Upgrading A Dell E520 Mobo To A E521 Mobo

I have a Dell, E520 desktop. I was given 2, E521 MOBO's and was wondering if it would be worth pulling the MOBO from the E520 and installing the E521. Any thoughts?

 

Hi Sarge, I have done some research for you, first of all the E520 uses an Intel CPU and the E521 uses an AMD. Here are some specs for you to look at and then maybe you can decide.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dime520/en/SM_EN/specs.htm

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dime521/en/SM_EN/specs.htm

Cheers: Rich :nod:

 

Thanks Rich!! I brought up the SPECS side by side and it seems (to me anyway) that the E521 MOBO may be a better choice. Not really to sure about the SPECS and understanding them. I'm more of a hardware kinda guy!! Boards look the same. RAM is the same and I use internal video and sound cards as opposed to the MOBO's. Always thought Intels were more stable thqan AMD's though?? Thanks for doing the footwork for me. Still undecided though :/

 

Well, AMD has come a long way since the beginning. I was always a huge intel fan, until I built my current machine. I used an AMD CPU and I have no regrets at all. AMD use to be notorious for over heating and then they would pooch. I use some excellant heat monitoring software such as SIW and Speccy so I can keep an eye on any over heating. So far so good and plus, I don't overclock my machine because there is no need to, it is fast enough as is. I guess it all comes down to user preference. I really like my AMD CPU.

Cheers and good luck: Rich

 

PS: I personally would never buy a Dell machine, because I never cared for their sales and marketing strategy. Now, I am not sure if it is still like this or not, but, everything with them was proprietory. You would buy a machine from them and if you wanted to upgrade it, you had to send it back to them. I disagree with that because I am a business man and I believe in free enterprise. You simply could not go to a local computer shop and buy parts to upgrade. Dell wanted to control the market and they did. I have never bought a computer off the shelf, my first one was custom built for me and I have built my own ever since. The beauty of it is, I can go anywhere to buy parts and I can shop around for the best prices.

Cheers:

 

There is, as far as I can see, no advantage in "upgrading" to the E521.

Both boards are very similar.

Your Intel CPU would not be compatible on the E521 board - unless it came with the AMD CPU installed.

 

Also bear in mind, Windows may see enough differences in the motherboards and refuse to boot as it will see it as a new environment.

Nev.

 

Ricardo, Not sure if were talking about the same "Dell"!! I have ALWAYS owned Dell products (except for my 1st computer which was a Tandy 1000tx). I have always bought stripped (minimum hardware) down CPU's from them, even refurbs that had warranties and later installed 3rd party hardware such as RAM, soundcards and vid cards without having to send it back to Dell!!! Granted, Dell would LOVE to sell me their upgrade hardware, but when I can get it 50% cheaper from other sites, why would I?

 

The only limitations you used to get were the small form factor PCs that used awkward low profile cards, but even then you could get them, but it just wasnt worth the cost.

As for AMD vs Intel - lets not start an age old debate yet again :shh: