Upgrading processor, need help with cooling!

pricebailey123 · Apr 22, 2014

Hey guys, help me out here. I have an Intel Pentium E5300 2.6GHZ CPU that came in my HP p6100f(sucky, I know) desktop I got from a friend. I have added a GT 610(to run minecraft, and other games) but its not cutting it. I realized I should start at my weak point and replace my CPU, but my mobo is the ASUS Benicia, which has a limited range of options as far as processors. I chose to go with a Core 2 Quad Q9650, and i'm gonna get one off of ebay. However, they do not come with anything but the CPU. So, my question is, when I buy the CPU and go to replace it, do I need a new heatsink/fan? I don't know if the one cooling my current processor will cut it, and i'm afraid of overheating, but i'm also on a budget, so idk. I'm not planning to over clock anything, seeing as the processor is .4 GHZ higher than my current one, I thought it would be ok. They both have a max temp of 71.4C I think, so maybe its ok.. I don't know.. Also, the p6110f comes with like a 380W PSU, but when I got it, it had a 480W. This was retail when I got it, so idk, but i'm clearing that up, I don't think I have power issues to worry about. I'm just looking to go from minecraft to Battlefield 4(I am updating GPU to a GTX 660 later).

What should I do? I don't want to mess anything up, but I don't know if my current cooling will work...

If there is anything else you need to know, just ask, i've just never done this before and there isn't much by way of information on my situation, at least not that I have seen.

EDIT: I did some looking around, some guys on here say that the Q9550 is better for the money, and can be overclocked just as well anyways, so i'm going for that, already got one picked out!

System Model: NY428AA-ABA p6110f
BIOS: BIOS Date: 05/06/09 11:31:10 Ver: 5.39
Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5300 @ 2.60GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM

NathanRx · Apr 22, 2014

Running Minecraft under a 610 and a capable CPU should not cause heat problems at all! and the current heat sink should be fine, however under Battlefield 4 you cant be certain! when it comes to you playing battlefield 4, play as normal and measure your temperature (w/tool provided below) after an average session and determine yourself (or ask someone on here) if everything is fine.

But in short,
Heat Sink - Fine
Minecraft - Fine
BF4 - Maybe

Temperature Tool - http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

logainofhades · Apr 22, 2014

While your CPU is quite old and slow, your GPU is not made for gaming. Even current IGP is faster. It is an HTPC card. For cooling your cpu, a coolermaster hyper TX3 should be sufficient. You cannot overclock an OEM system. The Q9550 will still be slower than an i3 4130. I would replace the gpu with a GTX 750ti in that system. Anything faster, with the C2Q you are looking to get, and it will bottleneck like crazy plus require a better power supply. Sticking money into such an old system is rarely a good idea.

pricebailey123 · Apr 22, 2014

Well, i'm solving the GPU stuff later, but thanks for the suggestions, i'll take those into account! My mobo can't support any i3, i5, or i7, thats why I chose that processor. The GPU was a spur of the moment thing a while back, I had 60$ so I got it. I didn't know much back then, and so far, its worked well. I'd prefer not to get a new cooling system, but I will if I have to. I just need to know if I can get this thing and it will work without heat problems.

Here's a link to the processor:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Quad-Q9550-2-83-GHz-LGA-775-Quad-Core-Processor-Only-Used-/191139965244?_trksid=p2054897.l4275#rwid

pricebailey123 · Apr 22, 2014

And I gotta say those were some quick and helpful responses! I was thinking at least a day reply, but wow! Awesome!

These things RP is through the roof! I don't want to go through the hassle of a new mobo so I can get into the i series.

Deemo13 · Apr 22, 2014

Your weak point, as the above have said, is the GT610. It is a card based mainly for HTPC systems (like TV computers to play videos).

I would worry about overclocking later and make sure you find a processor that works in your system. You need to do research on your motherboard to see what it supports. While your motherboard is socket 775 and can fit a Core 2 Quad, motherboards also have requirements for power. For example, some will only support 65W processors.

You need to make sure your board can support the wattage of the Q9550. It is a 95W processor.
Here is your motherboard, it seems that it will support the new processor:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01324212&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en#N116

logainofhades · Apr 22, 2014

Honestly, you are due for a whole new system. You could go with something like this and reuse some components out of your current system, for now, and upgrade here and there. The HDD, PSU, and optical drive can be reused as a temporary measure to save money.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock B85 Pro4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $397.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-22 18:31 EDT-0400)

Then get a GTX 750ti.

pricebailey123 · Apr 22, 2014

Well, I can't really afford that right now.. and Deemo13, I looked at the requirements for my mobo and that one was specifically supported. I can only get a processor rn, the GPU I can deal with later, and then I can get a new rig once cash flow becomes a little easier.

logainofhades · Apr 23, 2014

The GPU is better to start with. You could run a 4770k with that GPU, and it really wouldn't do much for you.

WoodenSaucer · Apr 23, 2014

logainofhades is probably right. You might be better off taking your money and putting it toward a better video card.

