Few questions from a novice builder

[walkproud]

I have acquired a rather low end PC and have a few questions about the parts I could use on it.

Current Parts in the PC:

RAM: 4x1GB DDR2 PC2-5300(333 MHz)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.2 GHz | Socket LGA 775

Gfx Card: MSI AMD Radeon HD 7700 series - Not sure of the actual cards name

PSU: 450W I think, currently using this build to post this.

 

The parts I am listing are the best I could find for what the mobo manufacturer page says, to my knowledge.
Mobo Page: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01077641

The best CPU I could find on newegg based on the the mobo page is:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAHB08770323&cm_re=intel_core_2_quad_q6600-_-9SIAHB08770323-_-Product

The best RAM i could find on newegg is:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAD8U7AX8744

 

My questions are:

Is that the best CPU there is for that board? I've seen others that will fit a 775 socket, but the mobo page says it only supports up to the CPU shown on newegg.
There is a CPU on newegg that is close to that:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAHB08770338&cm_re=intel_core_2_quad_q9650-_-9SIAHB08770338-_-Product

Will this ^^^ CPU work in it? I'd rather not mess up the board as I'm trying to make this a decent build for the wife to play on.

 

My last question(s) are: Is there better ram that will work on this? Is it safe to go above the 667/800 limit the mobo page says?

 

If you have any questions about other specs on this, I will reply with anything needed. Also, I don't know of many other part sites other than Newegg.

[grss1982]

From the link you provided https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01077641 this seems to be a G33 chipset but the same page also mentions support for 65nm C2Ds and C2Qs (6xxx series) but not the newer 45nm C2Ds and C2Qs (8xxx and 9xxx series).

 

Unless a BIOS update was released by HP you're probably stuck with a 65nm C2D and C2Q processors.

 

Contrast that with this G33 based motherboard from ASUS which basically supports all the 775 processors I mentioned above: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5KVM/

[MandoPanda]

Also, keep an eye on that TDP. You need to make sure your PSU can handle it.

[walkproud]

On 10/16/2018 at 12:20 AM, grss1982 said:

From the link you provided https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01077641 this seems to be a G33 chipset but the same page also mentions support for 65nm C2Ds and C2Qs (6xxx series) but not the newer 45nm C2Ds and C2Qs (8xxx and 9xxx series).

 

Unless a BIOS update was released by HP you're probably stuck with a 65nm C2D and C2Q processors.

 

Contrast that with this G33 based motherboard from ASUS which basically supports all the 775 processors I mentioned above: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5KVM/

As it turns out, when hp put out the bios update for this board, it allowed for the 45nm cpu's, but they reverted it and put out a new update that didnt allow it. So even if i do update the BIOS, I'm still stuck with the 65nm ones.

However, i did notice something. The mobo page says "Core 2 Duo E4x00 up to E4400", but the board comes stock with a E4500 cpu. If i can find a higher cpu for cheap, ill give it a test. But ill stick with the 6k series cpu for now.

[grss1982]

12 hours ago, walkproud said:

As it turns out, when hp put out the bios update for this board, it allowed for the 45nm cpu's, but they reverted it and put out a new update that didnt allow it. So even if i do update the BIOS, I'm still stuck with the 65nm ones.

However, i did notice something. The mobo page says "Core 2 Duo E4x00 up to E4400", but the board comes stock with a E4500 cpu. If i can find a higher cpu for cheap, ill give it a test. But ill stick with the 6k series cpu for now.

The highest Core 2 Duo E4x00 series IS the E4500.  You can't go any higher than that.

 

Your best bet will be a Core 2 Quad Q6xx0 series or Core 2 Duo E6xx0 series which are both 65nm processors.