Upgrading CPU on old desktop

[Nicholas_77]

I want to upgrade my CPU on my old desktop. I don't know much about the insides of computers, I'm generally just an OS nerd. From what I've read about my specific computer, these are my CPU upgrade options:

Intel Core 2 Quad (Y) Q9xxxx
Intel Core 2 Duo (W) E8xxx
Intel Core 2 Quad (K) up to Q6600
Core 2 Duo E6x00 (C) up to E6700
Core 2 Duo E4x00 (C) up to E4400

The issue is, I have NO idea how to tell which ones are better/heavier on power/cause bottlenecking (whatever that means)

I just want my computer to be able to run basic games on average settings. Like Minecraft, WoW, DC Universe, etc...

 

[The Paladin]

okay get and run speccy https://www.piriform.com/speccy/downcopy and paste the details of the first screen
it will tell us your board. and current cpu

to answer the question in a "which one is fastest among these " the Q9 series would be, but if your board is "new" enough you might even be avle to use a QX9xxx series (duo core 2 extreme)

 

[Nicholas_77]

I don't have a way to access that at the moment, the computer doesn't have a wireless internet connection and to hardware it would require a lot of moving around. I can get the specs from the model number and give you an idea from there. One moment

 

[Nicholas_77]

Manufacturer's motherboard: Asus IPIBL-LB
HP/Compaq name: Benicia-GL8E
Form Factor
Micro-ATX: 24.5 cm (9.6 inches) x 24.5 cm (9.6 inches)
Chipset
Intel G33
Front-side bus speed
800/1066/1333 MHz
Processor upgrade information
Motherboard supports the following processor upgrades:
Intel Core 2 Quad (Y) Q9xxxx
Intel Core 2 Duo (W) E8xxx
Intel Core 2 Quad (K) up to Q6600
Core 2 Duo E6x00 (C) up to E6700
Core 2 Duo E4x00 (C) up to E4400
Memory upgrade information
Dual channel memory architecture
Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets
Supported DIMM types:
PC2-5300 (667 MHz)
PC2-6400 (800 MHz)
Non-ECC memory only, unbuffered
Supports 2GB DDR2 DIMMs
Supports up to 8 GB on 64 bit PCs
Supports up to 4 GB* on 32 bit PCs
*32-bit operating systems cannot address a full 4.0 GB of memory.
Video
Integrated graphics using Intel GMA 3100
*Integrated video is not available if a graphics card is installed
Integrated graphics using Intel GMA 3100
Also supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards*

 

[The Paladin]

okay so Q series only (found your manual for your motherboard at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1036752/Asus-Ipibl-La-Berkeley-Gl8e.html?page=3#manual) and it confirmed what you wrote before.

So yes the Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9650 (12M Cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB) would be the final upgrade on this motherboard as for CPU for about 60-80$ on ebay.
More Ram get DDR2-PC6400 NON ECC (NOT THE AMD BOARD KIND EITHER, and not Low density either) 800 MHZ you should be able to get ebay to found you some 4x2gb easily enough for under (example 8GB Kit - 4 x Corsair 2GB DIMM 800 MHz PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM (CM2X2048-6400C5) on ebay right now at 50$

 

[Nicholas_77]

Thanks for the help! So I'll cancel the order on the $12 CPU I found and upgrade my RAM. Do you think I'd need a new GPU as well if I'm just running simple games like I mentioned?

 

[The Paladin]

wait what was the 12$ CPU you found ?

 

[Nicholas_77]

Intel Core 2 Quad (K) Q6600

 

[The Paladin]

well that's an awfully good price, if we compare the Q6600 and the Q9650 side by side at cpuboss.. the Q9650 does much better in benchmarks, but hard to beat that 12$ price ...lol but its your call.

 

[Nicholas_77]

My main focus right now is just being able to run the games at default settings. Minecraft's minimum requirements are:

CPU: Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 (K8) 2.6 GHz.
RAM: 2GB.
GPU (Integrated): Intel HD Graphics or AMD (formerly ATI) Radeon HD Graphics with OpenGL 2.1.
GPU (Discrete): Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT or AMD Radeon HD 2400 with OpenGL 3.1.
HDD: At least 200MB for Game Core and Other Files.
Java 6 Release 45.


With that information, would the upgrades I've selected be decent or complete junk? I don't need top notch right now, at least not until I can afford to build from scratch.

 

[Coleh_Broleh]

My main focus right now is just being able to run the games at default settings. Minecraft's minimum requirements are:

CPU: Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 (K8) 2.6 GHz.
RAM: 2GB.
GPU (Integrated): Intel HD Graphics or AMD (formerly ATI) Radeon HD Graphics with OpenGL 2.1.
GPU (Discrete): Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT or AMD Radeon HD 2400 with OpenGL 3.1.
HDD: At least 200MB for Game Core and Other Files.
Java 6 Release 45.


With that information, would the upgrades I've selected be decent or complete junk? I don't need top notch right now, at least not until I can afford to build from scratch.

That CPU isn't bad by any means but is becoming considerably older and older. That said, it won't break a sweat with Minecraft. Give it a good 500W~ PSU, 8GB of RAM and a GTX 1050 Ti, the best model you can find. Maybe even throw in an SSD if you wish to. I'd generally recommend maybe waiting out to see what AMD's new Architecture has to offer. You're missing out on a lot of performance enhancments, specifically the intense and large drops in FPS found in older CPUs, like my i5 2500k. Otherwise, if you're set on upgrading the pc, grab that q9660, get a total of 8GBs of RAM at the best performance you can, double check that your PSU can handle the power of a modern graphics card of an AMD RX460 or Nvidia's GTX 1050 Ti. That'll run WoW with your system at 1920x1080 at high to ultra. The GPU is also incredibly power efficent, so as long as your PSU is doing 300W+ on the 12v line, it'll do fine(doesn't need external power source.)

 

[The Paladin]

My main focus right now is just being able to run the games at default settings. Minecraft's minimum requirements are:

CPU: Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 (K8) 2.6 GHz.
RAM: 2GB.
GPU (Integrated): Intel HD Graphics or AMD (formerly ATI) Radeon HD Graphics with OpenGL 2.1.
GPU (Discrete): Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT or AMD Radeon HD 2400 with OpenGL 3.1.
HDD: At least 200MB for Game Core and Other Files.
Java 6 Release 45.


With that information, would the upgrades I've selected be decent or complete junk? I don't need top notch right now, at least not until I can afford to build from scratch.

wel with the Q6600 @ 12$ I would honest run with-it, best save your money towards ram and newer parts later yes