Optiplex 7020 MT, CPU upgrade?

Question

Hello,

I have been given a Dell Optiplex 7020 Mini Tower free of charge and was wondering if there's any way I could possibly upgrade the i3 processor to an i5/i7. I am planning on using this PC for some gaming this Summer (I'm not talking massive gaming just something that can run a vary of games that require i5 processors), I do have a graphics card etc to go with it and able to get more RAM. I do have money to spend If I did need to buy parts. I have since have been using a Macbook Pro and have missed gaming. I am aware this type of PC is mainly used for office work etc but just wanted to know if it was possible and what i'd need to go out and buy to make it run better.

Here are the specs:

Windows 7 Professional

Dell Optiplex 7020 Mini Tower

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4150 CPU @ 3.50GHz

RAM: 4.00 GB

64 -bit operating system

I have attached photos of the motherboard:

Thank you.

DELL-Alasdair R · Accepted Answer

Hi tiger_pearl,

The 7020 has an Intel Q87 Express Chipset which supports the following CPUs:

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/Q87.html

The highest specification of CPU that Dell validated with the 7020 was the i7-4790 so anything from the above list should be ok. One thing to check though, is the heatsink. There are two versions, one rated at 65W and one at 95W. If you are using one of the higher rated CPUs you will need the 95W version. I can't tell from the photos which version you have but there should be a label on it with the part number. G8CNY is the 95W version, whilst X3JDD is the part number of the 65W version.

If you are going to upgrade the CPU, make sure that the BIOS is up to date beforehand.

speedstep · Accepted Answer

4770K would require the Optional 365W power supply.

Dell OPTIPLEX XE2 9020 7020 3020

Precision T1700 T20

DPN 7VK45 T1M43

365W

This is a Proprietary 8 Pin instead of 24 pin Power supply.

Or you get a MODDIY Adapter and you can use an EVGA 700B1 power supply.

Theres even a guy who modified a power supply to work.

I have the ability to do this but I'm not willing to invest the time and effort.

https://raphtec.wordpress.com/projects/dell-poweredge-t20-atx-power-supply-adapter/

MODDIY CAB359 cable or equivalent.

This is not however supported by Dell.

https://www.moddiy.com/products/Dell-OptiPlex-7020-PSU-Main-Power-24%252dPin-to-8%252dPin-Adapter-Ca...

Someone has already tried this and it works.

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3515/p/19986195/21009213

EVGA Super nova 700B1 or 750B1 works fine.

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-SuperNOVA-Modular-Warranty-110-B1-0750-VR/dp/B00K85X23O

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-BRONZE-Warranty-Tester-100-B1-0700-K1/dp/B018JYHBE6/

tiger_pearl · Answer

Thank you so much for replying so quickly back to me, I am planning to go for one of the i7's preferably the intel core i7-4770k or any of the other 4770's. I was just wondering what type of heat sink should i buy, is any type of 95W heat sink okay? As you can tell i'm extremely new to this and i'm going to start to need talking graphics cards soon as I still don't own one

Thanks

tigerpearl

DELL-Alasdair R · Answer

The heatsink might have to be the Dell one, I'm not sure if a 3rd party one would fit properly.

As far as graphics cards go, the AMD Radeon R5 240 and AMD Radeon R7 250 were the only two models that shipped with the 7020. However, you'll be able to get something newer and better than them but I'm not really the best person to advise on that.

Thanks

tiger_pearl · Answer

Thank you for getting back so quickly, sorry for the late reply, I sorted out the right heatsink 95W and bought an i7-4790 and just put it all together today. When I tried to turn on the computer, the power button was flashing orange, taking a few seconds in between each few flashes.

Thanks a lot

Tiger

DELL-Alasdair R · Answer

Sorry to hear you're having issues. Does the system still work if you put the old CPU back in?

The power button should be flashing in sequence to indicate the possible cause of the error:

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln284978/a-reference-guide-to-the-dell-optiplex-diagnostic-indicators?lang=en#2012_to_Present

What is the code the you are seeing?

If you could let me know, thanks.

jcaceres88 · Answer

Hello I had the same issue upgrading Optiplex 3060 MFF from I5 to 8700T. Amber light appears. Should I have to wait unitl new processor installs? Is there a settled time it would take until computer starts?

Thank you

Nike0202 · Answer

Alasdair I have a 7020 sff running a core i3, 4th gen. What problems would I face upgrading to the core i7. The 7020 did have an i7 variant, were the motherboards the same?

WetSoupSpoon · Answer

I'm having the same issue with my Optiplex Tower 7020:

Processor:        Intel Core i5-14500 Socket 1700 LGA Model F 65W
Motherboard: Dell 0VV74D A00
BIOS:                Dell 1.15.0 03/24/2025
Northbridge:    Intel Alder Lake rev. 02
Southbridge: Intel Q670 rev. 11

I bought an Intel Core i7-14700F Socket 1700 to swap out with some new Crucial 64GB (32GBx2) DDR5-5600 uDIMM CT32G56C46U5.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/236854/intel-core-i7-processor-14700f-33m-cache-up-to-5-40-ghz/specifications.html

I swapped the memory first and powered back on. The security warning told me my memory amount had changed upon booting (it took a couple of minutes to start the boot screen). I clicked to continue booting. Windows 10 Enterprise loaded and now has 64GB (63.7GB usable) memory. Most of the instruments' software will run without much lag now, except a couple. So, trying the CPU update next...

The CPU fan has metal fan screw mounts that the fan mounts too. This is a nice feature but Intel sells the boxed CPUs with plastic thumb press mounts which won't fit the Dell case, unless you remove the motherboard and use a set of channel-lock pliers to rip off the fan screw mount from behind the motherboard, but then you'll never use a Dell branded fan ever again... anyway, I mounted the new Core i7 CPU with the arrow pointing in the direction of the hinge of the CPU mount chassis as the instructions suggest. re-mounted Dell's fan with silver grease after cleaning off the fan heat sink with a little isopropanol and drying. I too got black screen with the power button flashing orange and no boot. I swapped the Core i7 back to the Core i5 and everything boots no problem.

I looked at the link with CPUs that were in an earlier post, but the Socket 1700 Raptor Lake CPUs aren't in the list yet here: https://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/index.html

Both CPUs are 65W... Not sure what the issue might be...

Any thoughts anyone might have would be appreciated! WSS

WetSoupSpoon · Answer

@WetSoupSpoon​ Just updating my comments with more info. I swapped to the Core i7 just to record the 'amber-amber-amber-white-white' power button error code. I swapped back to the Core i5, and PC is running great again. Video attached. Would appreciate any help.

WetSoupSpoon · Answer

@WetSoupSpoon​ So, I guess helping myself more. I just realized the i7-14700F lacks integrated graphics while the i5-14500 does have integrated graphics. I wonder if adding in a cheap used video card in the PCI-e x16 port then installing the i7-14700F would work? It's a PC operating a technical instrument so I don't need anything fancy, just hoping to lower the time necessary to access complex spreadsheets and run background scripts while operating a few process controllers... Maybe I'll buy a GT 710 or GT 1070, but the power supply is only 300W...i7-14700F 65W - Max turbo power ~219W, plus optical drive, M.2, board, with the GT 710 I'd be getting close. How do I buy a Dell 365W power supply?

Optiplex Desktops

Optiplex 7020 MT, CPU upgrade?

Was this post helpful?