lenovo thinkcentre 5030 with core i5 2500k?

logo897 · 20 Oct 2017

Is it possible to put an i5 2500k in my PC with an i5 2400 currently?

I am not expecting to overclock with my mobo but it'd be nice to have a legendary cpu in my system.

Thanks

Update: my machine is a thinkcentre m81 5030

Megahertz07 · 21 Oct 2017

To buy a second hand unlocked CPU is always risky. You will never know how it was used.
As they are both of same family (Sandy Bridge) I don't see any problem. Also change the heat sink.

fireberd · 21 Oct 2017

Looking at the comparison of the two, very little difference. Not enough that I see to make it worth while.

Intel Core i5-2400 vs Intel Core i5-2500K | CPU comparison

logo897 · 21 Oct 2017

fireberd said:

Looking at the comparison of the two, very little difference. Not enough that I see to make it worth while.

Intel Core i5-2400 vs Intel Core i5-2500K | CPU comparison

Would you recommend I go for an i7 instead?

logo897 · 21 Oct 2017

Megahertz07 said:

To buy a second hand unlocked CPU is always risky. You will never know how it was used.
As they are both of same family (Sandy Bridge) I don't see any problem. Also change the heat sink.

I understand. The place where I am looking from has a return policy, though.

fireberd · 22 Oct 2017

I wouldn't mess changing anything on an old motherboard. After you get done spending $$ you still have the same motherboard and basically the same PC. The i7 will get you more cores, but on the older generation CPU's it really doesn't do much other than the extra cores. Also, some PC vendor's limit what will work on their OEM motherboards, thus changing a CPU, even another i5 may not work.

RoasterMen · 22 Oct 2017

Refer to the manufacturer's website for the compatibility.

Megahertz07 · 22 Oct 2017

logo897 said:

I understand. The place where I am looking from has a return policy, though.

As your MB doesn't allow you to overclock, don't buy a 2xxxk CPU. You'll never know what the other owner done to it.
As you can return the CPU if it doesn't work on your MB, I wold try a i7 2600.

logo897 · 22 Oct 2017

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the help.

Will more cores mean better game performance for me though?

RoasterMen · 23 Oct 2017

That depends on the game you are playing. Which games do you play? Some games still stick to single-thread operation.