Building onto a Dell Optiplex 210l

[ManPanda92]

Hi guys, kinda new to this just know the basics. I have a Dell Optiplex 210l that I want to upgrade, starting with the video card. I have been looking into it a lot and am looking for a video card that would work well with the system, I have 2 gigs in it and it is the full size tower version not the slim one. I realize it's a computer that should be tossed and just put money into a better computer but I want to see how far I can push this machine. Any advice on known video cards that are decent with games and videos, and work well with this system would be well appreciated. (Note I see a lot of things around the web about power issues on these machines, as they were supposedly tuned down power wise)

 

[ManPanda92]

*Was looking at a MSI N8400GS-MD256H/TC GeForce 8400 GS 512MB Turbocache (256M) 64-bit PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card on Newegg*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127656&nm_mc=ExtBanner&cm_mmc=BAC-Criteo-_-Video+Cards-_-MSI-_-14127656

 

[aaab]

"I want to see how far I can push this machine"... Why???

What games that you can't currently play are you hoping/expecting to work with the new graphics card?

To be honest don't waste your money, save up for a new build.

 

[ManPanda92]

"I want to see how far I can push this machine"... Why???

What games that you can't currently play are you hoping/expecting to work with the new graphics card?

To be honest don't waste your money, save up for a new build.

Well I have a machine to play more recent games with, that's not the problem. I want to upgrade this system for my brother to play games like the Sims smoothly.

 

[fb39ca4]

Budget? Without upgrading your PSU, though, I would recommend a Radeon 6670.

 

[ManPanda92]

Budget? Without upgrading your PSU, though, I would recommend a Radeon 6670.

Not too worried about the budget right now, although I don't want to put a lot of money into any equipment for this machine as you can imagine. I'll take a look at it thanks

 

[aaab]

What CPU do you have in it?

 

[ManPanda92]

What CPU do you have in it?

Intel Pentium 4 3.20 Ghz

 

[DM186]

Could you list all of your spec's. Also your P4 is going to keep you on a low end card and does your MOBO even have a PCIe x 16 slot. One of my Dells is a Optiplex 320.

When I bought it they said that this was one of the upgrads with the PCIe x 16 slot. So that is why I am asking. Just make sure if you have a PCIe slot find out if it is a 1.0 or a 2.0. Then repost and thanks.

 

[DM186]

I just went looking and found this a mother board (MOBO) for the optiplex 210 and it does not have a PCIe x 16 slot. You have the AGP type slots which is really going to be hard to find one.

I hope I am wrong about your MOBO. But look at this and see if it looks like yours.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-0HC918-Optiplex-210L-Motherboard-/220845675538?pt=Motherboards&hash=item336b6d9412

 

[ManPanda92]

I just went looking and found this a mother board (MOBO) for the optiplex 210 and it does not have a PCIe x 16 slot. You have the AGP type slots which is really going to be hard to find one.

I hope I am wrong about your MOBO. But look at this and see if it looks like yours.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-0HC918-Optiplex-210L-Motherboard-/220845675538?pt=Motherboards&hash=item336b6d9412

Ha yeah that's it, ive been looking around and decided to give up ill stick with keeping this machine for strictly business ventures, thanks very much for your help though

 

[DM186]

Your welcome and I hope you can put together a rig for little brother. Believe or not they sometime deserve it. Good luck

 

[afs421]

*Was looking at a MSI N8400GS-MD256H/TC GeForce 8400 GS 512MB Turbocache (256M) 64-bit PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card on Newegg*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127656&nm_mc=ExtBanner&cm_mmc=BAC-Criteo-_-Video+Cards-_-MSI-_-14127656

you do know you will have to find a basic pci video card they are still around but memory is sometimes limited along with cup range
the system does not have a pci express slot

 

[Doughboi49082]

Actually, the white slots are standard PCI. The small black connector is a PCIe (x1) slot. I would look for a PCIe card. I am also look for a decent graphics board, to upgrade one of the computers for my user here at work.