My boyfriend wants to upgrade his PC's current CPU, but two CPUs he tried previously were not compatible with the motherboard, and one attempt apparently triggered a short-circuit protection shutdown. Which processors are safe and compatible with an ASUS Prime H310M-E R2.0? He cannot replace the motherboard right now, so specific CPU recommendations would be really helpful.
2 Answers
The safe compatibility range is Intel 8th and 9th generation processors. An i5-9400F or i5-9500 is usually a practical upgrade, and an i7-9700 can provide more performance if the price is reasonable. Make sure the processor is listed for this exact motherboard and that the BIOS supports it. The motherboard should be replaced eventually for a newer platform, but a compatible 8th- or 9th-generation CPU can work for now.
That motherboard supports 8th- and 9th-generation Intel desktop CPUs, but the exact model may also depend on the BIOS version. Reasonable upgrades include an i5-9400 or i5-9500, while an i7-9700 would be a stronger option if it fits the budget. The non-K versions make the most sense because this board does not support CPU overclocking. Check ASUS’s CPU support list before buying and confirm the required BIOS version.
Thanks! I’m not very experienced with choosing parts, so I’ll check the ASUS support list and look for one of those models.
Unfortunately, replacing the motherboard isn’t possible right now, so I’ll focus on finding a supported i5 or i7 instead.