Yes, a core 2 duo can be effective in games.
Yes, a core 2 duo can be effective in games.
In my opinion, the elite desk equipped with a 4th gen i3 and 16GB RAM is far better for lightweight gaming compared to a basic dual-core setup. You essentially have three options moving forward: 1) upgrade your components—get a new motherboard, case, and power supply so you can use any GPU that fits without restrictions. The compact design limits choices, and most capable GPUs won’t fit. There are low-profile cards available, but they’re hard to find. Another issue is power delivery; SATA to PCIe adapters work but aren’t ideal, and your current PSU isn’t very strong. You can change the PSU and case, though a case swap can be complicated (see the link). Overall, it’s quite an investment. 2) Rebuild both systems and invest in something slightly upgraded, or sell them and buy a more sensible machine. This would mean starting fresh but with some funds. If you decide this path, please create a discussion thread in new build/planning for support. 3) Try to make the most of what you already have—a decent computer for casual gaming. It’s not great for serious gaming, but it works. The integrated graphics are decent enough for retro and some modern titles. My suggestion is to wait, save up, then replace both machines with a better build. @Somerandomtechyboi offers useful tips. I’d add that keep your RAM in place, sell the rest, and consider a 2nd/3rd/4th gen i7 setup. CPU, memory, and GPU combos for those models are affordable and leave room for a stronger GPU. If you have plenty of cash, an AMD 400-series build would be ideal. Feel free to ask more questions—I’ll add my thoughts.
The device arrived without a case or RAM. I installed an SSD costing ten dollars from Toshiba. I also found an Intel Core i3 processor in a recycling bin, but the pins were bent, so I reshaped them and it functioned. You wondered why I didn’t use the one with the i3—it had no case, only a motherboard. I bought 16 gigabytes of RAM from Temu for twenty-two dollars and an Anu GeForce 210 graphics card for ten pounds, totaling roughly eighty pounds.
Eighty pounds is quite a lot of money, but you need something worth your while. A decent upgrade would be an RX570 with 8GB RAM, which usually weighs around 40 to 50 pounds and works fine for basic gaming. You could also consider swapping the i3 for an i7—those tend to be about 30 pounds. The GeForce 210 won’t make much difference compared to an integrated graphics card.