From a BIOS perspective it would be best to use the latest BIOS release which is A06. Throughout the BIOS history for your model there have been several updates related to added support for new processors. Dell unfortunately doesn't list the specific processors that were supported. The best you can do with a new processor installation is use the latest BIOS version available.
Click here for the A06 download.
To update your BIOS using the file I directed you to just follow these directions.....
Once the file is downloaded to your hard drive just run the file. The program will then prompt you into creating a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk so have a "good" blank one available. Once the floppy is created just leave the floppy in the drive and reboot your system. The BIOS upgrade program will then prompt you into updating the BIOS. If the floppy fails to boot then check your system's boot order and make sure the floppy drive is before the hard drive in the boot sequence. Once the BIOS upgrade is successfully done just remove the floppy disk and reboot the system.
If you encounter problems then try another download of the file and use another blank floppy disk. If either of those two items are bad it will prevent a successful BIOS update.
The actual time it takes the new BIOS code to be written is less than 30 seconds. While the upgrade is in progress do not interrupt the upgrade or do the upgrade when weather conditions might indicate a possible power failure such as doing the upgrade during a thunderstorm. An interrupted BIOS upgrade may corrupt the currently installed BIOS and thus require a motherboard replacement.
As far as the processor upgrade itself you may want to discuss that over in the
Dimension - Upgrade Hardware forum. The folks that visit that forum can best advise you whether or not the new processor will work in your system.
As far as the power supply, Dell power supplies are conservatively rated. Your system has a 250 watt power supply should be more than adequate for the upgrades you have done and are planning with the new processor.
Thank you VERY much for your quick and thorough response, I do have one further question however:
-I currently have BIOS A02 (haha, wow), will I be able to upgrade to A06 before the new processor would arrive? In other words, will the BIOS upgrade to A06 still cause my current processor (1.6Ghz) and everything to run the same? Thank you very much!
Oh and regarding if the processor will work with my current PC - I got that link and everything form another 4300 topic in another forum on this same Dell Support site and the guy says it worked great. The Mhz and Socket and etc. all match up fine, so it hopefully should be good with a BIOS upgrade.
Also hopefully should be one heck of a performance boost?
You're more than welcome! I'm glad you found my posting useful.
You can update the BIOS at any time. I would do the upgrade now as the newer BIOS version will support your present processor as well. That way you will have some time to see if the newer BIOS version is working properly.
As far as the processor upgrade, you should definately see an improvement in performance.
Good luck on your upgrade plans and have a good weekend!
Thanks again for the info! I encountered another problem however...
I opened the .exe BIOS file that was downloaded and I wrote it to the Floppy just fine. I left the floppy in the drive and restarted my PC. It booted up in MS-DOS mode and it said something similar to "A:>xD4300A06.exe" I didn't get the file name exact but I assume it's the executable file that was written to the floppy. After it said that, it stated "Loading", then after that it gave me a date read error message and then the options "Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail". I tried "retry" but it said the same thing, so I shut off my computer and turned it back on to get back into windows. Is there anything I am doing wrong or is there something with that why it won't work?
I am going to try a different floppy after this post and see if that works, but I doubt it. Thanks :)
The problem you encountered in trying to do the upgrade is fairly common with your generation of machine. Usually another floppy or another download of the file will resolve it. I recall one instance where a gentleman used quite a few floppy disks until he found one that worked. Glad to hear your upgrade was successful.
Just take your time and you should be alright. Watch out for static electricity and don't use excessive force. In case you are not aware your model's User Guide has additional instructions for replacing the processor. You can
click here for the on-line User Guide and that section of it. Best wishes and good luck!
Well unfortunately I have had my hopes and dreams shot down. I installed the processor and it fit perfectly into place and I hardly used any force at all. So I was very excited, did all of the installation procedures correctly, and then turned on my computer..... ooh guess what? Yellow light instead of green. So I assumed it was just I did not install it properly. So I open my case back up and pop out the microprocessor. Just for kicks I inspected it. Ooh guess what, a broken pin. So I call up Stalliontek as I am 100% sure that I did not break any of the pins as it nearly just sat itself into place. Hardly used any force on the ZIF lever or anything. They won't give me a refund or an exchange obviously. So I went to go put the old 1.6Ghz back into place and guess what. It doesn't fit. So I look at that to see why and ooh, a BENT pin! YAY! So here I am out two microprocessors. So now I am on my mom's lame HP and am typing this. Is there any way that bent pins are fixable if slowly bent back into place? Uggh... I am so upset and I cannot afford to purchase anymore upgrades for a very long time and now I basically don't have a computer anymore. :mansad: Thanks.
