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1 Rookie

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5 Posts

3889

August 18th, 2019 10:00

Optiplex 790 DT CPU Upgrade Heatsink question.

I currently have a OptiPlex 790 DT.It currently has an i3 2120 installed.My question is can I use the stock Dell 5-pin HSF to cool a i5 2500 or will I need something better to cool it properly? I have an Intel HSF with the copper core that I could use with a 4-pin to 5 pin adapter.Only problem with using the intell HSF is I will probably get an error message upon start-up.Anyone have any suggestions on how I should approach this?

2 Intern

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2.5K Posts

August 19th, 2019 07:00

you are wrong, my 3020 has 2 heatsinks by dell,   the tall one is rated for 95 watts and not the short one

so saying they only have 1 HS is not correct. (blanket) but how could you know what dell has, nobody can....

dell has no parts list unlike the great HP.com has (parts surfer) so learning what DELL has is PITA.

to learn we shop online for all mobo and all fans sold for it all are dell and see all the different HS./Fans used.

sad how they they can make fan/hs matrix showing what each does, but with lemons we make lemon-aid.

dell also gets very upset (BIOS does) if the BIOS sees PWM/RPM profiles wrong, it tells you the fan is failing.

but if you keep the same fan all is ok.

The heat sink bolt down pattern is as standards size.  and can be upgraded, with taller heatsinks.

I have 790 here tried the Intel acutal fan and it fits but fan RPM wrong, and PWM rules all wrong but works

just get F1 every boot, I just  wanted to see how well the intel fan works and is also sold in taller HS.

the fan is the large problem.

Dell only support the CPU in the 790 guide.

the tall fan/HS I think  is

Used Dell 9XJXY Optiplex 990 790
CPU Heatsink & Fan Assembly DW014

09XJXY 0D0W1H

the only logic is 95watt rated and cost.

dell in fact uses smaller shorter HS on many PC. to save money.

as seen here ,  real photos of 2 fans,

 

478 Posts

August 18th, 2019 13:00

I may be wrong, but I suspect dell used the same heatsink and fan for all of the different processor options. It just makes sense logistically.

Be sure to do a good job on the heatsink compound.

 

1 Rookie

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5 Posts

August 18th, 2019 16:00

The stock HSF looks like the best cpu it can cool would be a i5 2500s.Thats a 65w cpu versus a 95w one:(

6 Professor

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8.2K Posts

August 18th, 2019 20:00

In the Tech Guide, the I5 2500 is on the list of CPU's the 790 DT can take.  Therefore, the stock heatsink should be fine.

Optiplex 790 Tech Guide

9 Legend

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47K Posts

August 19th, 2019 07:00

Dell uses copper performance heat-sink or aluminum heat-sink.

Dell also uses proprietary wiring for the fan header.

You cannot change from 60W processor to 95W or more processor on smaller form factors. 

DT in general is not upgrade-able due to tiny power supply.

 

 

1 Rookie

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5 Posts

August 19th, 2019 07:00

But is the heatsink used for the i3 2120 the same heatsink they use for the i5 2500?

1 Rookie

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5 Posts

August 19th, 2019 09:00

Excellent post! Exactly what I needed to know.

6 Professor

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8.2K Posts

August 19th, 2019 21:00

Hi @savvy2,

Duly noted.

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