Inspiron 530 processor upgrade

Question

I have a dell inspiron 530 with a dual core processor, 3 gb ram, 2.0 mhz. I'd like to upgrade this to a faster processor. I saw some posts in the forums where people have stated that they upgraded their processors, but I just got off the phone with Dell and was told that this is impossible. Can anyone help me figure out if this is possible, and how I go about it if I can't get the parts from Dell?

thanks in advance.

padamil · Accepted Answer

So, if I understand this correctly, I think I have the G33m02, but how do I make sure? And if so, that means I need to upgrade my power supply and getting the g33m03 motherboard, correct? Is this a difficult thing to physically upgrade? Keeping in mind, the only things I have ever upgraded are my video card, and a hard drive.

shesagordie · Accepted Answer

So, if I understand this correctly, I think I have the G33m02, but how do I make sure? And if so, that means I need to upgrade my power supply and getting the g33m03 motherboard, correct? Is this a difficult thing to physically upgrade? Keeping in mind, the only things I have ever upgraded are my video card, and a hard drive.

padamil

Only if you want to install a Core 2 Quad processor, will the motherboard and power supply will need upgrading.

Replacing the motherboard, will require all the components being removed from the chassis and then reinstalled, see page 174 Here:

http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-530_owner%27s%20manual_en-us.pdf

All the Core 2 Duo processors that are listed, are compatible with the G33m02 motherboard.

Personally, I don't think it's worth spending money to upgrade the motherboard, unless it has failed, of an obsolete EOL system.

I have a 530 MT with the G33m02 motherboard, purchased in 2007, upgraded several years ago, to a socket LGA 775 e8400, but I did recently install an 250GB SSD that helped to make the system faster, because the SSD can be reused in any new computer, unlike the obsolete 530 motherboard.

Bev.

shesagordie · Accepted Answer

zuhairmohammed    Thank you for the heads up on your Inspiron 530. I'm still using my 2007 530 MT, that's been recently update to Windows 10 on a SSD primary drive. Bev.

shesagordie · Answer

padamil

The Dell Techie does not know what they are talking about. The Inspiron 530 processor can be upgraded.

Regards to buying the parts, it's best to look for third party vendors, as the parts for the Inspiron 530 series are EOL.

I'll assume that you have the Inspiron 530 Mini Tower and not the 530s Slimline version.

There are actually two versions of the Inspiron 530 made by Dell, which are not differentiated in their specifications.

When ordered with an Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad processor, the 530 is equipped with a FoxConn G33m03 motherboard and a 350W power supply.

When ordered in any other configuration, the 530 is typically equipped with a FoxConn G33m02 motherboard and a 300W power supply.

The G33m02 and DG33m03 are essentially identical except for the power regulation section of the motherboard.

Essentially, the G33m02 is a depopulated [cheaper] version of the board which only has 6 voltage regulator IC's as opposed to the 11 voltage regulators on the DG33m03.

Which motherboard version is installed in your 530?

The G33M02, supports up to Core 2 Duo processors and the DG33M03 that supports both the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors.

Inspiron 530 systems sold with Pentium Dual-Core or Core 2 Duo processors cannot be upgraded to Core 2 Quad processors without adding at least a 350W power supply and swapping the motherboards to the DG33M03 version..

The reason the G33M02 doesn't support Core 2 Quad processors is because it only has 6 voltage regulator ICs, the DG33M03 has 11.

The following processors are compatible:

Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2140 (1.6 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2160 (1.8 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5200(2.5 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 (1.8 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 (2.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E5200, 2.5GHz, 2MB, 65W, M0
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 (1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) 65nm
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 (2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 (2.33 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (2.66 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 (2.80 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E8400, 3.0GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, 65W, E0 45nm
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E8500, 3.16GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, 65W, C0
Wolfdale Core 2 Duo, E8600, 3.33GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, 65W, E0
Yorkfield Quad Core, QX9300, 2.5G, 6MB, 1333 FSB
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q9450, 2.66G, 12MB, 1333 FSB
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q9550, 2.83G, 12MB, 1333 FSB
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q8200, 2.33G, 4MB, 1333 FSB
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q9550, 2.83G, 12MB, 1333 FSB
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q8300, 2.5G, 4MB, 95W
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q9400, 2.66G, 6MB, 1333 FSB
Yorkfield Quad Core, Q9650, 3.0G, 12MB, 1333 FSB
Kentsfield Quad Core, Q6600, 2.4G, 8MB, 1066 FSB

Conroe E6850, 3.0G, 4MB, 1333FSB, G0
Conroe E6700, 2.66G, 4MB, 1066FSB, B2
Conroe E6600, 2.4G, 4MB, 1066FSB, B2
Wolfdale E5700 3.0GHz 65W Dual-Core

Largest upgrade > Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 (3.0GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)

Prior to installing the processor you need to check that you have BIOS Version 1.0.15, or higher, when support for new Intel CPU's was added.

Bev.

shesagordie · Answer

padamil You are welcome.  Bev.

padamil · Answer

Thanks very much! I don't think I'll upgrade the whole thing. I just wanted a faster system than what I have. I appreciate you taking the time to answer. Paul

zuhairmohammed · Answer

Hi

I got DELL inspiron 530 too,and I wanted to update the processor and after searching on line I found out that there are many kind if processors, the best one and the faster one that motherboard can take is Core™2 Duo Processor E8600 (6M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 1333MHz FSB , I had two memory cards each one is 1Gb and I add another two from the same kind ,so, the memory became 4 Gb and that is the full size of memory that my motherboard can take ,so, I got now full speed processor and full memory, and I add a graphic card to it,(the original windows on it was vista) I use on it windows 7 and then windows 8,and then windows 8.1 and finally windows 10 ,by the way I have changed the power supply that was 300 W with other one got 775 W ,my PC became like imagination.

621jae · Answer

hello, i also have a inspiron 530MT according to information on this thead about compatible cpu processors under the core 2 duo it shows the Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 (1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) 65nm
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 (2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 (2.33 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (2.66 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 (2.80 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)

it doesnt mention the intel Core 2 Duo E7500 (2.93GHz , 1066MHz FSB ) with updated Bios 1.0.18 will run in my computer perfectly , i also have an Optiplex 960 MT that originally came with the Core 2 Duo E8400 ( 3.00 GHZ 6MB, 1333FSB ) i,d upgrade to the Core 2 Duo, E8600, 3.33GHz, 6MB, 1333FSB, but i think the Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00 GHz processor to perform better i,m also running 4x2GB ddr2-6400 memory , 8GB is the Max , just thought i,d share this info , thanks

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Inspiron 530 processor upgrade

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