HP EliteDesk 705 G5 SFF is a premium desktop setup.
HP EliteDesk 705 G5 SFF is a premium desktop setup.
Hello, I have an HP EliteDesk 705 G5 SFF with these details: Ryzen 5 3400G, 1TB WD Green SSD, 16GB RAM, RX6400 GPU, ChimeraOS. I’m wondering if anyone has managed to upgrade the CPU successfully. I understand there are compatible options like the Ryzen 5 Pro 3600, and I’m okay with the Ryzen 3000 series. I’m unsure if a regular Ryzen 5 3600 would work or if I need the Pro model for compatibility. There’s no BIOS setting to turn off integrated graphics, and some HP support groups say it automatically switches when upgrading without an iGPU. Yet, there are mixed reports—some say it works fine, others warn about potential issues. Has anyone tried this on a similar machine and had success?
The 3600 functions properly as the pro is merely an OEM 3600. The board appears to work with both HPS models that include an IGPU and those without, making it suitable without needing one.
I believe as long as the CPU fits the socket and matches the motherboard's chipset, it should function properly. However, I’m uncertain whether the chipset supports non-Pro CPUs. The HP website claims compatibility with Pro processors only. You might attempt a non-Pro model, but it seems risky. Since I’m not familiar with chipset details, perhaps wait for someone else to confirm. Also, HP limits TDP at 65 watts, so technically the R5 3600 could work, though you wouldn’t install a high-end GPU like the R9 3900X. There’s no switch for integrated graphics; connecting the HDMI or similar to the motherboard forces it to use built-in graphics, not the GPU. To use a dedicated GPU, you’d need to connect the video cable directly to the GPU. You likely won’t need a non-integrated CPU just to run a separate GPU. My reasoning suggests the design restricts power usage, so HP probably didn’t expect a high-power GPU in that form.
This might explain why the HP site claims only pro CPUs work. Pro CPUs are APUs with built-in graphics. You might still upgrade to a regular CPU if you have a separate graphics card.
I found a Ryzen 5 3600 (non-Pro) chip and thought about using it elsewhere if it didn’t fit in the HP setup. I tried installing it but it failed. When I turned on the machine, the screen remained blank and there were no BIOS alerts for an issue. Pressing enter or escape didn’t trigger any responses. With the 3400G, it doesn’t activate discrete graphics until after it posts, which made me think something might be waiting to be acknowledged with a code. HP’s BIO system blocks major changes without confirmation and asks for a 4-digit code. I tried turning that off in the BIOS but it didn’t work. It seems there’s no way around it—this setup isn’t working as expected. I’ll stick with the Ryzen 5 3600 for my next project. Thanks.