Deemo13 · Apr 23, 2014

The GPU gives better gaming performance in an upgrade on average over a CPU unless the CPU is extremely dated (we're talking like single cores).

pricebailey123 · Apr 23, 2014

Well I did try like a 7770 or something like that(It was about a $130 AMD Card) and I installed it after my 610 to try it, but I had no luck. Got drivers and such and googled stuff, and ended up asking some friends and geek squad, they all said my processor was limiting my ability to process stuff. It can't handle like foliage and stuff like that. So that compelled me to start at a CPU.

logainofhades · Apr 23, 2014

The 7770 should have offered some improvement, despite the slow CPU. Also, never take your system to Geek Squad. Far too often I have fixed their so call fixes.... Best Buy hires people without a clue as to what they are doing. Did you remove the old drivers and get the new ones directly from AMD? Minecraft is not exactly a demanding game. Depending on what the other games are, yes they would still give you problems.

WoodenSaucer · Apr 23, 2014

logainofhades :

You'd be surprised how demanding Minecraft can be on an old CPU. The PC version was coded pretty sloppily in Java.

In my opinion, no matter what you do with this system, you're not going to end up happy. It's probably pretty close to being a waste of money to try to invest in upgrading this. I don't know what your future financial situation will be like, but you would probably be better off just saving up and buying the cheapest new pre-built desktop you can find that's i3 or above. You could put the Core2Quad in this PC, but then you'd end up having to upgrade the GPU, too. I guess a video card wouldn't be a waste because you can carry it over to a new system.

You're just in a tough spot.

Deemo13 · Apr 24, 2014

WoodenSaucer :

logainofhades :

The PC version was coded pretty sloppily in Java.

Were the console ones coded better? Just curious.

WoodenSaucer · Apr 24, 2014

Deemo13 :

I've heard they programmed the 360 version of Minecraft in C# from the ground up because the 360 can't do Java. A lot of PC gamers were pretty ticked about that because they're tired of having to deal with the clunky, sloppily coded Java, and they completely reprogrammed the game in C# for the 360. I doubt if it will ever change, though.

I'm betting that the Android version is close to Java, because ADK was originally based on Java. The iOS version must have been rewritten in Objective C.

logainofhades · Apr 24, 2014

According to this, the recommended cpu requirement for minecraft is a Pentium D. One thing not considered, how much ram does this system have?

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/CYRI/Requirements/minecraft/11356?p=r

pricebailey123 · Apr 25, 2014

6 gb. As far as minecraft goes, yes I can run it "well", but not great. My GPU now currently got me up to 110 fps, which is great and all, but after playing for a while, or looking at certain things, it drops to about 60, then 50, and so on. I have to play in certain ways to keep my performance, such as staying away from forests. I also play with mods, and they add a lot of cool but graphically intensive content. It'd be nice to be able to play without worrying about my fps. I can't use minimap mods because of my processor, and I'd really like to be able to use shaders some day, but I can't. I am getting the 750 Ti after the processor(assuming it fits my PCI express configuration, and stays within the range of my PSU), but I just want to get the quad first, my processor now is worth like 8 dollars. Its pretty terrible. I can't really look at stuff that has many particles or anything, and yes, the GPU counts here too, but my processor is not made for gaming, at all. Especially the new games, even ones on the source engine, which is renowned for its well-coded high FPS. As soon as I get the quad, i'll get the GPU, deal with that for a while, and then transfer those parts to a newer PC once I have more money and such.

pricebailey123 · Apr 25, 2014

And I believe that since 4J studios, the makers of the 360 version of Minecraft, made the C++ of Minecraft less clunky and specialized to fit the xbox's hardware. Since it isn't a work in progress and they know what they have to code since its already there, they can clean it up more, instead of having a hodge-podge addon of code over time that forms into a mess.

WoodenSaucer · Apr 25, 2014

It's weird that it starts off that high with the framerate, then gets so low. Does it happen when more activity is happening, or does it just gradually get low framerates no matter what? It makes me wonder a couple of things. One, I wonder if you're overheating after a time. Maybe you need better cooling. Another thing, what version of Windows are you using? If it's XP or Vista, maybe try defragmenting your hard drive, running CCleaner, and making sure all updates are installed. Also, maybe make sure your video card drivers are up to date.

pricebailey123 · Apr 25, 2014

Oh no, like over time as in playing the world and building stuff, adding more content to the world, etc. As I get more into the game and have a base and such, it gets laggier because of all the things it has to render.

pricebailey123 · Apr 25, 2014

Sorry, I should have elaborated on that the first time. No, its just annoying that I can't get too far in a world without having lag fest, or having to sacrifice aesthetics for framerate. I don't like flirting with the 60 fps line, I like 110+.

WoodenSaucer · Apr 26, 2014

Well let us know how the Core 2 Quad Q9550 works out for you. As for your original question, it's hard to say about cooling because I'm not sure what type of fan you have. I know that the Core2Quad is 95W vs the Pentium E5300's 65W. To me, that just sounds like it runs hotter, but I'll bet your fan would be fine. Do you have any way to check the temps?

Plus, if you're planning on upgrading your GPU to the 660, hopefully that works out for you soon, because that's where your big boost will come from.

pricebailey123 · Apr 26, 2014

I have a program to check the temperatures. I just have a stock coolermaster that came with my hp p6110f, I have no heat problems now, and my PSU is aftermarket(though I got this from a friend who bought it stock), so 480W should give me some lee-way.

Upgrading processor, need help with cooling!

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