Intel Core i7-4790K Upgrade on XPS 8700

Before upgrading components, especially CPU, you should check for relevant BIOS and chipset updates.

Well, actually I have the latest BIOS update (A10) offered for the XPS 8700, which I presume covered more than just NVIDIA graphic issues/fixes

Most all of the newer XPS 8700 models with the i7 has the 4790 (non-K) version, should I be checking for updates for these models instead of my own? I've upgraded the CPU on many older Dell computers and had no troubles, most of the time the chipset would just install & a reboot would be required to finish installing the new one. 

Does the same rules apply today? After all, it's the same series (Haswell), just a higher rated CPU, as the older ones were. Have never had to change coolers in the past, and according to many who purchases the CPU at Newegg, the included cooler is useless & loud. 

I'm more concerned about how stock cooling works on these computers, the i7-4790 ships with basically the same specs as the i7-47770.

ark.intel.com/.../Intel-Core-i7-4790-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_00-GHz

ark.intel.com/.../Intel-Core-i7-4770-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz

The i7-4790K lacks a couple of features that the 4770 & 4790 has, for most, this is no big deal, as this K chip works with virtual machines (which I run). And the lack of vPro may be good, as it's an open back door for OEM's to potentially use to lock down systems (keeping consumers from disabling Secure Boot when Windows 10 ships), the updating part of Intel vPro app has never found any updates for the system. Only Dell & Intel Update has provided any updates, and NVIDIA for my graphics. 

So is the stock system able to run the best 1150 i7 that Intel offers, aka 'The Beast'? I can deal with a 5 to 10C heat increase, which may be lowered with quality thermal paste & an extra case fan. I don't cheapskate on this type of stuff, and if the tower was larger, like some of the older XPS cases, a 3rd party cooler would be easily doable. 

ark.intel.com/.../Intel-Core-i7-4790K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_40-GHz

I know that out of the many XPS 8700 units sold, that I cannot be the only one who has considered this upgrade, and likely many has pulled it off, chances are it was just a swap of CPU's & off to the races. These are the ones I'd like to hear from, are those that has pulled it off, and what, if any, drawbacks were presented? 

There will never be a better 1150 CPU than the i7-4790K, this was Intel's last offering to it's many 1150 fans, now they're moving to less stable waters with the transition to DDR4 platforms, which will emerge with the release of Windows 10. 

Cat

I'm curious what software you are running that will put the 4770 as the bottleneck? 

Very few applications are CPU constrained, and even if you put a 4790K in, it might work but it won't perform like the systems we read about with motherboard made for overclocking, faster memory and faster I/O.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of 8700s. I own two and "manage"  three others, along with a couple of 8500s for family, but they are what they are;  a decent mid-range platform t with a reasonably matched set of parts inside that can easily handle an upgraded mid-range graphics card, and with a PSU upgrade can handle an upgraded high-end graphics card, and for most software the 4770 has ample horsepower for just about anything.

So, if you do it , please run benchmarks before and after and let us know.

should I be checking for updates for these models instead of my own? I've upgraded the CPU on many older Dell computers and had no troubles, most of the time the chipset would just install & a reboot would be required to finish installing the new one.  Does the same rules apply today? After all, it's the same series (Haswell), just a higher rated CPU

Anytime upgraded hardware is released after a system's original specification you should check for updates. It is possible for the newer CPU to have features or requirements tha the existing BIOS and/or chipset don't know anything about and don't know how to support. It is always good practice.

The i7-4790K lacks a couple of features that the 4770 & 4790 has, for most, this is no big deal, as this K chip works with virtual machines (which I run). And the lack of vPro may be good, as it's an open back door for OEM's to potentially use to lock down systems (keeping consumers from disabling Secure Boot when Windows 10 ships)

Don't give in to conspiracy theories about UEFI, etc. and let that drive your decisions. vPro is not a backdoor; if manufacturers were going to include backdoors, they wouldn't use publicly advertised remote management utilities - it would be included in "secret" hardware. Sounds to me like vPro simply isn't worth it to YOU to spend any extra money on.

Thanks for replying, Dan-H! 

This upgrade isn't so much as about any bottlenecking, as even when running a virtual machine, CPU usage is no more than 35%, that's with 4 cores & 8GB RAM 'lent' to the VM. Most of the time, it's under 5% usage (lower on Linux Mint 17.1) & idles at 0%. 

To put it plainly, it's about on the forum where I participate on & am an Advisor (Bleeping Computer), 'my under the hood hardware is more than yours', having the best CPU available (just like the RAM). With that, I could see & feel the difference when placing the first 16GB set in (24GB total), but seen no difference when adding the 2nd set, which maxed it out at 32GB, not even a WEI increase. Of course, I'd see & feel it if 3 VM's were fired up at once. 

