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Most powerful processor possible in an old Dell Dimension 8300
I really enjoy learning about and working on older tech, and was wondering what the most powerful processor chip that was made for the Dell Dimension 8300 happened to be. I know, I know that this is ancient tech, but why not? Thanks:emotion-7:
shesagordie
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August 13th, 2016 22:00
AGP123
The 8300 should take most of the socket 478 CPUs, max 3.4GHz Northwood or Prescott processor.
Note: The early 8300 systems are limited to 2.8 GHz, but the ones built in late 2003, can take the faster processors, with a BIOS upgrade to version A07.
A Socket 478, P4 3.4GHz processor will only work, if your 8300 was built after December 2003 and with a BIOS upgrade to version A07, if it was built prior to that, the 3.4GHz processor would clock down to 2.8GHz.
Better to buy a Northwood, as the Prescott processor runs hotter.
Bev.
AGP123
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August 14th, 2016 00:00
Thanks Bev!!! You have helped me a lot in the past as well and I really appreciate it. I will have to check the tag and see when it was manufactured. Unfortunately I think it was built prior to 03'. Oh well.
shesagordie
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August 14th, 2016 10:00
AGP123
Pleased to have helped.
Bev.
speedstep
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August 14th, 2016 13:00
You would be better off Looking for a GX620 Tower that can take Pentium D915 up to D960.
Its faster DDR2 and has PCI-E video slot. The GX620 will run windows 3.1/DOS and up all the way to windows 10 without issue when equipped with Pentium D 900 series.
I consider the GX620 ancient but new enough to be upgradeable and useable for another 10 years.
The most compatible cpu for the 8300 is
Intel Pentium 4 SL7EY Socket 478 2.8 GHz CPU
AGP123
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September 5th, 2016 16:00
Hello again Bev. Is there a way to figure out the manufacture date with the Service Tag. I entered it into the Support area, but did not give me any specific info re: this. Thank you
shesagordie
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September 5th, 2016 22:00
AGP123
Other than using the Service Tag to locate the invoice/shipping date on Dell's website, I don't know of any other way.
Other than the above, it is almost impossible to differentiate, except to try and install the faster processor and if it doesn't work, it will simply downclock to 2.8 GHz.
Bev.
AGP123
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September 11th, 2016 18:00
Thanks Bev
shesagordie
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September 11th, 2016 21:00
AGP123
Bev.