Upgrading a Dimensions E510 headache

Question

I currently have a Dimensions E510 with the following hardware.

Motherboard part #OKF623 with Northbridge chip 945GZ

Pentium 4 650 with HT

2G's 533 DDR2

Dell version of ATI Radeon X600 (Actually overclocks fairly well 400/250 stock to 521/318)..!

After some research I purchased a motherboard from a Optiplex 755, this motherboard shows more upgade ability compared to the existing board... CPU's like Q6600 for starters

Motherboard part #GM819 with Northbridge chip Q35 Express

I tried installing just the board after modifying the back panel with a Dremel and discovered the I/O front panel and cable is a propriety item, but with more research the I/O panel and cable from an Optipelx 755 Mini Tower is a direct swap into my Dimensions case. Even though the power button did not work it would turn on once I plugged in the power cord, this first attempt I noticed it had no display (the screen power button turns amber after a few moments)? (computer button was green as long as it was plugged in) I reinstalled the old board and everything worked again.

I first thought it was the memory since the Dell specs only goes back to DDR2 667/800, so I picked up 2G's of 1066 DDR2 Kingston HyperX and checked it out in the old board, everything worked as advertised accept it still only ran at 533 which is the max for the old board.. I just wanted to make sure it would back pedal and it did.

I then picked up an Optiplex 755 front I/O panel and installed again the new motherboard. This time I could use the power button normally but still no display, also the front panel lights did not come on at all accept the the powerbutton comes on and stays green, (the lights come on momentarly before post with the old board) I also hear the floppy drive momentarly, and all fans run.

The next step I presume will be to try a different CPU since this 650 HT is not even a dual core. Can anyone tell me if this is the reason or is my new MOBO no good? or possibly something I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance

Message Edited by Captncarb on 10-21-2008 10:06 PM

Message Edited by Captncarb on 10-21-2008 10:08 PM

RoHe · Answer

Have you tried booting in Safe Mode?

Check all your connections. Make sure everything is properly seated in it's slot and all the cables are connected correctly (eg, from PC to monitor). I don't know if this motherboard has on-board graphics, but if it does, Bios may be set to use those instead of an add-in video card, so do you have the monitor connected to the correct output?

If you kept the same hard drive, it has the drivers on it that are used by the E510 motherboard (eg, chipset) so there's a good chance you don't have the correct driver to run the new motherboard.

Go here for the Intel Chipset driver for the 775. Once you have video output, download/install it in Safe Mode.

Ron

RoHe · Answer

I wondered about that too, but it's too late now that all the $$ has been spent. ;)   Ron

The_Namek · Answer

Captncarb, This is not entirely on topic but I have to ask. Unless it was purely for the thrill of the mod why spend the money for an Opti 755 mobo, I/O panel & possibly a new processor rather than just building yourself a new system or buying an Opti 755? Message Edited by The_Namek on 10-22-2008 07:26 PM

Captncarb · Answer

RoHe

I did try removing the graphics card and hooked up to the on board graphics with the same result, just a black screen and no post, (I can't even enter setup) which is making safe mode not an option thus far.

I have also tried resetting the BIOS several times, I thought about the battery being dead but that would just cause the BIOS clock to not keep time I believe. I think you are right once I get past the blank screen that the chip set drivers will need downloaded unless they are in the operating system already, I do most all the updates as they come out.

Thanks for your reply

Captncarb · Answer

Namek

Yes I do like to tinker with computers and cars...

At first I was looking to just do a processor upgrade, but talking with Dell went no where...! Hmmm funny the sales rep when I bought the computer said I could upgrade? (did I mention this is a BTX system).. Dell support said I already have the fastest CPU that this board could handle, forms like this one say otherwise though, but still the best I maybe could do would be a 945/950 Pentium D and that is still just a maybe. This did not provide for much prospect more than what I already have. Looking at being stuck with a Dell for many reasons, operating system, cost of a new system and I like the look/design of my current system, Optiplex's are quite abundant on E-Bay but the styling is pretty drab by comparison.

