cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

Just trying to fix this old machine up to be able to run Linux on It. Was wondering If I could replace Its CPU with a Pentium 4 perhaps? Its using Intel® Celeron® processor with 533MHz front side bus and 256KB L2 cache at the moment.
Any help and advice appreciated.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
19 REPLIES 19
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

Can you find the actual motherboard reference
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

I think this Is It here...http://www.ascendtech.us/itemdesc.asp?ic=MB4DELGX60UNV&eq=&Tp=
Edit according to that link It seems It can? Its just with Linux on It at the moment the CPU Is maxed out at 100% with one page opened In FF.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

If you do try it you will probably need the Northwood core version http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/cpus-intel/intel-pentium-4-socket-478#Category127 as the Prescott core is the later one with an 800MHz FSB
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

Thanks Oldjim, I was looking at getting this, Only thing Is... Its not new.  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270723361114?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

Definitely worth a go - even free postage  Grin
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

I don't want to spend to much on the old banger Grin
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

If the CPU was overheating would that cos It to be maxing out at 100%?
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

If it is maxing out at 100% yes it will cause over heating - of course it just may be that the thermal interface is knackered with age
To be honest I don't know why it is maxing out - if it was Windows I would suggest Process Explorer to find out what was doing it - is there a Linux equivalent
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

In Linux I just open system monitor and check whats running there, I might go for that cheap CPU and maybe a new heat-sink If I can find one, I think I will try the CPU first. Thanks for your time and help Smiley
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

but does it tell you which process is hogging the CPU
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

I have Installed htop which does the same job but I'm finding It hard to find what's hogging It really, The computer Is lagging and seems like It Is really struggling to cope, The ram Is OK, I am using the pc just now and the only thing that hogs the memory Is Firefox, Tried to post a screen-shot but Its no go at the mo.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Waldo
Grafter
Posts: 473
Registered: ‎01-08-2007

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

For the top 10 most CPU-intensive processes:

[root@archie waldo]# ps -eo pcpu,pid,user,args | sort -k 1 -r | head -10
%CPU  PID USER    COMMAND
5.3  5963 waldo    /usr/lib/firefox-6.0/plugin-container /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so -greomni /usr/lib/firefox-6.0/omni.jar 1983 plugin
3.6  1638 waldo    /usr/bin/gnome-shell
3.3  1128 root    /usr/bin/Xorg :0 -br -verbose -auth /var/run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-ToKQxs/database -nolisten tcp vt7
14.2  1983 waldo    /usr/lib/firefox-6.0/firefox-bin
0.8  9375 root    [kworker/0:3]
0.6  985 root    /usr/bin/python2 -O /usr/share/wicd/daemon/wicd-daemon.py
0.6  7464 root    [kworker/1:1]
0.5  3551 root    [kworker/1:0]
0.4  858 dbus    /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --system
Steve
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 6,853
Thanks: 336
Registered: ‎13-07-2009

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

Firefox and
Quote
/usr/bin/Xorg :0 -br -verbose -auth /var/run/gdm/
seems to be taking 40 odd% each,  Anytime I visit a site.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
ejs
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 5,442
Thanks: 631
Fixes: 25
Registered: ‎10-06-2010

Re: Dell Optiplex GX 60 Desktop PC

If you're using the built-in intel 845G graphics, you could try using the vesa driver instead of the intel driver, or enable the "Shadow" option if your intel driver is new enough to have that option, it does almost the same thing as using the vesa driver. If you're already using the vesa driver, you could see if the intel driver works instead.