Question GPU For dell insprion 3880

[AbrahamLincon]

I'm trying to find a gpu for my friend because he only is running integrated graphics as of right now but only wants to spend under 140 usd. I was able to find a refurbished rx 6500 xt that can fit in it but I'm not sure of the wattage. Would this work with the 200w psu and if it doesnt can he undervolt the gpu or other components so it can work without losing a huge chunk of performance? Thank you

I5 10400
Everything is stock except that he added a second ram stick.
The 3880 is the desktop version (For clearance if i got it wrong)

 

[Lutfij]

The 3880 is the desktop version (For clearance if i got it wrong)
https://www.dell.com/support/manual...6420a6-f106-4a37-9098-5b0b447cca79&lang=en-us
That prebuilt comes with 2 flavors of PSU's one that's 200W and the other that's 260W.

I was able to find a refurbished rx 6500 xt that can fit in it
Got a link to the card you've found?

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-6500-xt.c3850
I wouldn't pair that GPU with the PSU your friend has, even if the PSU was brand new. If you want to drop in a discrete GPU, I'd advise on making sure your PSU can deliver 300W.

These threads might be of use to you/your friend;
https://www.dell.com/community/en/c...pgrade-for-dell-3880/647f9298f4ccf8a8de464c60

Inspiron 3880 PSU Upgrade | DELL Technologies

In another one of my posts, I talked about a GPU upgrade for this mean non-gaming machine. But in this post, I would like to show a PSU so you can use higher-performance GPU/CPUs. It i...

www.dell.com

https://www.dell.com/community/en/c...power-supply-upgrade/647fa337f4ccf8a8de9073b0

 

[Aeacus]

Would this work with the 200w psu

Doesn't happen.

RX 6500 XT is 107W and will require 6-pin PCI-E power connector, which the PSU does not have.

Also, PSU replacement isn't in the question either, except when you go with Dell proprietary PSU that has the right connectors for MoBo.

All-in-all, best GPU you're looking in there is GT 1030.

The power supply in our model is a Dell-specific (not ATX) 200-watt unit, though Dell offers higher options (up to 260 watts) with some models to allow better components. Your options for a discrete GPU are pretty limited: The most powerful graphics card offered by Dell in configurations of the Inspiron 3880 is an Nvidia GeForce GT 1030, good for low-end gaming at most. Replacing the power supply yourself to install and juice up a more powerful video card looks like a no-go, given the small form factor and nonstandard power connections to the board.

Source, review of the PC: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/dell-inspiron-desktop-3880#

 

[Third-Eye]

I had a whole post listing off all the GPU that would work without a PCIe power cable, but I think it might be worth it to instead save up money for a new PC, Laptop, or even a Steam Deck, because a system with a Ryzen 5 5600G or even more powerful Ryzen 5 8500G, should have more performance than a GT 1030, because you can use more system ram as VRAM than the GT 1030 has on the card.

A system with a Ryzen 5 8600G will out perform all of those, but only beats the Steam Deck by a small percentage, with them both being slightly more powerful than a GTX 1050 non TI.

 

[Aeacus]

I had a whole post listing off all the GPU that would work without a PCIe power cable

Similar to this thing?
Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20230629165127/http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

Note: it takes a while to load since it's from waybackmachine.

but I think it might be worth it to instead save up money for a new PC

This would be the best option, yes. But depends on the OP's friend if they are willing to do that or not.

 

[LOGAN54321]

If it was me, i would go for something like this:

PCPartPicker Part List
Video Card: Sparkle ELF Arc A380 6 GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $139.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-08-13 10:51 EDT-0400

As far as i can find, it doesn't require additional power connector. Their site says something about 450 W psu, but that's probably if someone is using the crappiest psu "rating"...200 "real" watts should be enough. ( i wouldn't buy that pos rx 6500 even for half the price, but that's just me, everyone is entitled to their own opinion)

 

[Third-Eye]

Similar to this thing?
Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20230629165127/http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

No, it was basically the most common low end GPUs released since 2016. I actually just remembered I could have linked the techpowerup database with specific things to narrow the search.

Here is 2015 to now.
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-spe...one~year_2015_H~tdp_20+..+75+W~memsize_2+GB_H

Something like the 50watt TDP RX 550 2GB or 550X 4GB with about RX 470 performance (20-25% faster than GT 1030) would work well with a 200watt PSU in the PC depending on if the PC is SFF or Mid tower and if the card is low profile for an SFF case. These are $40-70 used on ebay. That is just one example. There are also workstation cards that could work that might be under $150.

 

[Aeacus]

Their site says something about 450 W psu

Since A380 is 75W GPU, as low as 250W PSU would do,
TechPowerUp specs: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/sparkle-arc-a380-elf.b11313

But since that Dell has 200W PSU, which in reality can be less, even 75W GPU is pushing it. Most likely into complete failure.

GT 1030 at 30W is better suited.

No, it was basically the most common low end GPUs released since 2016. I actually just remembered I could have linked the techpowerup database with specific things to narrow the search.

Here is 2015 to now.
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-spe...one~year_2015_H~tdp_20+..+75+W~memsize_2+GB_H

With database searches, one needs to be careful, especially when GPU is rated at 75W TDP.

E.g if you narrow your search to GTX 1650, it does show up as one of the GPUs that doesn't have power connector. But this is not so. Several AIB models of GTX 1650 still have power connector, e.g like MSI Gaming X version,
specs: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/msi-gtx-1650-gaming-x.b6908

Check the Top view pic to confirm the power connector on GPU.
Same with: Gigabyte Gaming OC, EVGA XC Ultra and Colorful E-Sports to name some.

 

[Third-Eye]

With database searches, one needs to be careful, especially when GPU is rated at 75W TDP.

That data base listing I posted specifically omits any cards that require PCIe power cables. As well as only listing 20-75watt TDP

 

[Aeacus]

That data base listing I posted specifically omits any cards that require PCIe power cables. As well as only listing 20-75watt TDP

It only lists Radeon and first 100 out of 265 total.

There is Search box above that. If you put in e.g 1080, it will not show GTX 1080, since it has power connectors and do not match to the applied filters. Instead, it shows 1010/1030/1050/1050 Ti and mobile GPUs.
Now, if you put 1650 into the same search box, it will show GTX 1650 desktop GPU and GTX 1650 mobile/Ti variants.
Link: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-spe...r_2015_H~tdp_20+..+75+W~memsize_2+GB_H&q=1650

Database search with applied filters does not count for every AIB model. Instead, it considers only vanilla/FE edition. So, when FE edition doesn't have power connector, it is included, despite some AIB models having power connector.

 

[Third-Eye]

Oh right... I didn't even think to check if everything was even on the list since there is a lot missing in that 100 of 265 total. Still a decent way to find something viable for such a low end system though.