Can I upgrade my Dell xps 420 dual core to a intel i3, or i5?

[iretiresoon52]

Have a Dell xps 420 that I use for mostly gaming and have changed the video card and the power supply from the 375 to a 500. Now I would like to see if it's possible to use my older PC to make it faster to play higher end games by changing the cpu. I'm a beginner in this vain and like to tinker with gadgets. So just asking for some advice as I fumble my way through expanding this pc's potential.

 

[hang-the-9]

No, that is a Core 2 Duo system, it will not accept a Core i CPU. You are better off selling it if you really want a gaming system since the top CPU you can upgrade it to will be under requirements of modern games, at least the higher end ones.

 

[william p]

That system has pretty good potential. here are some builds.
http://www.userbenchmark.com/System/Dell-XPS420/1987
For just an upgrade the Q9650 looks good, but it can run the 130W QX9650. Throttlestop 6.00 allows control of Voltage and multiplier if you want to try some overclocking. T9303 heat pipe cooler should fit. The X38 chipset has hidden support for 400fsb also. The similar delll T3400 can go 4.15Ghz with that setup.
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2897377/overclocking-dell-btx-computers.html
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/throttlestop-overclocking-desktop-pcs.235975/
You can learn quite a bit from upgrading that system, and a lot of it will not be common knowledge.
Here is an overclocked T3400 QX9650 that scores 57% in CPU.
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3530803
I know the guy. It's a Throttlestop overclock done as described in the BTX OC Guide.

 

[iretiresoon52]

Thanks for all the advice from this site, i think I'll just use it as I have it now gaming/workstation. Have been looking at Youtube and seen so many build a PC for beginners and the like. And for about 4 or 5 hundred I might just take on the adventure of building my own PC for gaming from scratch. I am in the planning and research phase right now and maybe by Christmas I'll have the blueprint for a gaming console. Will keep seeing the suggestions on Tom's Guide for any ideas and ask the questions I'm sure I will have. Thanks all again. John.

 

[william p]

I just acquired one of these and it went 4GHz with no problems. QX9650 @ 1.325V. 12x333fsb. I'm going to do some cooling mods and see how much further I can push it. It's very similar to the Dell T3400 workstation which is known to be good for 4.15GHz. I just thought I'd update you with specific results for this system.