390, CPU upgrades?

I don’t think Ivy Bridge CPU will be supported as Dell is not known for updating old BIOS to support new features.

From my personal experience, Dell did not update the BIOS to support AHCI nor adding the option to boot from PCIE devices. So my guess will be Dell did not release any BIOS update to support Ivy Bridge CPU.

May be the processor your looking for is in a different Dell?  Not meant to take away that 390's can run some I5's, but a computer upgrade could go farther.  Please see screengrabs.  (I don't work for Walmart.com but they're easy to use for screengrabs since they sell new and refurb, and not used.)  My refurb came from there.

Hi @DELL-Alasdair R,

What is the real reason socket types change?

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@bradthetechnut wrote:

What is the real reason socket types change?

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Money.

By introducing a new CPU socket each generation, Intel assures that each new finished system sold with the latest processors will also include a new motherboard + chipset, thereby satisfying its corporate profit goals.

Planned obsolescence is a common tactic for a business with a stranglehold on a market segment. If Intel held only a small piece of the CPU pie, it could never get away with this.

Thank you very much for the reply.

So once I update my bios to A14 I can use any of the CPUs that you have mentioned in the this thread?

I run the Optiplex as a NAS for file sharing and PLEX. Since it runs 24/7 I want a low power consumption CPU.

which CPU should be the most relevant for me? Not going to high with the budget?

Processors for your 390 are typically either 65W or 95W.  The list @speedstep gave are all links to compare specs. and prices, including the two at the bottom with Amazon links.

As for what's best for NAS & PLEX, I'm leaving that to somebody with similar expertise.

Hi @danieliod,

Also, wattages listed for CPU's are max wattages; and certainly don't take max wattage at times they're sitting idle.  You could probably lean toward performance within whatever your budget is.  eBay is another good place to compare prices.  I'd lean toward new or refurb vs. used, and look for a warranty.

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@danieliod wrote:

 

I run the Optiplex as a NAS for file sharing and PLEX. Since it runs 24/7 I want a low power consumption CPU.

 

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When using a desktop as a Plex Server, you need a nice processor to handle any required "Transcoding on the Fly". You don't want any slowness there or excessive network buffering. If it was mine, that would take priority over power-saving. If you happen to access it with 2 clients concurrently, the processor's work-load would double.

So you're saying the 390 will now accept Ivy Bridge CPU's with the new BIOS? I believe the update is primarily due to address a security vulnerability. I can't find one single instance of an Ivy Bridge in an Optiplex 390 anywhere and the new BIOS was released last summer.

FYI only I tried an I5 3470S in place of the I5 2400 and it will not work although it is the same socket.   Repeat just FYI only.  390SFF bios A9 Palm Beach MB. 

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@RoscoePColtrane wrote:

FYI only I tried an I5 3470S in place of the I5 2400 and it will not work although it is the same socket.   Repeat just FYI only.  390SFF bios A9 Palm Beach MB. 

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You would need the A14 BIOS update first, THEN try the i5-3470S. I'd love to know if it works.

Also, the i7-2600 100% works (but you need a video card as it doesn't support the on board graphics), and I am using an i5-2500. So as usual the Dell validated CPU list means nothing.

For what it is worth , I just acquired an Optiplex 390 (VERY cheap), an I7-2600 SR00B (reasonable) and a Radeon HD 6670 (cheap).

The MB had BIOS version A03, so I flashed it to A14 (latest).

It took the I7-2600 with NO problems. With the stock Dell heatsink and fan, It idles at 26° C and maxes out at 73° C after half an hour or so of Prime95.

The I7-2600 SR00B DOES have the Intel HD Graphics 2000, but it makes the CPU idle 5° C hotter, and it barely made it through FurMark 1.20.4.0 (> 3 FPS).

In conclusion, you can do a whole lot worse than adding an I7-2600 SR00B to an Optiplex 390.

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@Mewcatchew wrote:

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You would need the A14 BIOS update first, THEN try the i5-3470S. I'd love to know if it works.

Also, the i7-2600 100% works (but you need a video card as it doesn't support the on board graphics), and I am using an i5-2500. So as usual the Dell validated CPU list means nothing.

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I have a optiplex 390 sff mainboard with A14 BIOS, working with a Celeron G530. A CPU replacement with Core i5 3470 didn´t work - neither with discrete videocard nor IGP.

Well that figures. Honestly the setup I have ( i5-2500, 120GB SSD boot drive, 1050 TI, & 16 GB RAM) is plenty fast enough for anything I do (mostly YouTube, Liveleak and PS2 emulation etc. at most). It's really the SSD that gives the greatest performance boost, it gives it lightning quick boot up & responsiveness. I honestly seen no difference from upgrading the i3-2100 to an i5-2500, but then again i'm not a hard-core gamer or doing video editing.

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@onkelkurt wrote:

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@Mewcatchew wrote:

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You would need the A14 BIOS update first, THEN try the i5-3470S. I'd love to know if it works.

Also, the i7-2600 100% works (but you need a video card as it doesn't support the on board graphics), and I am using an i5-2500. So as usual the Dell validated CPU list means nothing.

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I have a optiplex 390 sff mainboard with A14 BIOS, working with a Celeron G530. A CPU replacement with Core i5 3470 didn´t work - neither with discrete videocard nor IGP.

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