 Gulftown i7-990X, 3.46GHz, B1
F3VGJ GulfTown i7-980X, 3.33GHz, 12MB, B1
152W9 GulfTown i7-970, 3.20GHz, 12MB, B1
MNWGW Bloomfield i7-960, 3.20GHz, 8MB, D0
VRDMW Bloomfield i7-930, 2.80GHz, 8MB, D0
G442M Bloomfield i7-920, 2.66GHz, 8MB, C0
1GKT0 Bloomfield i7-920, 2.66GHz, 8MB, D0
psychedlicSight
21 Posts
0
October 2nd, 2016 14:00
Thanks EJN63. So it sounds like I can get an after market heat sink, but will just be a bit more of a hassle installing. Probably have to unmount the mother board to get access to the brackets for replacement right?
Regarding the dell heat sink, I imagine it is that the one with the big air tube that goes to the side panel from the top of the heatsink/fan? Do you know if Dell used these on their xps 9100 with i7-980x?
ejn63
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
October 2nd, 2016 14:00
Only the Dell heatsink will fit unless you also change the mounting bracket - no, it's not a standard heatsink and mounting bracket.
psychedlicSight
21 Posts
0
October 2nd, 2016 14:00
Thank you for the list Chris. I managed to get a i7-980x . Questions regarding heat sinks (if you know). I was thinking about getting a Cooler Master 212 EVO or similar. The bracket should fit right? LGA 1366. Height is another question and it's about 6.2" tall, but I did see other options around 5.75". Did dell do anything to the mother boards that I should be aware of in terms of bracket supports for heat sinks? Or should I get the stock Intel heat sink? Ideally I'd like to get the Cooler Master because it will make it run cooler and quieter, which has always been an annoyance with this computer.
ejn63
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
October 2nd, 2016 15:00
Yes, the board has to come out to replace the brackets. The one part you CANNOT replace without issue are the fans - they are proprietary and while others will work, you'll get a "Fan failed" error at each bootup that there's no way to disable.
You MUST use the stock fans.
psychedlicSight
21 Posts
0
October 13th, 2016 11:00
I just put a i7-980x with an arctic cooler freezer 13 and all is well. Fan works fine. I've also seen other people replace the case fans with no problems. I didn't take out the bracket either, i just left it in place and secured it with some screws. Screw/thread layout seemed to be exactly as advertised (LGA 1366).