See, when Windows 7 first came out, my hardware was very inferior to the regulars on another forum, and I came up with a simple plan. Save $30 every month, and over time, things will improve. In the late summer of 2013, this XPS 8700 with the i7-4770, 12GB RAM & even a 1GB GDDR5 Radeon 7570 was on promo at Costco for $699 (nowadays most comes with DDR3 GPU's). At the time, was considering an i5 build, but at that price, it was a no brainer to jump on, even though it shipped with Windows 8, as I had an OEM Windows 7 Pro that I grabbed at Newegg for $100 on hand. A friend gave me a new, still in the wrapper copy of 7 Ultimate, for some PC work I performed, which is also installed on this one (4 OS's total, counting Linux Mint). 

The mSATA slot was a sweet addition, I didn't use it for a cache SSD, rather a 256GB Crucial M550 mSATA SSD, which I clean installed the OEM OS to, after Dell sent me at no charge, a Dell OEM Windows 8 DVD that few bothers to ask for while in warranty. 

Now, I'm on the inside of the top 10% power wise (for now), and want to close the gap even further. The i7-4790K is said to be the 'dream' 1150 upgrade, and hopefully this PC can handle it. My budget can, as long as no expensive cooling is needed. I'm leery of these liquid cooling systems. And there may be a few, but not many, low profile coolers that will work. Maybe Zalman has an option if the Dell one isn't adequate, though some of these can cut hands. 

Yes, I'll run benchmarks before & after, there is UserBenchmark, which rates computers as a whole, yet breaks down individual components. In fact, here was my last benchmark, was surprised that the GTX 960 didn't rate higher, though knew my data drive was a liability. Had I ran the test on the 8.1 OS, would have been a bit higher, though likely not much. Am adding a Samsung 850 EVO & 1TB SATA-3 data HDD, so that should improve 'before' scores' 

www.userbenchmark.com/.../212445

The same benchmark taken a year earlier gave a much higher score, even the same data HDD ranked above 100%. So yes, it'll be interesting to see the difference between the benchmarks, plus the WEI, the CPU shows 7.7 on Windows 7, and RAM 7.8. The rest is 7.9. I'd be ticked pink to see a 7.9 on the CPU score. 

Thanks for your interest in my hopeful future upgrade. I still need to ensure that I can adequately coll the CPU, adding intake & exhaust fans will help. In fact, given there is no stock intake fan & just one exhaust below the PSU, am surprised the unit runs as cool as it does. Dell done a great job in passive cooling design with the XPS 8700. I did consider adding a front intake fan at the front bottom & attach with wire ties, didn't want to add noise. Had the system been running warmer, I'd have done it anyway. 

BTW, both Costco & Dell carries a version of this PC as home/small office type one, though it has the i7-4790. It's a great PC & does have room for expansion, despite what the critics says. Some has even installed the NVIDIA GTX 970 GPU on the stock PSU, though I wouldn't, unless there's a larger stock one than the 460W version. I've heard of a 600W variant, though don't know this to be fact, as the PSU specs isn't listed in any of the XPS 8700 specs on the Dell sales site. Just the main components. 

Cat

"Don't give in to conspiracy theories about UEFI, etc. and let that drive your decisions. vPro is not a backdoor; if manufacturers were going to include backdoors, they wouldn't use publicly advertised remote management utilities - it would be included in "secret" hardware. Sounds to me like vPro simply isn't worth it to YOU to spend any extra money on."

theflash1932, it's not just conspiracy theories, of which there are lots of these going around in regards to Windows 10, which I'm not going to accept. But not for that reason, it's that the previews, recent ones, messed up my Windows 7 install on two PC's, a Dell & HP, plus I don't care for the idea of being logged into a Microsoft Account to use a PC. One had to be recovered from backup image, as the WMI got messed up after running 10 for a few hours, the other, again after running 10 a few hours & rebooting into 7 to make sure all was fine, I was greeted to a black screen, saying that my version of Windows 7 was 'not genuine' Fortunately, a reboot cleared that error. 

What does vPro do for me to spend any extra money on? I mean, it's installed, a feature of the CPU, software on my OS, what's the real benefit for a home user, much less spend cash on? I'm not into remote management of a corporate network, though I do understand that even if the PC isn't powered on, or even if a Windows OS isn't present, an update can take place just through the active network connection. However, this isn't new, and was in use long before UEFI became common, as I recall was called Intel AMT at the time. 

