How to transform a Dell Optiplex 745 mini tower into a kids first gaming pc?

[FUBAR44]

Hey everyone I currently have an old dell optiplex 745 that I found out in our garage. I cleaned it up and did a fresh install of windows 7 on it. I am wanting to make this into my little brother's first gaming pc, as well as, our living room htpc. I need everyones thoughts/opinions/help with what to do next!

Current pc specs:
CPU: Intel core 2 duo e6700---->buying Intel core 2 quad q6600 for $25-$30 on ebay to replace it
GPU: ATI x1300---->Need help with this upgrade
PSU: Cheap 305 watt dell---->possible upgrade depending on GPU choice
RAM: 4gb 667mhz---->just bought 8gb of ddr2 667mhz memory for $10
HDD: 160gb 5400rpm---->possible upgrade?

Link to pc specs....
http://www.levnapc.cz/ProductsFiles/dell-optiplex-745-technicke-specifikace-en.pdf

I need to know what steps I need to take next to get thing into gaming shape. Most things I will be buying from ebay and craigslist to cut down on costs. I need to do this as cheaply as possible!

Thanks for your help in advance.


BTW would be gaming at 720p as that is what our family room bigscreen is.

 

[okcnaline]

1) The CPU upgrade to a 4-core is good.
2) Get this:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-video-card-02gp43751kr
3) Just grab this PSU...
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx430m
4) Upgrade the HDD to a WD Caviar Blue 1TB for ~$56. You don't know what storage he needs...

 

[smorizio]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6Zykbv
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6Zykbv/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($59.49 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus H97M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($97.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $419.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-06 22:27 EDT-0400
if you have local micro center they do have combo deal of 99.00 for the cpu and mb. make sure you get a micro atx or you have to buy a full size case. rest of the parts are too old to use unless there sata.

 

[millwright]

Not really cost effective.
If you insist, the best bang for your buck, is a GTX750Ti.

It will have to be low profile, as that is what your case is.If they make a low profile, they are under$150

It only needs a 300watt power supply.
Dells may not put out much, but are generally good, for their size.


The GTX 750Ti is entry level high performance gaming.

Might bottleneck the CPU a little. No big deal.

 

[clutchc]

You found a used C2Q Q6600 for only $30? Good price.

Unless you have verification from someone or have checked on the Dell forum that the C2Q will work w/o a BIOS update, you may want to hold off on C2Q purchase. The specs for that l Dell Optiplex 745 mini tower only list the C2D w/1066MHz FSB as the top processors.
You can pick up a GTX 750 Ti factory OC card like this PNY and keep the stock PSU if you want to save some money. I have one running in a budget PSU with an AMD Athlon II X2 dual core about the same era as your C2D, and was playing Bioshock: Infinite today at max settings at 10870p with smooth frame rates.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133530

It is the fastest card I'm aware of that needs no 6 pin connector and runs fine on a good quality 300W PSU. Dell used good PSUs in that era macine.

 

[FUBAR44]

In the minitower I can fit a full height gpu but the thing is that it can only be single slot and can only be 7.5" long.

I have put together several builds on pcpartpicker before including my highend build I just finished but I need to do everything to this pc VERY VERY cheaply. I would also entertain options of older but still good gpus for playing games with

 

[FUBAR44]

I have been looking into the q6600 for a while and have found numerous threads supporting the upgrade, here is one of them...
http://en.community.dell.com/what-do-i-buy/for_enterprise/f/4516/t/18666624

My biggest conundrum is to keep the current psu and get a hd 7750/gtx 750 or up grade the psu and choose a different gpu. I have even been looking around for older nvidia gtx gpus as well as amd 5xxx/6xxx series cards.

My brother is 15 and has been gaming on a 3-4 year old amd apu laptop so really just about anything is going to be an upgrade i would say. He can barely run skyrim on lowest settigs at 1080p right now. BTW he loves playing rps

 

[millwright]

the 750Ti only needs a 300watt PS.

I haven't seen a single slot 750Ti, but I found this.

http://hexus.net/tv/show/2014/06/Galaxy_claims_world_first_with_single_slot_GeForce_GTX_750_Ti

 

[f-14]

you didn't specify the form factor so i have no idea which of the 4 form factors your dealing with. that era becareful with the quad cpus, most boards weren't compatible until the ddr2800 or ddr2 1066 memory was stock. might even be some trouble with the core2 duo's over 1066 FSB speeds. also is there a 6 pin PCIe connector?

 

[FUBAR44]

Sorry, in the title I stated my pc was a mini tower so it is the largest form factor of all of the dell 745's. There is no 6 pin connector for a gpu so either I need to go with a hd 7750/gtx 750 ti (single slot version) or upgrade the psu and go with a different gpu.

On a side note, there is an extra sata power cable could I get a sata to molex adapter and then plug in a molex to 6 pin adapter to that to get 6 pin power to the gpu? is that even possible???

 

[f-14]

yes you can do that with the molex adapter. the spec from the site says it only provides 75W via the m/b so that is an option.

memory wise specs state you can go up to 800mhz ddr2 which is going to be necessary to feed any cpu with 1066fsb. the specs also say only core2duo tho so the m/b bios won't support that quad core, which is a shame.

 

[FUBAR44]

So should I upgrade the PSU and GPU or go with a GPU that doesn't need a 6 pin power connector? From a price stand point which should I do? A new psu + used gpu or new gpu...I figure it would be about the same price either way so which one should I choose?

Also, does anyone know how strong of a gpu I can get before the q6600 starts becoming too big of a bottle neck (if I choose the new psu + used gpu option)?

 

[clutchc]

I wouldn't use a SATA to Molex to PCIe if I were you. The SATA power cable's wire size is not designed to handle heavy loads like a Molex. I believe the spec for SATA power cables only call for a 1.5A load per pin.

Besides, this is about the fastest single slot card I think you'll find: http://www.galaxytech.com/__EN_GB__/Product2/ProductDetail?proID=598&isStop=0&isPack=False&isPow=False&isSSD=False
It will play smooth at 1080p, only requires a 300W PSU, and doesn't need a 6 pin connector.
A couple more single slot (but wider) GTX 750 Ti selections:
http://www.galaxytech.com/__EN_GB__/Product2/ProductDetail?proID=597&isStop=0&isPack=False&isPow=False&isSSD=False
http://www.galaxytech.com/__EN_GB__/Product2/ProductDetail?proID=517&isStop=0&isPack=False&isPow=False&isSSD=False