Dell Precision T5500 gaming graphics recommendations

[Docwagner]

I have a Dell Precision T5500 with dual Xeon 6 core processors that I want to hand down to my son. I need a gaming graphics cards that will be compatible from the Nvidia world. Is there an option and if so not too expensive?

 

[meat_loaf]

I have a Dell Precision T5500 with dual Xeon 6 core processors that I want to hand down to my son. I need a gaming graphics cards that will be compatible from the Nvidia world. Is there an option and if so not too expensive?

The problem isn't graphics card. Your problem here lies in the fact you have a workstation computer. Workstation computers aren't generally meant for gaming and considering it has a dual xeon cpu, this is on the border of a server based computer. Games typically are designed for single cpu instruction sets and generally doesn't support having dual cpus, in fact I have not seen any games that actually runs on a computer with 2 cpus and a server based motherboard, which definitely you have.

 

[Docwagner]

I used to run several games on a dell precision D490 with dual Xeon processors without difficulty.

 

[Docwagner]

So I have a Dell Precision T5500 with those dual Xeon processors (6 cores each) and I installed Call of Duty Black Ops and played it for an hour without problems. Clearly I'm not a hardcore gamer so maybe this will work OK. I did try putting an Nvidia (PNY) Geforce GTX 750 in a similar PC as mine and the system wouldn't recognize it. I then tried it in a Dell Precision D490 and only got a black screen. I was thinking even though the T5500 has a PCIe x16 2.0 slot it should still work with that card. Right? I tried both PCIe slots and downloaded drivers but no luck. Maybe the card is bad??

 

[meat_loaf]

So I have a Dell Precision T5500 with those dual Xeon processors (6 cores each) and I installed Call of Duty Black Ops and played it for an hour without problems. Clearly I'm not a hardcore gamer so maybe this will work OK. I did try putting an Nvidia (PNY) Geforce GTX 750 in a similar PC as mine and the system wouldn't recognize it. I then tried it in a Dell Precision D490 and only got a black screen. I was thinking even though the T5500 has a PCIe x16 2.0 slot it should still work with that card. Right? I tried both PCIe slots and downloaded drivers but no luck. Maybe the card is bad??

With your workstation computer, some games can be played, and probably some won't get good fps. Xeons aren't generally geared towards gaming and your instruction sets will probably lack certain D3D features that regular gaming motherboard have as they are geared towards the graphics and audio peformance. You can check you some description by ToT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9WZ2EDH-Kk&list=PLFYKgfRfcXXVjoESOHJYA-NKmNNPI_AoW

Your T5500 didn't recognize it isn't because of the card. Did you check your PSU? Prebult computers usually always come with junk power supply that only gives you minimum wattage to support whatever your PC came in.

The GTX 750 requires at least a 300w power supply.

 

[rcald2000]

I own a Dell Precision 5810 E5-1620 (six core xeon processor). I had a MSI GTX 970 4G Gaming card in it and it was great. A GTX 970 would be an excellent upgrade for this computer. The PCIe slots in the T5550 are generation 2.0, and the new cards are 3.0 but that's actually not an issue, as Gen 3 cards are one generation backward compatible.

* What to look out for: Check the inside of the T5500 and see how many 6 and 8 pin connectors are available. Since that computer was configurable with upto a Quadro FX 5800, I assume the computer has both a single 6 and single 8 pin PCIe connector. Although the MSI GTX 970 has one 6 and one 8 pin connectors on it, you can get away with two 6 pin connectors, and simply use the 6-to-8 pin adapter that's included with teh MSI card. Let me know what you think. By the way, the T5500 is a beast of a computer.

 

[rcald2000]

One other thing: On my 5810, the plastic shroud on the GTX 970 (top of card) didn't have enough clearance to allow me to place the side of the case back on, until I removed the rubberized handle on the inside of the side panel. I don't recall if the T5500 has this handle. The point of the handle is to allow you to easily handle the case side, but also to gently secure the card into place. You may also want to purchase the card on Amazon, so if there is any issue with installing this card, then you can return it hassle free.

 

[meat_loaf]

One other thing: On my 5810, the plastic shroud on the GTX 970 (top of card) didn't have enough clearance to allow me to place the side of the case back on, until I removed the rubberized handle on the inside of the side panel. I don't recall if the T5500 has this handle. The point of the handle is to allow you to easily handle the case side, but also to gently secure the card into place. You may also want to purchase the card on Amazon, so if there is any issue with installing this card, then you can return it hassle free.

Is your answer suppose to help anyone?? Because it seems like you are explaining your own problems than suggesting an actual solution.

 

[rcald2000]

@Docwagner How'd you make out?

If you're looking to save some money, you should consider purchasing an EVGA refurbished b-stock GTX 970:
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-2972-RX

You can't beat this deal for $259. If you're interested in this b-stock card then please purchase it ASAP. They tend to sell out in just hours. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

 

[carver_g]

The T5500 has an 80-plus Silver PSU putting out 875 watts and will run most modern video cards. I used to have a T5500 and I ran an AMD 7950 for over a year with no problems. And yes the Xeons work fine as gaming CPU's. Most of them are just higher-binned copies of i7 processors anyway, and if there is a difference in gaming performance, it's minimal.

I agree with rcald2000's comment that a 970 will probably work but keep in mind the T5500's PSU only has 2 6-pin PCIe power ports, so make sure you pick out an appropriate 970. The EVGA 970's for example would work.

side note for rcald2000- the E5-1620 is a quad, not a six-core. Maybe you have the 1650?

 

[rcald2000]

Hi carver_g,

You are correct, the E5-1620 is a quad core CPU. It is indeed what I have, I just misspoke and stated six core. I agree with your entire response. Thanks for the additional info; it was informative.

 

[duecekid]

I have a Dell Precision T5500 with dual Xeon 6 core processors that I want to hand down to my son. I need a gaming graphics cards that will be compatible from the Nvidia world. Is there an option and if so not too expensive?

I am running a T5500 for one of my gaming rigs. Makes no difference if its a workstation perform better in most cases. Dont know where people got this belief that workstations arent good for gaming. Any card will work on these machine I am using a MSI 4GB R9 390x. Can run pretty much any game on ultra with 60FPS average. Will set you back about $350 if you find it on sale on Newegg.