CPU advice
CPU advice
You might want to check out 2600(K) or 3770(K) CPUs, but they’re mainly useful if you require additional threads. Those are top choices for your system, yet they usually come at a higher cost.
I own a fairly affordable setup. I got my PC from Craigslist for $80. It comes with a GTX 750, 1GB RAM, dual-core Intel i3 2120, and 8GB of DDR3 memory.
The two factors limiting your performance are the CPU which is relatively weak and comparable to the GPU. Do you know the motherboard model? If it doesn’t support your current setup, I suggest an i7 3770 without K. You shouldn’t expect outstanding results with this GPU—upgrading will be necessary.
I understand it's not considered a top-tier machine. I mainly use it for casual games like insurgency, Fortnite, and splitgate, but I feel like the performance is quite restricted with just two cores.
CPU limitations are just the beginning of your concerns. CPUs aren't responsible for generating frames in games, and your unit isn't built to handle throttling from an outdated CPU paired with older hardware. Avoid spending extra money on a system that's this old unless you find a great offer on a more modern setup. Unless you're considering a 4-core model, it might help slightly, but overall it's not worth the effort. A fresh GPU upgrade would likely require a new power supply and could introduce a CPU bottleneck, making a new machine a better long-term choice rather than chasing diminishing returns one at a time.