It's Microsoft's actions that's fueling conspiracy theories, installing updates after these were hidden once, and having to comb through the non-security updates to hide any that pertains to a future upgrade or notifications. This is a hot topic on the Bleeping Computer site & likely many others. Microsoft is guaranteeing an OS for the lifespan of it, yet they did the same with Windows 8, only to have many consumers not be eligible for the 8.1 upgrade over a 'CompareExchange128' deal. How can they guarantee the same won't happen with a later update to Windows 10? They cant, as hardware technology doesn't stand still. 

Why can't they let us decide for ourselves, rather than installing a bunch of junk on our computers? That's not conspiracy, it's fact. And they have more than one way to ship updates. 

Cat

How attached are you to the XPS 8700?

By the time you are finished upgrading some of the core and expensive parts, you'll have spent the money, but won't likely have much faster of a system as a result.

The limiting factor is the motherboard, and then probably the case due to the cooling.

The Dell Z87 motherboard won't let you overclock and the power regulation won't let you increase CPU voltage or Memory voltage.

The rear case fan is small, only 92mm so adding a front fan might help, but it may not cool enough in the right areas (the motherboard around the memory)

In comparison, here is my  "next build". Well, maybe.

Motherboard and memory might change but this system will overclock well and be cool and quiet.

pcpartpicker.com/.../63XvQ7

I'm not sure I follow where you're coming from on most of your post, but it probably doesn't matter either. My point was that vPro is not a [non] hidden backdoor to your system and that you would not need to spend any money on it as it offers YOU little to nothing, but that you also shouldn't be afraid of it and change your purchase if it happens to come with the hardware you are considering. It is simply unworthy of consideration in the buying decision you described.

Dan-H, I'm very attached to my XPS 8700, it's the best PC I've ever owned, and have already performed some upgrades.

For example, it didn't ship with a 32GB cache mSATA SSD as the SE versions did, however that made no difference, I installed a 256GB Crucial M550 mSATA SSD instead, and that's where the OEM OS resides.

There are two other SSD's in the system (check out my specs in Speccy sig below), and have another sitting in the box waiting to install, a Samsung 850 EVO, however am awaiting a PCIe SATA card to arrive to plug my data drive (HDD) into, am running out of SATA ports. Also have two Windows 7 installs (Pro & Ultimate) in addition to Linux Mint 17.1.

Have maxed out the RAM from 12GB to 32GB. Have upgraded the GPU twice, I believe the latest (GTX 960) is the best the PSU can safely handle.

Have upgraded the wireless card to a real Intel one, didn't realize for months that an Atheros wireless/BT card was installed, could only handle 72Mb/sec of speed, now have a better one with twice the speed & dual band. Though if I didn't have a GPU that took two slots would have went with a PCIe one with external antennas, there are also Intel branded versions of these.

Will use the last x4 slot to install one of the really fast SSD's, one that blows SATA-3 out of the water, once pricing levels a bit, $400 for 256GB is expensive for a Plextor SSD of this type.

Plus the few external upgrades I've added, wireless keyboard/mouse, webcam, a $300 24" ASUS monitor. All of the security software to keep malware away, and use more than one solution per install, MBAM Premium (Lifetime versions), in addition to whatever brand of security is installed on each (ESET Endpoint Security, Emsisoft Anti Malware). ESET Endpoint Security isn't ran on promo on Newegg for $20 for 3PC's. Neither is their Linux Workstation version.

I believe it would be an understatement to say I'm attached to my XPS 8700, as it's where I spend over 12 hours of each & every day. There are several other PC's I have that I'll let others use while here, but no one touches my XPS 8700 other than me. It's my most prized possession at this stage in my life, 52 years old & disabled, I cannot spend 24 hours a day looking at 4 walls, have to have something to have pride in. Well, my XPS 8700 is my pride & joy.

If the i7-4790K won't go into this PC, I can accept it, yet sure enough will build one that can run it. There are lots of 1150 MB's & all kind of compatible components on promo on the Newegg site all the time. Should it come to that, then that PC would become my pride & joy, one thing for sure, I have some components on hand, I can stick the stock RAM back in here, along with the first GPU upgrade, and grab a couple of SSD's out of this one, though I'd prefer to look for a MB with a native M.2 slot.

theflash1932, I apologize for letting the vPro conversation swing way to the left, yet at the same time, it doesn't serve me any purpose, I'm a mere home PC user, am not an IT Pro managing thousands of workstation PC's. If I were, then maybe I could appreciate it too. With the Windows 10 release, this kind of stuff is coming up all the time on the BleepingComputer site, where I serve as an Advisor.

Though I'm a 85 to 90% Linux MInt 17.1 user, and 10% at best Windows one, my Windows OS's are in place mainly to help others on the forum, including Dell owners. I advise every one (& provide the link) to get a reinstall DVD 100% free of charge on this site, just in case it's needed for repair or SSD install.

