Dell Optiplex 960 for gaming?

[B7Tech]

Hello. I want to buy a Dell OptiPlex 960 for gaming if you guys recommend it. Its going to come with a 3 ghz processor, 4GB ram, and a 400GB HDD. I wanted to know what is the best gaming graphics card that I can get for this machine to play my games at pretty amazing quality. If you guys recommend this PC, tell me if the GPU you say needs a PSU upgrade. Thanks.

 

[Cons29]

what is the video card? this is very important, and also if you will use powerful gpu's, you better get a good psu.
Branded computers tend to use the lowest powered psu's that they can get away with

 

[B7Tech]

what is the video card? this is very important, and also if you will use powerful gpu's, you better get a good psu.
Branded computers tend to use the lowest powered psu's that they can get away with

Yeah, that is very true. http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-2048MB-Graphics-02G-P3-2639-KR/dp/B008Y8PON8/ref=pd_cp_pc_0 What do you think of that for a graphics card on the Opti??

 

[moulderhere]

what games are you wanting to play at 'pretty amazing quality'
What resolutions as well?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Specs of the Dell Optiplex 960

There are three versions of this computer; the Mini-Tower, the desktop, and the small form-factor. Which one are you looking at? Personally, given that this is older tech, I'd probably pass on this system, regardless.

-Wolf sends

 

[B7Tech]

what games are you wanting to play at 'pretty amazing quality'
What resolutions as well?

I have one of those old lcd monitors LOL, its 1024x768, I also have a Flatscreen TV that I can hook it up to as well. I kind of mean any game in general, shooting like BF3 or Cod4, and driving/shooting like GTA, and NBA 2k14 probably

 

[B7Tech]

Specs of the Dell Optiplex 960

There are three versions of this computer; the Mini-Tower, the desktop, and the small form-factor. Which one are you looking at? Personally, given that this is older tech, I'd probably pass on this system, regardless.

-Wolf sends

I was looking at the Desktop, and oh:/. What about the Opti 980? I'm looking on spending $430 and under for JUST the computer.

 

[Wolfshadw]

The desktop versions of both of these systems limit you to low-profile cards and I don't believe you can easily install a better, standard power supply. I'd also pass on the Optiplex 980 as in both the desktop and mini-tower versions, the PCI-Ex16 slot runs at x4 throughput.

-Wolf sends

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($117.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($78.97 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z12 ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $590.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-23 23:05 EDT-0400)

 

[B7Tech]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($117.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($78.97 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z12 ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $590.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-23 23:05 EDT-0400)

WOW. Let me keep all that in mind, thanks.

 

[B7Tech]

The desktop versions of both of these systems limit you to low-profile cards and I don't believe you can easily install a better, standard power supply. I'd also pass on the Optiplex 980 as in both the desktop and mini-tower versions, the PCI-Ex16 slot runs at x4 throughput.

-Wolf sends

Oh, its that I was reading an article on this website about the 980 and I knew already it ran low-profile cards but the one I saw in the link looked like a gaming card, from what the answer said.

 

[jackeds]

If you want to game i would on good setting i suggest you get something better than the Dell OptiPlex 960.

Look at this post on buying budget gaming computers. It will help you.

http://www.gamingbuild.com/best-budget-gaming-pc/

 

[hang-the-9]

You should be able to buy a system based on the quad core Q9xxx CPU for about $200, and get a Radeon 7750 or 7770 to run it with. The tower versions of the Dell should have a 300+ Watt power supply which is enough for a 7750, if it has a 350 watt one, you can run a 7770 in it.

Once you get to the $500+ mark for the PC and video card, you are better off buying new parts and building a system.

For your budget, you will not get amazing quality, medium in most games, maybe low-med in some, although at lower resolutions it will run with better quality settings. For top settings you are looking in the $800+ range.