Dimension E520, need help with cpu upgrade

You had bothered to do a search: https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General-Read-Only/Dell-Dimension-E520-CPU-Upgrade/td-p/3859084

E520  cannot use Quad Core processors so the Pentium D if its 900 series is the max for that system.

Pentium D 915  Socket 775 CPU Processor SL9DA works fine with latest bios. 

https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-e520_owner%27s%20manual_en-us.pdf

The other issue is that the Video Slot is only 1 wide.

Long cards and Dual Slot cards WILL NOT FIT.

MSI GT1030 is the recommended upgrade

https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/msi-gt-1030-2g-lp-oc-graphic-card-2-gb-gddr5-pcie-30-x16-low-profile-hdmi-displayport/apd/aa362018/graphic-video-cards

https://www.amazon.com/Pentium-sl9qb-945-3-40-GHz-800-MHz-MB/dp/B0051B3I0M

Single SLot only Video

Sorry for your troubles but buying a $100-$150 used refurbished computer with windows 10 would be better. The Dimension is obsolete now with no safe supported operating system. Don't waste money on any upgrades. You cannot make the Dimension into any sort of gaming computer.

Hello Allyboi excuse my delayed message,

Don't get discouraged. I have the same dell dimension desktop-PC since 2006 and I'm still using it today in 2023. Here are the changes I've made throughout the years.

Processor

From Intel Pentium D to Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700

RAM memory

From 2 GB (2x 1 GB) to 8 GB (4x 2 GB) DDR2

Hard drive

From Samsung 256 GB hard drive disk (HDD) to Crucial 512 GB SATA solid-state drive (SSD) (primary) and 1 TB HDD (secondary)

Power supply

From factory 305 Watt ATX to Corsair 550 Watt ATX

Network card

Added an MSI Bluetooth/Wifi card

Video Card

I had to cut the plastic covering the heatsink on the CPU to make in room for the ASUS NVIDIA GeForce 1650 TUF GPU OC 4 GB. I did have to remove the I/O interface metal plate to make enough room so that the side panel could close again.

OS

From windows XP media center to Windows 10 pro 64x.

In summary,  the computer runs any modern application. We use it for word processing and mild graphic work. My message is that if you really like the computer, you can turn it into a strong device. I made all the upgrades myself gradually over the years, so it's feasible as a DIY project.

Good luck!

MJ

I have an e520 and I run a Q6700 core 2 quad with six gigs of memory and GT740 4G video card. It works fine but I would like something a little faster.

Right !....@Allyboi 

@m j - dell​ 

Hi, i have one question. Need  to update bois before install cpu intel quad core?

How you install windows 10 64 bits on ssd? Because i try to install windows 10 64bits but software keep crash during install.