Intel Core 2 and RTX 50 Gaming Combo Faces Ray Tracing Hurdles in Early Experiments

Earlier this week, we reported on an exciting driver update from Nvidia that re-enabled support for older Intel processors, including those from the Core 2 era. This change sparked enthusiasm among DIY enthusiasts, who envisioned the possibility of pairing these vintage CPUs with cutting-edge RTX 50 series GPUs. However, the initial excitement has waned slightly as tech enthusiast Bob Pony, who first highlighted the driver change, shared some disappointing results from his own experiments. Pony confirmed on Twitter that it is indeed possible to use an Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, an older processor. "It works!" he exclaimed, adding that users should avoid the RTX 5060 non-Ti due to its PCIe x8 interface, which could cause issues. Pony's setup worked in Windows 11, but when he tried to run modern games, particularly those using ray tracing, the results were not promising. One of the major hurdles he encountered was the lack of certain instruction sets in the Core 2 processor, which many modern games require. Pony shared a screenshot showing Quake II RTX failing to launch, proving that ray-tracing games are simply not compatible with these systems. While this is a significant setback, there may still be hope for older or less demanding games to perform adequately. Community efforts to compile a list of compatible games could be invaluable for enthusiasts looking to revive their classic systems with modern hardware. For the time being, keeping an eye on social media posts like Pony's will provide the most up-to-date insights. Moreover, it's worth noting that Intel Core 2 system owners might find greater appeal in older titles that their previous GPUs struggled to run efficiently. In this scenario, the inability to play ray-traced games could be less of a concern, as the upgrade would still offer significant improvements for a broader range of less demanding games. For the latest updates and more detailed analysis, follow Tom's Hardware on Google News and ensure you click the 'Follow' button to stay informed about future developments in this area.