If this potential upgrade is doable on this PC, I'll go for it, if not, Plan B is shaping.

Thanks for your responses & am hopeful still that someone who has performed this upgrade will stand up & speak out. The XPS 8700 series is nearly 2 years old & millions in use, there has to be a few who has at a minimum, attempted the upgrade.

Since my PC is still under warranty until October 2017 through SquareTrade, and a few more months by Costco, whom doubled the basic warranty, there's no option of moving to a larger case to meet additional cooling & other expansion needs.

Cat

theflash1932, actually my buying decision was described in my OP, it's about the power, bragging rights, hopefully a 7.9 WEI score & most certainly a 5 digit Passmark score. It's about 'my rig is better than yours' to many who sees my specs, which are always posted on any forum of which I'm a participant. 

As it stands, I'm a total of .3 from a perfect WEI on Windows 7. 7.7 CPU & 7.8 RAM, the other three are already 7.9. That's the bottom line. 

The other subject came in a later response, and what I was saying was that I didn't need the vPro technology, rather what the i7-4790K offers, 4GHz of power with a 4.4GHz boot, and don't need to overclock with that kind of power. 

Hopefully this makes things more clear. 

And unless something comes forward that will show it to be a bad decision, will be going for it, the main requirement is in place, a 1150 MB. If needed, I can swap this item for a higher rated one that will fit, I don't need the OEM provided OS, have my own installed & two sealed Windows 7 Pro install kits to spare in my safe. 

Cat

Was this upgrade accomplished as I would like to do it myself.  The i7-4790K will give me the power I need to run my flight simulators.  P3D especially.

damidavis18, I'd like to know myself the answer to this!

There are likely a quarter million of Dell XPS 8700's pumped out to the masses since mid-2013, yet it's hard to believe not a one have performed this simple, painless upgrade. Only 4 more Watts are used, which won't strain a 460W PSU in the least. 

Heat may be an issue, this can be dealt with by a cooler upgrade & adding intake fans to draw in some fresh air. There's an exhaust fan at the rear, intake cooling is passive through the bottom front & side panel, the only cooling fan is that on the CPU itself. 

Someone has had to have performed this upgrade, as many of these CPU's has been sold, surely a few of these went in Dell's flagship desktop. 

Cat

@catilley1092 I have done a few upgrades already with the PSU - I used a Corsair CXM 750 and upgraded the original GPU to a NVIDIA GeFORCE GTX 770 2GB but just changed the GPU to a NVIDIA GeForce 970 GTX 4GB which greatly improved the performance of my P3D V2.5x and X-Plane 10 simulators. 

I talked with some staff at FRY's electronics about the possibility of upgrading the CPU to the i7-4790K - it should not be a problem being a LGA 1150 board (or should I say Z87) but the issue is the absence of voltage regulators on the OEM Dell Z87 motherboard when the CPU is in it's overclocked state.  The 4790K will run at it's 4GHz but when overclocked the board, more than likely will not support higher GHz thus keeping it at 4GHz instead of the overclocked 4.4GHz.

With regards to heat FRY's representative said that the same fan I am using should be fine with Artic Silver 5:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Nothing else should be required.  I just did the GPU upgrade and will do the CPU on a couple months and see how it goes since I have also researched and have not seen anyone who has yet accomplished it; but I did see that the later Dell XPSs are possibly now been shipped with the unlocked i7-4790K?  Not sure and if so what mother (OEM) are they being shipped with - Z97?

damidavis18, thanks for the thermal paste recommendation, have been using MX-4, getting it from Newegg when on promo. It's time to clean/repaste my installed CPU, the i7-4770, will have to try this one out. 

It's been a long time ago, that I used one of Arctic Silver's other pastes, called Ceramique 2, and that stuff was very thick & hard to work with, even harder to remove the CPU to reapply. Had to just lift the heatsink & CPU together, and gently get underneath the CPU surface just to break the bond. That was the first I've used & been years since last doing so. 

That's unfortunate to hear about the stock Dell motherboard, they've been installing the non-K versions of the i7-4790 for some time, though in reality, this isn't much of an upgrade over what i have. Most all Intel MB's can handle the Turbo Boost function, even the notebook ones, for example I have one with a quad core Ivy Bridge (i7-3635QM) that has a base of 2.4GHz, yet will boost to 3.4GHz when under load/if needed. 

Too bad that Dell has restricted this function & will have an impact on my purchase decision, no need for me to buy a CPU that I can't have the full advantage of. 

Cat

@CATILLEY1092  Did you notice this post?

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19648355