GX280 Processor Support

The GX280 was never offered with any Pentium D processors by Dell (from what I remember).

Especially if you mean the new "Core 2 Duo" processors, the GX280 will not have the chipset or voltage support for those. They most likely will not even work in the GX620 (has the 945 chipset).

I had a chance to do some investigating today and Intel states the Intel 915g and 915p series mobo's support the dual core 2 chips.

NO Pentium D or Core 2 Duos.

Not compatible not gonna work

From Intels site this is what they list as the boards being compatible with the core duo 2:

Intel® 915, 865 and 845 Chipset Family-Based Boards
Intel® 915 chipset family-based boards


Intel® Desktop Board D915GAG

Intel® Desktop Board D915GAV

Intel® Desktop Board D915GEV

Intel® Desktop Board D915GLVG

Intel® Desktop Board D915GMH

Intel® Desktop Board D915GUX

Intel® Desktop Board D915GVWB

Intel® Desktop Board D915PBL

Intel® Desktop Board D915PCM

Intel® Desktop Board D915PCY

Intel® Desktop Board D915PDT

Intel® Desktop Board D915PGN

Intel® Desktop Board D915PLWD

Intel® Desktop Board D915PSY

Intel® Desktop Board D910GLDW


Intel® 865 chipset family-based boards


Intel® Desktop Board D865GBF

Intel® Desktop Board D865GLC

Intel® Desktop Board D865GSA

Intel® Desktop Board D865GVHZ

Intel® Desktop Board D865PCD

Intel® Desktop Board D865PCK

Intel® Desktop Board D865PERC

Intel® Desktop Board D865PERL

Intel® Desktop Board D865PESO


Intel® 845 chipset family-based boards


Intel® Desktop Board D845EPI

Intel® Desktop Board D845GEBV2

Intel® Desktop Board D845GERG2

Intel® Desktop Board D845GLVA

Intel® Desktop Board D845GVSR

Intel® Desktop Board D845GVFN

Intel® Desktop Board D845PECE

Intel® Desktop Board D845PEMY

Intel® Desktop Board D845PESV


It looks to me like the mobo from the gx280 is in that list, no?

However, the Core 2 requires a new VRM to supply the correct voltage. Dell most likely never anticipated the different voltage, so the processor won't work. Then there is the fact that the bios needs to be able to accept the processor, which will most likely not be the case either. As the system is end-of-life, I wouldn't count on Dell to develop a new rev of the board with a VRM that does support the right voltage and then come with a bios that supports it too.

Okay you raised some points that I had not thought about. Thank you for clarifying.

Best bet would be to check with someone like Powerleap to see if they have anything in the works.

Hey if Powerleap made an adapter that would be fantastic!

An adapter may indeed be able to provide the right voltage, the only thing then is to verify if the bios will accept the processor.

As an example, the GX1 will accept Coppermine processors (via an adapter) if the bios is A07 or earlier, but after A07, the system would halt on post and not allow you to continue (it would report "unsupported processor"). Up to A07 it would report the unsupported processor but still allow the system to finish post and start booting.

One symptom of vrm not capable is breaking glass sound as you turn on the pc!! thats the CPU Shattering.
Then the motherboard catches on fire.

You only get to do that one time.

So unless you can afford to light cigars with hundred dollar bills I would not suggest trying this at home.