Can I Swap Out My Cpu For Another ?

[fatgaz]

Hi peeps, I have a dell OptiPlex 380 with a xeon L5420 2.5 ghz processor, can I take out that processor and put another one in that has a higher ghz say 3.0 or more if so what would you recommend, thanks in advance for any replies Fatgaz

[VHG]

I gave this answer below on another question a week or so back

Note that you cant just buy the latest fastest CPU and put it in your PC.

It depends what socket the motherboard has.

The socket type (Intel or AMD) and the socket number (LGA 1151 for example) denote what CPU "family" go in there.

Then you need to find the fastest CPU in that FAMILY to fit in your motherboard.

You may also need to check with the PC or motherboard manufacturer to see if you can use that CPU (the BIOS might not support it or you may need to update the BIOS).

Note also that if it is an old PC you may have trouble buying a CPU that fits it. Once a new family of CPUs come out they stop making the old family so you have to buy second hand of ebay or whatever.

Note that buying a CPU that is twice as fast as your current CPU will not double the speed of the computer. There are all sorts of other factors that affect computer speed (memory speed, BUS speed, hard disk speed, graphics card speed and so on).

So you may go to all the bother of putting in a new CPU and find you only gain 10% speed improvement.

Belarc Advisor will tell you all you need to know about your PC (socket type etc), get it from here:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

[VHG]

Here is the other question from a few days ago

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Computers/Question1469870.html

[fatgaz]

thankyou so much for the reply VHG very informative will prob just save up an buy a better comp at a later date ty