Dell Optiplex 755 Upgrades

[magicman9836]

What graphics cards and sound cards are compatible with my Dells mother board?

Mother board Model: OGM819

Am looking to upgrade to anything better than the quadro FX 380.
Any good audio cards that could keep up with the new GPU and not stutter would be great. Thanks you hardware community!

 

[ko888]

Your proprietary form factor power supply unit that doesn't have any PCI Express supplementary power connectors so that limits you to low power graphics cards.

AMD Radeon HD 7750
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640

The AMD Radeon HD 7750 has the best performance of the two.

Audio cards would depend on the Operating System that you are using since you need a device driver that is supported by the OS. There are audio cards available with a PCI Express x1 Interface.

I would recommend just the graphics card upgrade to begin with to determine if it resolves the audio stuttering problem. If the audio stuttering is resolved then you don't need to buy an audio card.

 

[magicman9836]

Your proprietary form factor power supply unit that doesn't have any PCI Express supplementary power connectors so that limits you to low power graphics cards.

AMD Radeon HD 7750
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640

The AMD Radeon HD 7750 has the best performance of the two.



Audio cards would depend on the Operating System that you are using since you need a device driver that is supported by the OS. There are audio cards available with a PCI Express x1 Interface.

I would recommend just the graphics card upgrade to begin with to determine if it resolves the audio stuttering problem. If the audio stuttering is resolved then you don't need to buy an audio card.

Sounds good to me. How well do you think the Radeon would play Borderlands 2?

 

[ko888]

Sounds good to me. How well do you think the Radeon would play Borderlands 2?

That depends on the display resolution that you're using. Anything above 30FPS is considered playable.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_7750_IceQ_X/9.html

 

[Kisianik]

What graphics cards and sound cards are compatible with my Dells mother board?

Mother board Model: OGM819

Am looking to upgrade to anything better than the quadro FX 380.
Any good audio cards that could keep up with the new GPU and not stutter would be great. Thanks you hardware community!

Not so simple, slow down people.

First question - which Optiplex form factor you have:

Since I don't know the answer yet, let me explain upgradability of each for factor.

MT - power supply is standard ATX, Video Card should be single bracket, thin and single slot, or single bracket thick (dual slot) but not longer than 7.5". Available cards are HD7770 and weaker.
DT and SFF - power supply is not upgradable, Video Card - low profile only HD7750 and weaker.
USFF - can change hard drive and this is it, nothing more. There is no even PCIE slot on motherboard.

So, I would ask first - which form factor you have?

 

[ko888]

It's really easy to figure out, which form factor it is, because the OP has already provided the motherboard's model number.

Each Dell Optiplex 755 form factor uses a different motherboard model.

The power supply form factor is not the standard ATX PS/2 150mm W x 86mm H x 140mm D. The height of the Dell PSU is taller. All of the DC output cables don't exit out of the same hole in the PSU's case. The main 24-pin ATX motherboard cable exits out of the bottom of the PSU's shell. The CPU power connector and peripheral connectors exit out the back of the PSU's shell.

The maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of the Dell 305W PSU is 22 Amps.

A Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition requires one 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector that the Dell PSU doesn't have.

A Radeon HD 7750 will work because it doesn't require a PCI Express supplementary power connector.

 

[Kisianik]

It's really easy to figure out, which form factor it is, because the OP has already provided the motherboard's model number.

Each Dell Optiplex 755 form factor uses a different motherboard model.

The power supply form factor is not the standard ATX PS/2 150mm W x 86mm H x 140mm D. The height of the Dell PSU is taller. All of the DC output cables don't exit out of the same hole in the PSU's case. The main 24-pin ATX motherboard cable exits out of the bottom of the PSU's shell. The CPU power connector and peripheral connectors exit out the back of the PSU's shell.

The maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of the Dell 305W PSU is 22 Amps.

A Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition requires one 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector that the Dell PSU doesn't have.

