XPS 8300, 6GB ram, i5-2300, upgrade question

I would not upgrade the CPU, it is not worth the cost. You could upgrade the memory, the maximum memory for this PC is 16GB. There should be 4 memory slots but you didn't specify how your 6GB is configured. According to crucial.com 2x4GB should cost you less than $50. Given the age of your PC, if you have the original hard drive you may want to consider adding a new hard drive or to speed things up a SSD. What version of Windows are you running? 

Easy CPU upgrade is i5-2500K, around $30 on ebay.  30% improvement. Get a tube of Arctic Silver.  Easy swap.

If you have a 2GB stick and a 4GB stick that, you could add another 2GB stick for $14 and a 4GB stick for $28 from Crucial and end up with 12 GB.  If it is 2x1GB and 2x2GB, then the previous responder's recommendation about the 2x4GB is correct.  And you will still end up with 12 GB.

There would only be improvement if the XPS 8300 support the overclocking capabilities of the K processor and you don't need to upgrade the CPU heatsink/fan. 

2500K is 30% improvement at standard clocking.

According to PassMark CPU Mark (https://www.cpubenchmark.net/mid_range_cpus.html) only about 20%. Since the XPS 8300 does not have overclocking capabilities, the OP would be better off with the non-K version at less cost. Still a lot to spend on a 9 year old computer needing memory and perhaps a hard drive or SSD. At least a SSD can be used in a new computer, but not memory or CPU.

Thanks for much for the response.  So it sounds like a memory/CPU/SSD might be the best route from everyone.  It's currently running WIN 7, but I just read an article on how to get Win 10 for free still.  This is the configuration for memory currently:

Dual In-Line Memory Module,6G,2X2G/2X1G,1333. 

Am I correct that this is 3 banks of 2?  What would give me the best bang for the buck?  Is 16gb over kill?  10gb/12gb?

Thanks!

Upgrading the Ram to 16 gig will help.

Adding SSD will help.

Processor is not relevant if you do not "game"

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Dell/xps-8300

Thanks again for the responses.  I do a lot of audio converting and it's pretty processor heavy when i'm doing that, which is why I thought a cheap upgrade to the processor wouldn't hurt.  

There are a couple of Amazon Warehouse deal i5-2500's for $20.00, my guess is they are just the chips - can I use the same heat sink on the I5-2500 and just get some thermal paste to replace it, or would I need a different heat sink?

The Thermal Design Power (TDP), the average power the processor dissipates when operating at the base frequency, of both the i5-2300 and i5-2500 are the same, 95 Watts so I think you can use the same heatsink/fan.

Thanks again everyone.  I ended up getting a used processor and 16gb of ram for about 75.00.  I noticed Itunes was still a bit lagging as I scrolled through songs etc.  I have the onboard Video Card (HD 2000).  Would anyone recommend a video card that might help?  I've read through many of the conversations and there is a lot of advice - but coming from the HD 2000 and for $50.00 I can get a 2GB GTX 710.  Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

I am not sure what else you are doing when you say your PC is a bit lagging. If you are only scrolling through songs I don't think a video upgrade will help but moving your music to a SSD may. It does not seem to me that scrolling through songs and playing music would improve with video performance.

Do I need to update my bios when doing this or just plug and play?