Dell Precision T3500 Workstation as a Gamer?

[1405]

Is there anything that would not allow me to use this workstation as a gaming PC if I add a decent graphics card? It has a Xeon W3670 3.2 GHz CPU, 6GB tri-channel DDR3 memory, and a 525W PSU with 3 x 18a +12v rails rated for 500W. I'm wondering if there is something about workstations that don't allow them to be used as a regular desktop PC?

 

[1405]

Update
We ran some more benchmarks. And some in-game benchmarks and the two processors are neck and neck with a slight edge to the Xeon. Firestrike is the only odd one.

 

[k1114]

No the physics test is not physx, it's a cpu based physics engine: bullet.

 

[1405]

No the physics test is not physx, it's a cpu based physics engine: bullet.

Ahh. Another new thing I learned. Does that have any practical benefit in gaming since most games use PhysX on the Nvidia cards?

 

[k1114]

Most games do not use physx. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_with_hardware-accelerated_PhysX_support Look how short this list is and this is all phsyx games going back to it's first commercial implementations in 2005. The majority of physics engines are cpu based. Hence why synthetic gaming benchmarks use cpu based physics. This doesn't mean all physics in game is running on the cpu as some things will use the gpu and many effects are actually simplified or pre rendered and run off the gpu.

 

[kieran98_28]

1405!!!!!
You've gotta help me man. You say you have a t3500 yeah? Well I have to. I've upgraded ram. Easy. I've also bought a GTX 960 to. Like you tested with right? So if that's the case WHAT POWER SUPPLY ARE YOU USING. you must have upgraded because the standard power supply dosnt have cables for a gtx 6 pin. Please help your my last hope. I've bought a power supply and the shop I went to fro them to fit it said they can't do it because the cables are ribbon or something like that

 

[cdabc123]

1405!!!!!
You've gotta help me man. You say you have a t3500 yeah? Well I have to. I've upgraded ram. Easy. I've also bought a GTX 960 to. Like you tested with right? So if that's the case WHAT POWER SUPPLY ARE YOU USING. you must have upgraded because the standard power supply dosnt have cables for a gtx 6 pin. Please help your my last hope. I've bought a power supply and the shop I went to fro them to fit it said they can't do it because the cables are ribbon or something like that

the t3500 uses a power supply that is standard you can replace it with any psu you like

 

[bambiboom]

1405!!!!!
You've gotta help me man. You say you have a t3500 yeah? Well I have to. I've upgraded ram. Easy. I've also bought a GTX 960 to. Like you tested with right? So if that's the case WHAT POWER SUPPLY ARE YOU USING. you must have upgraded because the standard power supply dosnt have cables for a gtx 6 pin. Please help your my last hope. I've bought a power supply and the shop I went to for them to fit it said they can't do it because the cables are ribbon or something like that

kieran98_28

The T3500 has a 525W PSU and was specified to be able to use 2X 150W GPU's. The T3500 could be purchased new with a Quadro 5000 that was 175W. The NVIDIA recommended minimum power supply for a GTX 960 is 400W, so the stock PSU has plenty of power.

The T3500 has a cable with a Molex 4-pin and 6-pin connector. You might check your T3500 to see if that cable is hiding in the bundle of wires at the top. I have the 6-pin connecting a Quadro 4000 that is rated at 120W. If that cable is missing in your T3500, find the spare Molex and add a Molex to 6 or 8 pin adapter.

If this is not sufficient, as cdabc mentions, you can use a modern PSU, but another option is to use a Precision T5500 875W PSU. The T3500 and T5500 use the same chassis/ case. Used T5500 PSU's are sold for as little as $30-40 and new ones are $120, but for $150 you can buy a whole T5500. I have a T5500 also and that has two 6-pin connectors. I didn't know for a long while as the second connector was tucked up in the bundle of wires at the top of the case.

Still, I think the stock PSU is fine for the GTX 960.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

Dell Precision T3500 (2011) (Rev 2) Xeon X5677 4-core @ 3.46 / 3.73GHz > 12GB (6X 2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC > Quadro 4000 (2GB) > PERC 6/i + Seagate 300GB 15K SAS ST3300657SS + WD Black 500GB > 525W PSU> Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > 2X Dell 19" LCD
[Passmark system rating = 2751> CPU = 7236 / 2D= 658 / 3D=2020 / Mem= 1875 / Disk=1221]

 

[1405]

1405!!!!!
You've gotta help me man. You say you have a t3500 yeah? Well I have to. I've upgraded ram. Easy. I've also bought a GTX 960 to. Like you tested with right? So if that's the case WHAT POWER SUPPLY ARE YOU USING. you must have upgraded because the standard power supply dosnt have cables for a gtx 6 pin. Please help your my last hope. I've bought a power supply and the shop I went to fro them to fit it said they can't do it because the cables are ribbon or something like that

