Question (My first time here) Looking to upgrade an old Optiplex 745 PC for watching Youtube, Rumble, etc. (Graphics card and maybe ram.)

[Jerry Packard]

(I tried to figure this out a few weeks ago but just burned out my brain after a few hours of research.) (...Please help me...)

We have an old Dell Optiplex 745 ("desktop" form factor) CPU is 3.4 ghz dual core running Windows 10. (will give more system info below)
We mostly use it for Youtube and other streaming services + browsing the web. I've had significant issues with gaming addiction in the past so probably won't be using it for games.
Has been increasingly struggling to run. Won't really stream Youtube at 1080p, usually struggles a bit too much with 720p, can have minor/moderate issues streaming 480p or even lower.
I think this thing doesn't even have any GPU except some built-in feature of the motherboard or something. So maybe even a ham-sandwich would be an upgrade? I'm hoping to get an old graphics-card (and if needed the maximum 8 gigs of RAM) from ebay or somewhere for cheap. Like ~$30-$50~ or so and get Youtube, Rumble, etc. to run okay at 1080p.
If that's not possible, maybe a bit more money (~$70~?~$100~?) or a lower resolution. (I've gotten used to 480p with issues so a smooth-running 720p would still be a major upgrade.)
...System information:
OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Dell Inc.
System Model OptiPlex 745
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU
Processor Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.40GHz, 3389 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 2.3.1, 5/21/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode Legacy
BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
BaseBoard Product 0MM599
BaseBoard Version
Platform Role SOHO Server
Secure Boot State Unsupported
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.19041.3636"
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 3.93 GB
Available Physical Memory 1.09 GB
Total Virtual Memory 6.30 GB
Available Virtual Memory 2.08 GB
Page File Space 2.37 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection Off
Virtualization-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Reasons for failed automatic device encryption: TPM is not usable, PCR7 binding is not supported, Hardware Security Test Interface failed and device is not Modern Standby, Un-allowed DMA capable bus/device(s) detected, TPM is not usable
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions No
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions No
Hyper-V - Virtualization Enabled in Firmware No
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes

I'm looking at trying to wrap my brain around GPU-memory and pcie-x16 versions and bottlenecks and compatibility and power-supply-requirements and how-much-do-I-really-need-just-to-watch-videos and $$$ and...
...I'm thinking if I try to figure this all out on my own again I'll just get overwhelmed again...
Any help here would be appreciated.

 

[Tac 25]

this video has a tutorial on how to install a 1 gb gpu.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BCyLCMtQz0

 

[MajorPager]

If your model supports PCIe x16, then I suggest that you get an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745. I've got the same exact computer with that in it and it works like a dream. Although take note that this is very low end, but in my opinion, very great for games made over 10 years ago, even some modern games can be handled too. These are relatively cheap, for a 100 or so, and they have 4GB built-in.

 

[Jerry Packard]

If your model supports PCIe x16, then I suggest that you get an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745. I've got the same exact computer with that in it and it works like a dream. Although take note that this is very low end, but in my opinion, very great for games made over 10 years ago, even some modern games can be handled too. These are relatively cheap, for a 100 or so, and they have 4GB built-in.

Thanks for the advice!

I just ordered a used

"Dell NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745 Video Card - 4GB DDR3 - VGA HDMI DVI - TC2P0 0TC2P0"​

for $39.99 free shipping.
I will try to update in a week or 2 to let you know how it goes.

 

[Jerry Packard]

this video has a tutorial on how to install a 1 gb gpu.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BCyLCMtQz0

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Tac 25]

you're welcome. I hope things go well for your pc.