PCTech Forums

I have two Dell Optiplex gx260 computers.

One is a Small Form Factor (SFF) running:
2.00 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
1GB RAM
Board: Dell Computer Corp. 02X378
Bus Clock: 400 megahertz
BIOS: Dell A06 04/28/2003

The other is a "small desktop" and is running:
2.4 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
512MB RAM
Board: Dell Computer Corp. (no model specified in BELARC)
Bus Clock: 533 megahertz
BIOS: Dell A00 05/10/2002

The 2.4ghz computer seems to run much faster than the 2.0 unit.
I am assuming it is due to the processor and BUS speed as most everything else is very similar…

They both have:
Fresh installs of Windows XP (SP2 installed)
Almost identical programs loaded on the HDD (40GB total / 30GB free)
Almost identical programs starting up and running

QUESTION:
I would like to know if it is possible for me to switch CPU's so that can run the faster processor in the smaller (SFF) computer?

Can I just swap them or do I need to do anything first to ensure I do not do any damage to either computer?

My assumption is the first thing I need to do is update the Bios to the newest version so they both match (A009)…then what?

The first thing I would say you need to do is to make sure that the motherboards will accept the other CPU.

In the upper left hand corner of this forum is a link to SiSoft Sandra Lite download this and use it to identify each motherboard.

Then look up each motherboard to make sure it will support the other CPU.

Once you know that they are interchangeable you will most likely have to get some thermal paste like
Then follow the application instructions found

When removing/installing the CPU the most important thing is to make sure that you do not bend any of the pins.