Computer Upgrade, Looking for viable Upgrades...

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N1njaDestr0yer

N1njaDestr0yer

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Mar 2, 2017
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Hello,

I am asking this question because I have a some Dell Optiplex Computers that I was looking to upgrade into Gaming PCs Specs Below... anyways I was wondering as to which graphics card.I should put in the machines... it would have to be under $100 and be able to fit in a smaller form factor case w/o needing anything to help it run...

PC Specs:

PC#1
Dell Optiplex 7010 DT
i5 3570 3.4 GHz
4GB of DDR3 Ram
320GB HDD
Intel GMA (Intel Graphics)
OS: Windows 7 Pro x64

PC#2
Dell Optiplex 390 DT
i3 2120 3.3 GHz
4GB of DDR3 Ram
250GB HDD
Intel GMA (Intel Graphics)
OS: Windows 7 Pro x64
 
Solution
velocityg4
You could put a nVidia GeForce GT 1030 in there. They aren't great but decent enough to get by. Definitely a huge improvement over integrated graphics. They are within your budget. They are also very low power usage. So, you shouldn't need to worry about your PSU.

Do you need both computers? If not I'd gut the Optiplex 390 of RAM and HDD. Then toss them into the Optiplex 7010 DT. As it is the faster of the two. Assuming there are free RAM slots to use.

If you need both. I'd still use the 7010 for the gaming computer. I would also go onto eBay and get another 2GB or 4GB RAM (used). You'd want DDR3, 240 pin, non-ECC, unbuffered. If it is labeled server, ECC or Registered. Stay away from it. I don't know how many slots are available...
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depends on what kind of games you plan on trying to run on these old PC's. you might be able to get away with a gaming machine with the i5 3570 PC but not the one with a i3 2120. GPU's are really expensive right now so given none of them have a dedicated GPU expect to pay way more then 100 bucks if you want something to play modern games
 
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You could put a nVidia GeForce GT 1030 in there. They aren't great but decent enough to get by. Definitely a huge improvement over integrated graphics. They are within your budget. They are also very low power usage. So, you shouldn't need to worry about your PSU.

Do you need both computers? If not I'd gut the Optiplex 390 of RAM and HDD. Then toss them into the Optiplex 7010 DT. As it is the faster of the two. Assuming there are free RAM slots to use.

If you need both. I'd still use the 7010 for the gaming computer. I would also go onto eBay and get another 2GB or 4GB RAM (used). You'd want DDR3, 240 pin, non-ECC, unbuffered. If it is labeled server, ECC or Registered. Stay away from it. I don't know how many slots are available. I'm assuming there are two open slots.

An i5-3570, 8GB RAM and GT 1030 will play current games. The more demanding ones would be limited to low but they should work. Older or simpler games should have a reasonably good to great experience. Not bad for $100 or less in upgrades.

Edit: Make sure that you get a low profile model. Also that motherboard is limited to 50W on the PCIe slot. So, a GTX 1050 is out at 75W. The GT 1030 is 30W.
 
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Solution
You should always get the MT (Mini Tower) version. Usually they can take aftermarket PSUs. Look at MB photos for bogus power connectors. Sometimes Dell uses 6/8 pin instead of the standard 24 pin. They allso are the only ones that ccept full height GPUs.
There is a known issue with recent AMD GPUs not working so Nvidia is the safe bet.
Check at userbenchmark.com and see what others are running on those systems. best CPU, GPU. Are there AMD GPUs or not?
Most Optiplexes have a 95W CPU limit. There are some unlocked <95W CPUs. Look for those. Very few people know about this but they can be overclocked in OEM computers. The results vary from slight to reasonable in OPtiplexes.
Money spent on PSU and GPU can be moved forward to a newer computer.
The ones you show are both DT models. This locks you in to Dell PSU, and low profile GPU. This limits your results now, and the parts won't be worth using in a faster computer later.
 
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Anyways, I planned on gutting both computers and grabbing the MT Mobo and switching all the parts out... also I planned to switch out the i3 2120 to an i5 2400/2500, but for graphics, I was going to use some graphics cards I have lying around and maybe add an SSD for faster boot times... For Games well I was mostly going to play some light titles like Minecraft, CS:GO, Xbox 360 Emulators, and some older Emulators like the N64 and SNES/NES and the Game Boy... for Cases, i was just going to go find some basic/generic cases with upgraded PSUs and maybe 8GB of DDR3 Ram... anything wrong with that? or do i need to Improve on something?
 
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Dell front I/O cable pinouts are proprietary and secret and change from model to model. So ATX aftermarket is the way to go if you plan on swapping case and MB. DT PSUs are proprietary, and DTs require low profile GPUs which limits your options there.. So there won't be much you can reuse later. In an MT version PSU,GPU can move forward. Some newer Optiplexes have a non standard PSU MB cable. 6-8 pin instead of the old 24 pin.
 
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The Optiplexes were office computers. The workstations were made for serious workloads and have the headroom for upgrades. They're just as obsolete for their intended purpose, but a better place to start for budget gaming rigs. I picked up a T3500 for about $200 with W3690 and 12GB RAM. IT guys think they're obsolete junk, but they're like older high end aftermarket computers. The 130W 6 core 12 thread CPUs will spank any 95W limited Optiplex. i7-990K will run in them and can be overclocked.
 
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Which Optiplex do think would be good for me...? and the whole reason i did this is because i had some spare PCs and wondered how i could turn them into bugdet gaming PCs
 
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You're overthinking it and will end up blowing your $100 budget. Just slap a low profile GT 1030 in the Dell with the i5-3570 and upgrade the RAM to 8GB. With a used 2x2GB RAM kit off eBay. If you can't just take it from the other Dell. I'm assuming you currently have 2x2GB in there right now. Not 4x1GB. A faster GPU might be nice. Then you'll blow your budget as you'll have to get a new case and PSU. The 7010 DT is not rated for higher draw GPU.

Anyways, looking at the picture of the motherboard for the Dell Optiplex 7010 DT. It uses a standard 24-pin ATX connector and 4 pin CPU connector. The number of pins and pattern is correct. It also appears to use a standard mATX/ATX bolt pattern. So, a standard ATX case and PSU will most likely work.

Those games should run fine. Well except the XBox 360 emulation. I wouldn't get my hopes up about that.
 
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Anyways, I planned on gutting both computers and grabbing the MT Mobo and switching all the parts out... also I planned to switch out the i3 2120 to an i5 2400/2500, but for graphics, I was going to use some graphics cards I have lying around and maybe add an SSD for faster boot times... for Cases, i was just going to go find some basic/generic cases with upgraded PSUs and maybe 8GB of DDR3 Ram... anything wrong with that? or do i need to Improve on something?
 
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Just don't get those cases which include a PSU. Those PSU are the worst garbage you can get. I'd get at least a Tier 4 PSU. For some modicum of reliability.
Tier list: https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/631048-psu-tier-list-updated/

As for cases there are some decent cheap brands. DIYPC and BitFenix come to mind. Just make sure it can fit a full length GPU.

These would make a nice set.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Case: DIYPC - J180-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.78 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CX (2017) 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $79.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-02-03 10:17 EST-0500
 
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