Inspiron 620, 2nd gen i7-2600 upgrade?

This is a crippled system like optiplex 390 or 3010 with H61 chipset.

You can get a 990 with 2600 CPU for about what the cpu alone used to cost.

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Optiplex-Quad-Core-Professional-Refurbished/dp/B0741D3VS6/

https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General-Read-Only/Dell-Insprion-620-Vostro-260-NO-Bios-Setting-for-AHCI/td-p/3799851/page/2

Intel(R) H61 Express Chipset Family LPC Interface Controller - 1C5C

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C5C&SUBSYS_04ED1028&REV_05
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C5C&SUBSYS_04ED1028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C5C&CC_060100
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C5C&CC_0601

It CANNOT DO AHCI.  Tons of people saying they patched this out without posting clear verifiable instructions on this so I call BS on that.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/52806/intel-h61-express-chipset.html

 They list a ton of cpu compatible with the chipset.

Bios is another matter as is max power for the cpu based on motherboard regulator.

Intel® Core™ i7-3770T Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-3770S Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-3770K Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-3770 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3570S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3570T Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3570K Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3570 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3550S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3550 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3475S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3470T Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3470S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3470 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3450S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3450 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3350P Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3340S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3340 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3330S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-3330 Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3250T Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3250 Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3245 Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3240T Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3240 Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3225 Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3220T Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3220 Processor
Intel® Core™ i3-3210 Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-2600S Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-2600K Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-2600 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2500T Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2500S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2500 Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2450P Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2405S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2400S Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-2400 Processor

What I'm saying is that this system has 3770   3rd Gen

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Optiplex-Quad-Core-Professional-Refurbished/dp/B0741D3VS6/

And its UNDER $300.

Also includes Windows 10 PRO and an SSD

Here is another Chipset: Intel Q77  4 ram slots capable of 32 gigs.

790 990  7010 9010 9020 are not crippled like 390  3010 3020Intel® Desktop Boards with Intel® Q77 Express Chipset

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Optiplex-7010-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B07GRD9MV3/

Also good value because its not crippled.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=i7-3770&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

I would much rather spend on a system that works than hope that it works.

Also the 990 is not crippled and does AHCI.

I may still consider getting a 9010. Originally the system ran Windows 7 Home Premium so it had the COA still on top. I took the lame little 240GB SSD from my laptop and put Windows 10 Home on it using the Windows 7 COA. Then I set up the original 1TB hard drive as a storage drive for pictures and what not. I probably won't do a ram upgrade though because the current 8GB is fine. Thank you for all the info and research! 🙂

But Windows 10 and SSD and RAM and CPU is going to be more than $300.

Core I7  3rd gen aka 3770 just the cpu is going to be over $200.

Windows 10 Home is at least $109  and Windows 10 Pro is $179

If you can find a 2600 for under $100 it might be worth while barely.

This is close but still a waste if it doesn't work.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00HDAUPAU

Social Support Team Contact:- Twitter - @DellCares

Windows 10 will install if you have a HOME or PRO DVD.

https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-64-bit-installation-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350237

This disk is well worth the $15 IMHO.

Works on ANY Dell with WIN7 COA or WIN8 or 10 Key in bios.

The really wierd thing is that there is one disk and it works for HOME or Pro.

You install using the "I dont have a key option"

Then activate once online by changing the key to the COA sticker Key.

You have to choose Home for Home COA and Pro for Pro or Ultimate COA key.

I forgot to add that I considered purchasing a used Optiplex MT like a 990 or 9010 but I'm trying do this for as little money as possible but get decent performance. This computer seemed like a good place to start and since I already had it and the other parts laying around I used to upgrade it with I haven't spent any money. 

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, I noticed this motherboard looked identical to the one in the Optiplex 390 and the Vostro 260. I read a fourm a couple years ago about someone getting 16GB of ram in their 390 when Dell claimed it only supported 8GB with a 2x4GB kit. I was checking out Ebay listings on the 620 a while back to see what it was worth and I came across one where a guy had a single 8GB stick in one slot and claimed it supported 16GB. He also had a picture of it but who knows. I haven't found anyone that attempted to put the i7-2600 in their Optiplex 390 or Vostro 260 but a lot of places said the H61 chipset supports it. But you're right it is a rather basic motherboard and it could be that bios limitation or it could be that Dell never tested it with the system at all but only stuck with the Pentium, i3 and i5 processors. I may still buy one and try it just to see what happens and if it doesn't work I could put it in an Optiplex 790 that gets used at my family's business. I'm usually an AMD guy so I don't know a lot about Intel. LOL. But I wasn't all that excited about the AMD processors of the time. The last Intel system I used before this one was when I was a kid and it was our Dimension 4600 with a Pentium 4.

Hi Alex,

Just curious if you ended up trying out the i7 on the 620 and if it actually worked? I'm in a similar situation and have an i5-2400 in the 620 right now and am considering picking up a relatively inexpensive i7-2600.

Thanks,

Tat

Welcome to the Dell Community  @tatchong 

99% chance of success!!!

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/CPUs/Intel/Core_i5/i5-2400.html

Best regards,

U2

I can confirm the 16gb memory works fine in a Dell 620

can you send me a link so i can upgrade my pro gamer inspiron 620