Gaming on 30 fps
Gaming on 30 fps
Nothing will magically accelerate your games. If you're running an old machine your best bet is just to run older games on it until you can afford something modern.
Using old hardware means I’d concentrate on classic titles. I’d explore RTS games such as Command and Conquer, Sim City 4 and below, Sims 3, Civilization IV, and pre-GTA IV games. When I had a similar setup as my main PC—still fairly outdated at the time—I played those kinds of games. I could even run the original COD smoothly, though I think I had a dedicated GPU then.
I’m unsure about suggesting used parts because the cost of a used Optiplex or similar is minimal compared to the benefits. However, if you manage to locate an older used GPU for $10-20 USD, I’d consider it. Most modern titles would be excluded, but it could improve performance for many older games and allow you to play a few newer ones that aren’t available yet.