Oh btw majestic I printed that manual off about a week ago when I placed the order, just to see how to remove the heatsink and stuff.
So I just took it into a computer store. They charged $50 but they bent the pins on both processors back straight and even installed the new CPU and it works great! I was very surprised. Ah well, looks like this is the end of this thread. Thanks to those, especially Majestic for your help!
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
March 24th, 2006 10:00
If you encounter problems then try another download of the file and use another blank floppy disk. If either of those two items are bad it will prevent a successful BIOS update.
The actual time it takes the new BIOS code to be written is less than 30 seconds. While the upgrade is in progress do not interrupt the upgrade or do the upgrade when weather conditions might indicate a possible power failure such as doing the upgrade during a thunderstorm. An interrupted BIOS upgrade may corrupt the currently installed BIOS and thus require a motherboard replacement.
As far as the processor upgrade itself you may want to discuss that over in the Dimension - Upgrade Hardware forum. The folks that visit that forum can best advise you whether or not the new processor will work in your system.
Message Edited by Majestic on 03-24-2006 07:00 AM
Kyle S.
9 Posts
0
March 24th, 2006 16:00
Thank you VERY much for your quick and thorough response, I do have one further question however:
-I currently have BIOS A02 (haha, wow), will I be able to upgrade to A06 before the new processor would arrive? In other words, will the BIOS upgrade to A06 still cause my current processor (1.6Ghz) and everything to run the same? Thank you very much!
Oh and regarding if the processor will work with my current PC - I got that link and everything form another 4300 topic in another forum on this same Dell Support site and the guy says it worked great. The Mhz and Socket and etc. all match up fine, so it hopefully should be good with a BIOS upgrade.
Also hopefully should be one heck of a performance boost?
Message Edited by Kyle S. on 03-24-2006 01:00 PM
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
March 25th, 2006 12:00
Kyle S.
9 Posts
0
March 25th, 2006 22:00
Kyle S.
9 Posts
0
March 25th, 2006 22:00
I opened the .exe BIOS file that was downloaded and I wrote it to the Floppy just fine. I left the floppy in the drive and restarted my PC. It booted up in MS-DOS mode and it said something similar to "A:>xD4300A06.exe" I didn't get the file name exact but I assume it's the executable file that was written to the floppy. After it said that, it stated "Loading", then after that it gave me a date read error message and then the options "Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail". I tried "retry" but it said the same thing, so I shut off my computer and turned it back on to get back into windows. Is there anything I am doing wrong or is there something with that why it won't work?
I am going to try a different floppy after this post and see if that works, but I doubt it. Thanks :)
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
March 26th, 2006 13:00
Kyle S.
9 Posts
0
March 30th, 2006 03:00
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
March 30th, 2006 13:00
Kyle S.
9 Posts
0
March 30th, 2006 22:00
Well unfortunately I have had my hopes and dreams shot down. I installed the processor and it fit perfectly into place and I hardly used any force at all. So I was very excited, did all of the installation procedures correctly, and then turned on my computer..... ooh guess what? Yellow light instead of green. So I assumed it was just I did not install it properly. So I open my case back up and pop out the microprocessor. Just for kicks I inspected it. Ooh guess what, a broken pin. So I call up Stalliontek as I am 100% sure that I did not break any of the pins as it nearly just sat itself into place. Hardly used any force on the ZIF lever or anything. They won't give me a refund or an exchange obviously. So I went to go put the old 1.6Ghz back into place and guess what. It doesn't fit. So I look at that to see why and ooh, a BENT pin! YAY! So here I am out two microprocessors. So now I am on my mom's lame HP and am typing this. Is there any way that bent pins are fixable if slowly bent back into place? Uggh... I am so upset and I cannot afford to purchase anymore upgrades for a very long time and now I basically don't have a computer anymore. :mansad: Thanks.
Oh btw majestic I printed that manual off about a week ago when I placed the order, just to see how to remove the heatsink and stuff.
Message Edited by Kyle S. on 03-30-2006 06:36 PM
Kyle S.
9 Posts
0
March 31st, 2006 01:00
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
March 31st, 2006 10:00