Upgrading Dell OptiPlex GX1

Why?

A good exercise for CompTIA A+ students. Many slot-1 motherboards could be upgraded to run the Tualatin processor by using Slot-1 adaptor.

I done it because I have all the components and it is easy to work on a GX1.

The followings are how I did it, with the help of many web pages. One of them is Dell GX1 Upgrade.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the original Dell GX1 system that I have

Processor: Intel Pentium III 500 MHz (Slot 1, L2 Cache 256 Kb, 100 MHz FSB)

Memory: 128 mB

BIOS: a09

Onboard video memory: 4 mb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The followings are what I did to upgrade the system

-I downgraded the BIOS from version a09 to a07. Save GX1_A07.EXE onto a bootable floppy disk and reboot the system with the floopy disk.

-I took out the 128 mB DIMM memory module and put in three 256 mB DIMM memory modules. The 256 mb modules need to be double sides. This GX1 motherboard is one of the few could have memory of greater than 512 mb.

-I took out the Pentium III assembly and put in the Powerleap PL-iP3/T upgrade with a Celeron 1200 CPU.

-I replaced the fan on the Powerleap PL-iP3/T with the fan from the Pentium III assembly. The original Pentium III fan may not pwerful enough; however, the GX1's fan (see below) is specially designed for Dell.

-I put in a PCI video card to increase the video memory to 16 mb.

-The computer rebooted with no problem!

-I enabled the ACPI in the system setup so the OS will set this computer as an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC . You enter the system setup with F2.

-I did a clean install of Windows XP Home Edition.

-I disabled the onboard video.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the upgraded Dell GX1 system

Processor: Intel Celeron 1.2 GHz (Tualatin Socket 370 FC-PGA2, L2 Cache 256 Kb, 100 MHz FSB)

Memory: 768 mB

BIOS: a07

Video: 16 mB PCI card

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More notes:

1) The CPU speed increased from 500 MHz to 1200 MHz, 2.4 times faster.

2) After the CPU upgrade, the system setup says that it has a Pentium III 800 MHz processor with 512 kb L2 cache. But the CPU-Z says it has an Taulatin Celeron 1200 MHz processor.

3) CPU fan of most Dell computers has a proprietary design that includes an RPM sensor and the color white wire carries the fan sense signal.

Without the proprietary connector, the BIOS does not recognize the fan and you get an error on boot. It says 'Alert! Previous fan error. Press F1 to continue or F2 for setup.'

Third-party fans without this connector work great and the computer works just fine. But you won't be alerted if the CPU fan is dying.