Help for renovating a old Precision 690 to modern gaming standards (More specifically, the motherboard)

[hornetvtol]

Hi,
So I have recently been given a Dell Precision 690, and I want to renovate it and make modern games playable on it. I've already got some hardware, but mainly, I would like some help with finding a good motherboard so I can put in a workable CPU (it has an Intel 5000X chipset and I need a bit more power).

First some specs:
Approximate Purchase Date: Not a clue. Probably about 2008.

Budget Range: Since I only want a CPU and motherboard so my budget is $200, but I have no computer-building experience, so please advise if this is unreasonable. I would like to keep costs to a minimum.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming. That's essentially it.

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS (Windows 10), power supply, GPU (AMD Radeon RX 480), HDD

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: none/Amazon
Country: United States

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Intel would be preferable, as that's what it already uses, and I don't want to got through the hassle of downloading drivers and whatnot, but any brand if it can offer a better deal.

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: My GPU is Crossfire compatible, but not planning on it

Monitor Resolution: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200

Additional Comments: None.

Please let me know. Thanks!

 

[DSzymborski]

Assuming your power supply is a good one -- "power supply" is a worrisome phrase in a list by itself -- here's what I'd do on that budget.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($59.48 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI - B250M BAZOOKA Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($73.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws 4 series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($59.92 @ Amazon)
Total: $193.39
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-19 00:18 EDT-0400

The Pentium is a really excellent budget CPU, but the motherboard leaves you room to put in i5 or i7 later on. No overclocking, for that you'll want a Z motherboard and you'd have to spend a bit more.

 

[aldan]

this is really old hardware,and as such,is not really worth your time trying to upgrade.virtually nothing but the case is usable,and being a dell it will be problematical finding components to fit.that pc also came with a honking 80gb hdd so not anything usable there.it also came with ddr2 memory.dont get me wrong,it may be able to be done,but the money you spend could build you a pretty good new machine.

 

[mtrobinsonsr]

I have both the 490 and 690. Besides for some minor improvements to the 690 they are essentially the same machine. My 690 is my home security server but my 490 I completely built out as my entertainment machine. The 490 plays every game very well with no noticeable frame drops. Here are the list of parts I bought to get the 490 (or 690) up to par.

2X Intel Xeon X5365 3GHz Quad-Core Processors Socket 771 SLAED CPU Price:US $64.99
http://www.ebay.com/itm/192016560840?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Server RAM 32GB 8x 4GB PC2-5300F FB FIT Dell Precision 490 690 R5400 T5400 T7400 Price:US $35.95
http://www.ebay.com/itm/292106663943?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

and finally a nvidia graphics card.
NEW NVIDIA GeForce GT730 4GB DDR5 128Bit PCI-Express Video Graphics Card

ITEM PRICE:
US $68.99

In the end you have an 8 core, 3GHZ machine with 32GBs of memory with a 4GB video card. For a 15 year old machine ITS A BEAST. I would caution only that you make sure that the motherboard in your machine supports quad processors and not simply dual. The other thing is make sure you have two heat sinks under the hood else you'll have to purchase one if you wish to use both processors. Hope this helps and pay no attention to the naysayers, this machine may be old by computer standards but its reliability is unmatched if you ask me. Its a rock solid machine.

 

[william p]

You might try 2x X5270 dual core Xeons 3.5GHz. The FBDIMMs are strange. They take a ot of power to run. There might be 2 MB 20/24 pin power connectors due to this. Maybe with non standard pinouts. This could make a PSU swap impossible.
You could run a lot more GPU than a GT730. See how many PCIe cables you have Probaly 1 or 2- 6 pin PCIe. This will determine what GPU you can run.
First thing there is an issue between the Dell BIOS and newer AMD cards. HD7xxx should all work and R9-2xx except 285. R9-3xx and up wo'nt work GCN v.3 is the issue.
Nvidia cards are OK. If you only have 1x6 pin cable there should be a bigger PSU that has 2. You will need to buy the cable assy. with it. Nvidia cards work OK and newer ones provide great performance per watt.
Dell workstaion PSUs are multirail designs. each conector will provide the rated power. But unlike aftermarket PSUs they can't draw more form the rest of the rated power. Yould could run a GTX1070 with an 8 pin adapter because it draws 150W (75W PCIe 16x sot +75W 6 pin cable). But a GTX1080 could cause problems. 2x75W6pin = 1x150W 8pin.