A Radeon HD 7750 will work because it doesn't require a PCI Express supplementary power connector.

Agreed on motherboard model partially, because DT uses the same model as MT, there are about 4 models for MT and one of those, DR845 is used for DT.

Anyway, OP has MT. Regarding power supply - I meant that standard ATX fit, sorry for confusion, it does, end of story.
Regarding video card, I said HD7770 is basically the strongest one to fit, I did not say that it will work on Dell PSU, it would not, that when ATX PSU upgrade will be needed.
Not every 7770 and 7750 will fit - special rules applies.

This is about it about PSU and GPU.

 

[ko888]

Agreed on motherboard model partially, because DT uses the same model as MT, there are about 4 models for MT and one of those, DR845 is used for DT.

Anyway, OP has MT. Regarding power supply - I meant that standard ATX fit, sorry for confusion, it does, end of story.
Regarding video card, I said HD7770 is basically the strongest one to fit, I did not say that it will work on Dell PSU, it would not, that when ATX PSU upgrade will be needed.
Not every 7770 and 7750 will fit - special rules applies.

This is about it about PSU and GPU.

The 0GM819, that the OP specifies, has four expansion card slots. The only case that has four expansion slot covers is the MT. The DT's motherboard only has three expansion card slots and hence only three half-height expansion slot covers on the back of its case.

The BTX form factor, that the motherboard uses, will limit the graphics card's length (i.e. because of CPU cooler shroud interference) and maybe even its width depending on the type of cooling solution used by the card manufacturer.

Someone has installed an XFX FX-775A-ZNP4 Radeon HD 7750 Core Edition 1GB in their Dell Optiplex 755 (Mini Tower). That card is 8.3" in length and they had no problem fitting that card in.

 

[Kisianik]

You got me on this

ko888 said:
The 0GM819, that the OP specifies, has four expansion card slots. The only case that has four expansion slot covers is the MT. The DT's motherboard only has three expansion card slots and hence only three half-height expansion slot covers on the back of its case.

Learning again, SFF has 2 PCI slots and one of them PCIE, and USFF has none.

The BTX form factor, that the motherboard uses, will limit the graphics card's length (i.e. because of CPU cooler shroud interference) and maybe even its width depending on the type of cooling solution used by the card manufacturer.

Well, this is not a revelation for me, I made sometime ago little guide about this, since Optiplex 755, 745, GX620 and many more models use very similar BTX format.

This is it. You could seen this before.

THIS POST APPLICABLE TO MT (MINI TOWER) FORM FACTOR ONLY.

Unfortunately no card that is more than 7.5 inches long or 2 slots wide will PHYSICALLY FIT inside the case - it was found that only single bracket video card can fit due to BTX MOBO, where card internals facing upward towards PC internals, not ATX, where dual card design is blocking another PCI slot by facing downward.
If you prefer the card with beefier fan, then the length of the card must not exceed 7.5 inches, otherwise only "skinny" single bracket, single slot cards can physically fit.

Pictures below will prove my point.

View shows no room for dual bracket

Single bracket only, or you have to cut dual bracket in half

This is the other way to show my point

Here you can clearly see only single place for the bracket

Visual explanation

7.5 inches explained, also shown "obstacles"

This is the picture of actual "skinny" single slot video card (not sure which model)- perfect, "glove" fit.

ko888 said:
Someone has installed an XFX FX-775A-ZNP4 Radeon HD 7750 Core Edition 1GB in their Dell Optiplex 755 (Mini Tower). That card is 8.3" in length and they had no problem fitting that card in

Plenty users probably used this card, if you go to newegg feedback, on second page you will find confirmation of this card in Optiplex 755 MT.

