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Upgrading Dell 8300 Dimension
Is it possible to upgrade the hardware/software running XP in the Dell 8300 Dimension to run Windows 8. Is it worth the cost?
This post is more than 5 years old
6 Posts
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70195
Is it possible to upgrade the hardware/software running XP in the Dell 8300 Dimension to run Windows 8. Is it worth the cost?
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DELL-Appu S
3.1K Posts
1
February 4th, 2013 11:00
Hi Florabunda1947,
Dimension 8300 system has not been tested by Dell with Windows 8. So the drivers for Windows 8 would not be available. You can refer to the link for a compatible system tested by Dell with Windows 8 http://dell.to/RnDAFu
If you want to install Windows 8 on your system, you can run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before installing Windows 8. Upgrade Assistant checks your computer hardware to see if it meets the Windows 8 system requirements. Here is the link to download http://bit.ly/PSGwvj and click on ‘Download Upgrade Assistance’.
Please reply if you have any questions.
rdunnill
6 Professor
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8.8K Posts
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February 4th, 2013 12:00
No, the Dimension 8300 cannot run Windows 8, as the "No Execute" bit must be supported in the CPU and no Dimension 8300 CPUs do so.
The last version of Windows the Dimension 8300 will run is 7. Newegg frequently offers Home Premium for $80 with discount code. To run Windows 7, you'll want a modern graphics card like the Zotac GT 610 PCI. (Note that it must be PCI, not PCI Express.)
shesagordie
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February 4th, 2013 14:00
florabunda1947
The Dell dimension 8300, also support's AGP graphics cards, but the selection is limited
Bev.
rdunnill
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February 4th, 2013 14:00
Bev, I find it hard to believe an AGP video card would work under Windows 8.
The newest AGP cards released use the ATI 4XXX series and that's three versions behind.
shesagordie
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February 4th, 2013 15:00
There are AGP ATI Radeon 9200 series video cards, still available eg:
http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-256MB-Video-Graphics/dp/B007OQQUFW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1360020762&sr=1-1&keywords=ati+radeon+agp+video+cards
Bev.
rdunnill
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February 4th, 2013 16:00
Alas, the 9200 is even older than the 4XXX series and doesn't support DX9.
The best GPU available in AGP is the 4670, but the drivers are buggy and don't support HDMI audio.
habells
5 Posts
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April 1st, 2014 15:00
can the CPU be upgraded? I already upgraded the video board to support enhanced features in win7. The CPU is the show stopper for win8. I'd love to upgrade that as a project if possible.
shesagordie
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April 1st, 2014 18:00
artist58
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January 8th, 2016 08:00
Can the motherboard be upgraded on the Dell Dimension 8300? I see them selling for as little as $250 for AMD ... Everything inside my 8300 is made to be upgradeable with 3 hard drive slots (I have 2), etc. I have replaced numerous parts as they wore out since 2004 and I am just wondering whether I should consider the motherboard ....
shesagordie
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January 8th, 2016 09:00
artist58
Basically the answer is no, due to the Dimension 8300 proprietary 'Clamshell case and undocumented front panel wiring, you will find, it is not easy to install a non-Dell motherboard, or newer Dell motherboards.
Best to buy an ATX Mid Tower case, either a newer used, or new desktop.
You would need at a mimimum, new RAM, power supply, heatsink, maybe SATA hard drives and possibly a new retail copy of windows, as Dell's OEM copy is locked to their BIOS.
Bev.