optiplex 990

[AYOUB__-]

i have a optiplex 990 i want to change the cpu i have a i5 2400 i want to upgrade it i have tryed a i5 3gen with same socket but didnt post (cpu is working)
i was wondring if mobo would be compatible with a i7 2700k or non k or i7 2600

 

[Needfuldoer]

The 990 uses the Intel Q67 chipset, so it can only use Sandy Bridge CPUs.

 

Put the i5 back in, boot it up, and update to the latest BIOS. (Put the service tag into dell.com/support and you'll get a download page with all the relevant updates and drivers for your specific machine.) That won't get you Ivy Bridge support, but at least you know it will support all the Sandy Bridge CPUs for the 1155 socket.

[SpookyCitrus]

Should work with the i7 2700 or 2600 just fine with a bios update, however any price on those discontinued processors isn't worth it when you can find optiplexs and and HP prodesks with 6th gen or newer i5 and i7 processors for sub $200 all day on ebay and in local classifieds. I'd rather grab a 6th gen i5 optiplex for $100 to $150 over paying a single dollar for a 2nd gen processor especially if you're trying to beef this computer up for gaming. Just like your GPU you're having support issues with, 2nd gen intel processors are in the same boat, too old.