Compatible Graphics Card

[JoelTeegs]

Hi all, I currently own a Dell Precision T5500 with Dual Xeon X5670's along with a GTX 650. I use the PC as a Video Editing/Rendering build as well as a gaming PC. Before you tell me I f*cked up on the gaming end, you're wrong like all the others out there that tell me you can't game with a workstation or dual CPU's. The PC's CPU and 30GB of memory run games completely fine at only about 30% usage. All I need to know is if I'm in the clear to upgrade to a GTX 1070. I know the PSU is sufficient at 875 watts, but some people said adding hardware to the T5500 is kind of hit or miss. If you have any input please let me know!

 

[clutchc]

I for one would never tell you that the workstation is not also a good gamer. I still have my T3500 (W3670 6 core/12 thread, 24GB, 875W Dell PSU) running a GTX 1060 3GB and it can run any game I have at 60 fps/1080p. I'm thinking about adding a 2nd 1060 3GB. While the gtx 1070 may be a bit overkill unless you are playing at 144Hz, go for it if you have the $.

 

[genthug]

Well... you technically can't game with dual CPUs. So, they aren't exactly wrong there. It'll only end up using one of them. But, regardless, they are still strong CPUs singly. People say that workstation machines are not fantastic for gaming due to them typically... Well, having a matching GPU. Anything from the GTX line isn't a workstation GPU. Your setup is comparable to someone building a rig with a Xeon in lieu of an i7 as they are essentially non-overclockable i7s that cost ~$100 less (if you buy a quad core variant). Now, if you had an actual workstation GPU in it, then yes you wouldn't have fantastic gaming capabilities, but that wouldn't mean you couldn't do it.

But, I digress. What do you mean by "hit or miss"? You're worried that the chassis is going to be too slim? Not going to have the depth required? The machine clearly has a x16 PCIe slot in it, and from looking at the spreadsheet it actually looks as though it has two.

 

[clutchc]

@genthug
The OP may be concerned about the drive bay design of that workstation. If it is like my T3500, cards that have the PCIe header in the way of the swing-up drive door may not fit.

 

[JoelTeegs]

Well... you technically can't game with dual CPUs. So, they aren't exactly wrong there. It'll only end up using one of them. But, regardless, they are still strong CPUs singly. People say that workstation machines are not fantastic for gaming due to them typically... Well, having a matching GPU. Anything from the GTX line isn't a workstation GPU. Your setup is comparable to someone building a rig with a Xeon in lieu of an i7 as they are essentially non-overclockable i7s that cost ~$100 less (if you buy a quad core variant). Now, if you had an actual workstation GPU in it, then yes you wouldn't have fantastic gaming capabilities, but that wouldn't mean you couldn't do it.

But, I digress. What do you mean by "hit or miss"? You're worried that the chassis is going to be too slim? Not going to have the depth required? The machine clearly has a x16 PCIe slot in it, and from looking at the spreadsheet it actually looks as though it has two.

Well I saw two people say "Hit or miss" meant it may or may not even function with the system, but I've never heard of that issue in the time I've been working with PC's. My general knowledge is that if there's enough space in the case, the board has a PCIE slot, and the PSU can handle it, then everything is fine. And on the "Games only use one CPU" thing, some games actually do have support for dual CPU's in their settings now, but it's not like I even need both, the most I've ever used while gaming is 30%.

Anyway, I know for a fact the case has PLENTY of space for any card I want to throw in it, just figured I'd ask since I saw 3 different posts on other sites about workstations being "Hit or miss" with new hardware.

 

[clutchc]

Anyway, I know for a fact the case has PLENTY of space for any card I want to throw in it, just figured I'd ask since I saw 3 different posts on other sites about workstations being "Hit or miss" with new hardware.

Length-wise, yes. But how is the drive door design on that T5500? If it is the swing-up design like the T3500 was, it will cover the PCIe headers on most cards.

 

[JoelTeegs]

Anyway, I know for a fact the case has PLENTY of space for any card I want to throw in it, just figured I'd ask since I saw 3 different posts on other sites about workstations being "Hit or miss" with new hardware.

Length-wise, yes. But how is the drive door design on that T5500? If it is the swing-up design like the T3500 was, it will cover the PCIe headers on most cards.

That's a good point, I almost forgot it worked like that, you said you have a 1060 in there right? what are the dimensions on that?

 

[clutchc]

Anyway, I know for a fact the case has PLENTY of space for any card I want to throw in it, just figured I'd ask since I saw 3 different posts on other sites about workstations being "Hit or miss" with new hardware.

Length-wise, yes. But how is the drive door design on that T5500? If it is the swing-up design like the T3500 was, it will cover the PCIe headers on most cards.

That's a good point, I almost forgot it worked like that, you said you have a 1060 in there right? what are the dimensions on that?

It's this mini one. It has the 6-pin header in a position that clears the swung-closed drive door.
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=03G-P4-6160-KR

Hard to find a decent card that has the header in a position that works. However...
Evga now offers this little jewel that may help with longer cards: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/evga-free-powerlink-adapter-cable-management-gtx-10-series/

 

[JoelTeegs]

Anyway, I know for a fact the case has PLENTY of space for any card I want to throw in it, just figured I'd ask since I saw 3 different posts on other sites about workstations being "Hit or miss" with new hardware.

Length-wise, yes. But how is the drive door design on that T5500? If it is the swing-up design like the T3500 was, it will cover the PCIe headers on most cards.

That's a good point, I almost forgot it worked like that, you said you have a 1060 in there right? what are the dimensions on that?

It's this mini one. It has the 6-pin header in a position that clears the swung-closed drive door.
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=03G-P4-6160-KR

Hard to find a decent card that has the header in a position that works. However...
Evga now offers this little jewel that may help with longer cards: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/evga-free-powerlink-adapter-cable-management-gtx-10-series/

So it's been a while and I've come up with a very ghetto solution... My friend ended up just giving me his 960 when he got a 1060, so I had to figure something out, being that I've been running a 650, I needed the upgrade asap. I ended up completely taking out the Hard Drive mount from the case. I cut a small hole in the side of the case and ran the sata cables out of it, and then mounted them to the outside of the case. The only other solution I could think of would be to run the cables back up to the top and create hard drive bays up where the disc bay is, but this wasn't really an option since I'm one of the few people in the world who still occasionally use my disc drive.

Everything has worked perfectly for over a month and I'm now free to get any card I please without having to worry about space being an issue. I'd highly suggest doing something similar if you want a new GPU in this case