Can I upgrade the OptiPlex 390?

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Blandert

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Jan 18, 2014
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10,510
I'm planning on buying these parts

-Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
-Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card
-Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply
-Asus VE228H 21.5" Monitor
Do I have to buy a new motherboard too?
I'm hping to run games like DayZ on high settings
 
Solution
It will depend on which MB is in your system. Is the system like this with an H61 LGA 1155 socket MB?
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CIYBEBYwCQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdata.com%2Fbusiness%2Fdell%2FFiles%2FOCT2011%2FOptiPlex%2520390%2520Spec%2520Sheet.pdf&ei=xfzaUpSKOMulsQTVwoGABg&usg=AFQjCNEYMuTODGYzfVa5CR3TOO-2INn-Lw&sig2=jESahXioZ6zD-oo66ZdPQA&bvm=bv.59568121,d.cWc
If so, you may have to have a BIOS upgrade to use a Ivy Bridge CPU. And do you have one of the slim line versions or the mini tower version?
It will depend on which MB is in your system. Is the system like this with an H61 LGA 1155 socket MB?
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CIYBEBYwCQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techdata.com%2Fbusiness%2Fdell%2FFiles%2FOCT2011%2FOptiPlex%2520390%2520Spec%2520Sheet.pdf&ei=xfzaUpSKOMulsQTVwoGABg&usg=AFQjCNEYMuTODGYzfVa5CR3TOO-2INn-Lw&sig2=jESahXioZ6zD-oo66ZdPQA&bvm=bv.59568121,d.cWc
If so, you may have to have a BIOS upgrade to use a Ivy Bridge CPU. And do you have one of the slim line versions or the mini tower version?
 
Solution


Get a new case, new (latest) motherboard, and compatible CPU. In other words, a new build to suit your needs.

This will help: http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

We will definitely be here to make suggestions as we go along.
 


I can try an experiment on a similar computer and let you know. I will report in about an hour.

Update: BF3 (that's what we have) will run on high settings; definitely on medium settings. Some lag experienced in Ultra high settings.
 


Yes it can be done, but if you do so you will no longer have your old computer. By building a new one you will have two computers. I suggest that you keep using your Optiplex as-is and build a new computer.
 


Use the PSU that I suggested.
 
I have a Dell Optiplex 390 DT and managed to upgrade the graphics card to a GT 730, 2GB, DDR5. There are a couple of reasons this shouldn't have worked and a couple of reasons it did me thinks. Reasons it shouldn't work ... Dell recommends only 25 watts on it's PCIe X 16 slot. EVGA recommends 300w min, 20 amps on the 12 V rail. My power supply is 250w, and the 12V rail states 17.8 amps. On a chat with Dell I was told this card would work, and if you do the calculations the card and other components are not pulling any more than about 220 watts. Power supply from Dell is rated Gold so that's another plus. Long and the short of it is you can upgrade the card. Seems to play Call of Pripyat, Diablo III, and even Skyrim, at 1920 x 1080 medium settings... looks pretty good.
 
I managed to get a Geforce GT 730 2 GB working as well, looking to upgrade the Intel Core i3 2100 to Intel Core i7 2600. I updated the BIOS, but I'm not sure if this will work...
 
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