Anyway, this is the rest of my guide with GPU options, I included only strongest cards 7750 and 7770, I think I seen one GTX650 which can fit, yes, it is Zotac low profile, also I omitted ATI low profile cards, too many of them.
There was GTX650 TI available before, but it is out of production now, new model of this card can not fit anymore.
Here we go:

So, I found 2 GDDR5 7750 cards and one DDR3 4GB (GDDR5 is better than GDDR3, even if GDD3 offers 2 GB RAM or more), which confirmed in reviews to fit Optiplex gx620, 745 and 755 cases (the difference between those models are different processors).

Skinny, flimsier in terms of construction, completely single slot XFX 7750 http://www.amazon.com/XFX-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-FX775AZNP4-FX-775A-ZNP4/dp/B007Z3T5JC

A bit beefier cooler, not as skinny, more durable in construction PowerColor AX7750 http://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-AX7750-1GBD5-DH-Video-Graphics/dp/B00775OC28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362783129&sr=8-1&keywords=AX7750+1GBD5-DH

If you need Video card for working with high resolutions, BUT NOT FOR GAMING, PowerColor AX7750 4GBK3-H Radeon HD 7750 4GB is DDR3 card with huge 4GB memory, but is is not as fast as DDR5 and loosing in games http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131486&Tpk=7750&IsVirtualParent=1
Here is review of this card http://news.softpedia.com/news/PowerColor-Launches-Single-Slot-Radeon-HD-7750-4-GB-Video-Card-292712.shtml so this one is not for gamers!

Next will follow maximum possible upgrade, 7750 is weaker...

So far I found only 2 7770 video cards which will fit inside - PowerColor AX7770 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131477

HIS H777FN1G Radeon HD 7770 very tight fit, almost touching heatsink http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161433

Following card is already out of production, so if you can find it on Craig list or eBay, it is only way, also I seen it on Amazon for a high price http://www.amazon.com/Sparkle-SX650TI1024KD-SPARKLESX650TI1024KD--Grafikkarten/dp/B009ZC3MHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371676541&sr=8-1&keywords=SX650TI1024KD
From NVIDIA I see SPARKLE 700025 (SX650TI1024KD) GeForce GTX 650 Ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187200

This is it about GPU in Dell BTX case.

There are more models available in Europe and Asia.

?

 

[ko888]

There's really not much point in pouring a lot of money into a dead end BTX system.

The graphics card upgrade to a Radeon HD 7750 is all I would recommend since it doesn't require spending more money for a new power supply unit.

 

[Kisianik]

At the end it is all depends on budget.
Optiplex 745 can be upgraded to Q6600, 755 to Q9450. Those upgrades can extend the agony of saving for better PC, but it is better than nothing.
Money always talk.

 

[magicman9836]

At the end it is all depends on budget.
Optiplex 745 can be upgraded to Q6600, 755 to Q9450. Those upgrades can extend the agony of saving for better PC, but it is better than nothing.
Money always talk.

Can someone just tell me if this card will work? If it does work would you suggest getting it or another?
http://us.ncix.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=79616&vpn=AX7750%204GBK3-H&manufacture=PowerColor

Trying to keep it low budget here

 

[Kisianik]

At the end it is all depends on budget.
Optiplex 745 can be upgraded to Q6600, 755 to Q9450. Those upgrades can extend the agony of saving for better PC, but it is better than nothing.
Money always talk.

Can someone just tell me if this card will work? If it does work would you suggest getting it or another?
http://us.ncix.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=79616&vpn=AX7750%204GBK3-H&manufacture=PowerColor

Trying to keep it low budget here

Yes it will fit and work, in fact this is the same card I advices above:

A bit beefier cooler, not as skinny, more durable in construction PowerColor AX7750 http://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-AX7750-1GBD5-DH-Video-Graphics/dp/B00775OC28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362783129&sr=8-1&keywords=AX7750+1GBD5-DH

Just cheaper and with rebate right now, good find!

Anything else I can help you with?

P.S. If you finding any answers particularly helpful to you, please mark it as Pick A solution, to solve the thread - it will benefit others, searching for the same question.