My standard Dell 525W PSU for my T3500 did indeed have a 6-pin PCIe power cable. And it was wired with six wires, not 4. So it was safe for using a 6-pin to 8-pin adapter. http://imgur.com/96PP3Xy

 

[MobiIII]

no they will make a great gaming pc if you get a good gpu

I BOUGHT T3500 A WEEK AGO .MY PSU HAS BEEN BURNT TWO TIMES IN A WEEK.I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWO TIMES.....IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG IN THESE PSUs ....I MEAN THEY ARE 525WATT AND STILL CANT HANDLE MY GPU GTX 950

 

[cdabc123]

no they will make a great gaming pc if you get a good gpu

I BOUGHT T3500 A WEEK AGO .MY PSU HAS BEEN BURNT TWO TIMES IN A WEEK.I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWO TIMES.....IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG IN THESE PSUs ....I MEAN THEY ARE 525WATT AND STILL CANT HANDLE MY GPU GTX 950

are you sure its a psu issue? generally dell powersupplys arnt nearly that bad.

 

[k1114]

Maybe something short circuiting?

 

[MobiIII]

no they will make a great gaming pc if you get a good gpu

I BOUGHT T3500 A WEEK AGO .MY PSU HAS BEEN BURNT TWO TIMES IN A WEEK.I HAD TO REPLACE IT TWO TIMES.....IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG IN THESE PSUs ....I MEAN THEY ARE 525WATT AND STILL CANT HANDLE MY GPU GTX 950

are you sure its a psu issue? generally dell powersupplys arnt nearly that bad.

YES IT IS A PSU ISSUE.....2 PSUs IN ONE WEEK ..EACH LASTING ONLY 2 DAYS......

 

[clutchc]

Possibly your residences wiring system? Properly grounded? Surge protection? Loose neutral somewhere? If you want to verify, pick up one of these for an easy quick check: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Gear-50542-3-Wire-Receptacle/dp/B002LZTKIA

 

[MobiIII]

Possibly your residences wiring system? Properly grounded? Surge protection? Loose neutral somewhere? If you want to verify, pick up one of these for an easy quick check: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Gear-50542-3-Wire-Receptacle/dp/B002LZTKIA

MY PC DOES GIVE ME ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHEN I TOUCH IT ............IS IT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM....ALSO MY HOUSE HAS FLUCTUATING VOLTAGE SOMETIMES 170V SOMETIMES 200 .......BUT I AM USING VOLTAGE STABILIZER FOR IT.....PLZ SUGGEST ME SOMETHING

 

[clutchc]

Possibly your residences wiring system? Properly grounded? Surge protection? Loose neutral somewhere? If you want to verify, pick up one of these for an easy quick check: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Gear-50542-3-Wire-Receptacle/dp/B002LZTKIA

MY PC DOES GIVE ME ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHEN I TOUCH IT ............IS IT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM....ALSO MY HOUSE HAS FLUCTUATING VOLTAGE SOMETIMES 170V SOMETIMES 200 .......BUT I AM USING VOLTAGE STABILIZER FOR IT.....PLZ SUGGEST ME SOMETHING

Yikes! What country do you live in? What is the voltage supposed to be; 240VAC? 120VAC?
You may have found the reason you keep going thru PSUs.

 

[MobiIII]

Possibly your residences wiring system? Properly grounded? Surge protection? Loose neutral somewhere? If you want to verify, pick up one of these for an easy quick check: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Gear-50542-3-Wire-Receptacle/dp/B002LZTKIA

MY PC DOES GIVE ME ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHEN I TOUCH IT ............IS IT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM....ALSO MY HOUSE HAS FLUCTUATING VOLTAGE SOMETIMES 170V SOMETIMES 200 .......BUT I AM USING VOLTAGE STABILIZER FOR IT.....PLZ SUGGEST ME SOMETHING

Yikes! What country do you live in? What is the voltage supposed to be; 240VAC? 120VAC?
You may have found the reason you keep going thru PSUs.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 240V BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE WIRING....BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY OLD DELL OPTIPLEX WITH 300W (I GUESS) PSU....IS IT SOMETHING WRONG WITH MOBO ?

 

[clutchc]

It sounds like you not only have poor voltage control where you are, but possibly very 'dirty' power as well. Spikes, surges, brown-outs, etc.
Since the tester I linked to above is for 120vAC US residences, this one should fit yours: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Socket-Tester-Wiring-Safety-Checker/dp/B00O8QQFDI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1467408329&sr=8-3&keywords=outlet+tester
Check that the plugs are correct. If so, use it to first test that the outlet is wired correctly.
I suspect your electrical system is eating PSUs.