I started to realize that the 755 MoBo has some potential and it also is a BTX system allowing it to fit in my existing case with a mod to the back panel. Yes the I/O panel was a surprise but only cost $16.00 and some patience to correct, another difference is the 755 MOBo has no IDE connection (replaced with SATA for a total of 5) so an adapter or a different DVD/CD will have to be added to the cost to complete this Mod.

The plan in a nutshell

GM819 motherboard with Q35 chipset $65.00 purchased

E6750 or Q6600 $100.00 to $200.00?

2G's 1066 DDR2 $53.00 purchased

I/O panel surprise $16.00 purchased

DVD/CD drive $55.00

Still cheap and satisfies the tinker bug for a little while...

Message Edited by Captncarb on 10-22-2008 10:27 PM

RoHe · Answer

Are you sure the CPU is compatible with this motherboard? Is it seated correctly? Since Dell provides a chipset for this motherboard, it's not included in XP.

And I hate to suggest this so please don't kill the messenger, but did you get a bum motherboard ?? :(

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 10-23-2008 09:35 AM

Captncarb · Answer

RoHe

According to Dell the MoBo only supports 1066/1333 FSB on the CPU side, where as my current CPU is a 800 FSB so no it is not compatable, I just thought I would get more than a blank screen??? when I think back several yeas ago the AMD I was using, the heatsink popped off and smoked the CPU, 7 peices to be exact, that caused a blank screen also.. but once the CPU was replaced it all worked again. I can kind of see how the motherboard just isn't being energized with this CPU leaving me with the blank screen. I am going to have to get compatable CPU to figure this one out for sure...

If it's not the CPU than this board is toast.

more to come and thanks for the replies.

RoHe · Answer

Sure you want to sink more $$ into this, rather than buy a new system?   Ron

Captncarb · Answer

I'm almost there now, just a CPU away unless the board is bad.  If thats the case then I'll E-Bay another one, I'm too hard headed to start over, LOL...   Captncarb

Captncarb · Answer

RoHe

I did sink more money into it, and have partial success, I know the motherboard isn't dead. I no longer have a blank screen and I'm able to go into CMOS/Setup, but the computer reaches the Windows screen and reboots back to post? I have a selection of 3 Safe Modes that don't show the windows screen but shows the boot log up to a certain point until it reboots back to post.

I do get a message that the CPU is not supported but the BIOS reads it correctly? hopefully I can update the BIOS to stop the MESSAGE.

I think I need to reinstall windows to correct the operating system for the new hardware... But the new board only has SATA so my IDE DVD/CD won't connect leaving me to once again return to the old board until I can either get an adaptor or SATA DVD/CD.

The following is what I have so far: - Optiplex 755 motherboard - 2G's 1066 Kingston HyperX - E8200 2 core duo - Windows XP installed with the old board.

I'm also able to run a dell hardware test, everything passes and my CPU temp stays below 80*F during the 40 min+ test.

Thanks again for your inputs

Captncarb · Answer

Successes at last, because there is no IDE on the 755 board I had to get a new DVD/CD drive with power adapter and SATA cable.. I installed the operating system disk and let it perform a repair on the XP. A flash to the latest BIOS stopped the CPU not supported message and chip set drivers from dell has everything working thus far with no major gliches.

The ATI Catalyst control center software was causing an error on boot into windows so I removed the software using REGEDIT search, I wasn't using the software before but it wasn't causing any problems before either.

If I change anything I would get a different CPU, the E8200 is very fast but is a 1333 FSB cpu, I could go to a Q6600 and BSEL pin mod the FSB from 1066 to 1333 for a 3.4G quad core, I had hoped to get 1600 from the E8200 but the motherboard doesn't support it. [:'(]

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Upgrading a Dimensions E510 headache

Was this post helpful?