CPU/RAM Compatibility questions?

[William C]

I have a Dell OptiPlex GX280 system that was damaged in the Katrina
flood. It only took a few inches of water but sat in it for about 2
weeks. The case, MB and video are shot. Everything else RAM, CPU and
drives was above water.

Dell has not been reasonable with purchasing just the parts I need. This
is annoying since the system was only 4 months old when it was flooded...

I am trying to find a compatible MB.

The CPU is a "PENTIUM 4 PRESCOTT DT, 520, SKT-T" at 2.8Ghz which is
sometimes referred to as "Socket T (LGA 775). I have found several
boards that will accept this type of processor.

The ram is where I get confused. At first I thought it was PC3200
memory, but a friend told me NO. Looking at the DELL packing slip it is
listed as "DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 256, 400M, 32X64, 8, 240, 1RX8"
which my friend says is DDR2-400. The sticker in the RAM says "Samsung
256MB 1Rx8 PC2-3200U-333-10-A1". In either case searching NewEgg didn't
list any DDR2-400 motherboards, only DDR2-533, 667 and 800. Are any of
these compatible?

I need a MB with 4 memory slots, and it doesn't have to be NewEgg. I
have done business with them before and have been happy with them, but if
they don't have a MB that will work...

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

As your friend said, the GX280 uses DDR2.

If it's a DDR2-400 (PC2-3200), mainboards that support faster RAM will be
backwards compatible with it.

I hope that you have two or four of the DIMMs, to get a) at least 512 MB of
RAM, and b) dual-channel operation. (The GX280 on my desk at work has a
single 512 MB DIMM. It works OK in single channel mode, but that offends my
nerdly soul. Cheap @#$%^& IT department.)

I hope that you can assemble a new machine for a reasonable cost. You'll
probably have to obtain a new copy of Windows XP, if that's your OS; if the
copy Dell provided is similar to ones I've seen in the recent past, it will
not install on a non-Dell system. (Perhaps you're a Linux user?)

I'm a little surprised that Dell won't sell you the GX280 parts that you
want. I would expect everything to be available, but that the sum of the
prices to be higher than a new system.

Good luck.

Bob Knowlden

Address may be scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[William C]

OK, so if the board says something like: "DDR2 Standard: DDR2 533" in the
specks then it should support my DDR2 400 RAM?

You got it right, it's not that Dell won't sell the parts, but the price
is, IMHO, very high.

I have 4 DIMMs (1GB). It originally came with only 2 (512MB) but I added
another 512MB.

I hadn't thought about the XP. I realized that I would probably have to
reinstall, but didn't know about any limitations on non-Dell systems.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Mark A]

OK, so if the board says something like: "DDR2 Standard: DDR2 533" in the
specks then it should support my DDR2 400 RAM?

You got it right, it's not that Dell won't sell the parts, but the price
is, IMHO, very high.

I have 4 DIMMs (1GB). It originally came with only 2 (512MB) but I added
another 512MB.

I hadn't thought about the XP. I realized that I would probably have to
reinstall, but didn't know about any limitations on non-Dell systems.

Thanks for the info.

If you have the key for your Win XP you can install from any disk (a
friend?) and use your original key. You will have to call Microsoft to get
your copy of WinXP registered (to allow updates, etc) since your hardware
signature will change with the new MB, but if you explain the situation I
don't think it will be a problem.

The cost of stocking and selling spare parts, which are often obsolete after
a few months, is much higher than the cost of building a new machine. For
one thing, they have to stock extra parts that will likely never be sold to
make sure they have enough for warranty and other requirements.

If you purchased all the parts for an automobile from the parts department
of your dealer, they would cost $100,000 or more.

 

[BigJim]

go here and check under mother board combos look for you 520 chip there are
a number of boards you can use www.pricewatch.com
find the board you want and the vendor of your choice

 

[GHalleck]

Mark A wrote:

If you have the key for your Win XP you can install from any disk (a
friend?) and use your original key. You will have to call Microsoft to get
your copy of WinXP registered (to allow updates, etc) since your hardware
signature will change with the new MB, but if you explain the situation I
don't think it will be a problem.

<<snipped>>

No longer true. Since April or May, Microsoft no longer provides
an activation number for bios-locked, OEM versions of Windows XP.
And I don't think Bill Gates is kind-hearted enough to take into
consideration the consequences of natural disasters of another
God.

 

[Mercury]

Get a new OEM version of XP when you purchase the replacement mobo - use the
mobo as the "qualifying" piece of h/w for the OEM purchase - this would be
the least cost approach to keeping legal.

You will need to do a repair install of XP on the original HDD as step #1
when bringing the new system up to make sure the new hardware is detected,
followed by motherboard drivers, etc and activation. This will preserver
your apps and settings.

Note that any new XP CD's are likely to have SP2 slipstreamed onto them...

Refrain from booting off the HDD until you have done the repair - use
memtest86 to do a basic system stability check (boot off a memtest86 floppy
to do so) is a good idea...

See www.michaelstevenstech.com for details on repair - he also mentions some
of the gotchas for OEM / Bios locked versions such as the Dell - which you
will escape if you get a proper OEM CD (or Full vversion if you prefer).

Post back if you need more help...

BOL & HTH