Optiplex 380 gaming computer, is it possible?

[switchclik]

Hi all,
I am a total newbie with computers, so you'll have to forgive me if I sound naive with this question:

I bought a Dell optiplex 380 from a neighbor for cheap, and I thought I would only need to put in a new GPU to get it reasonably up to speed (I didn't think I needed amazing performance at the time).
What I have now found is that I will definitely need more RAM, maybe a newer CPU and possibly even a new motherboard (?).

I was looking at getting a zotac geforce gtx 1060 GPU, 8gb ram (for the moment) and intel i5-8400 CPU.
What sort of compatibility issues may I face here, do I need to replace my mother board too and ultimately is it not worth upgrading a machine this old (should I just bite the bullet and build a new one from the ground up)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[MrDreamerz]

The original cover has to go. Here's the right cooler aasembly J9761.
https://www.ebay.com/p/Genuine-Dell-Optiplex-745-MT-Heatsink-W-Shroud-D9729-J9761/1671386341
The one you ordered is for the mid towers. If you look at the end where the fan goes you'll see it flares out on both sides. The one you ordered is straight on one side and won't line up with your fan holder. It's a better cooler but you need the right housing and then mod it to fit. J9761 is a drop in part. Keep your fingers crossed, maybe thay just posted a generic photo. By part# it should be OK.

The one i got looks like it lines up perfectly screws and all and the size seems to be perfect too, but if you think it won't i'll get the one you said.
Should i at least take out the old one and see if the new one i got will fit before i order the one you said?

And do i kinda force it out after unscrewing it?
if its a bit to hard to take out do i pry it out a bit with maybe a flathead screwdriver or something?

 

[MrDreamerz]

Heres some pics of the heatsink i got from ebay so you can see it better.
https://ibb.co/8X5nBfL
https://ibb.co/d40NLqz
https://ibb.co/LY70Zj8
https://ibb.co/WpWVKm0
https://ibb.co/SXHc4d0
https://ibb.co/mcJQKLr

 

[william p]

If it's the right part# it should fit. The old one will be stuck down by the dried up thermal paste. If you can twist the aluminum cooler itself that will break it loose. Just see if it's as wide at the front. Also look at the bottom of the feet where the screws stick out. The Optiplexes have small holes in the MB and sit on top. The others have larger holes and the cooler sits down in the holes. This will keep it from cooling the CPU even if it fits.

 

[MrDreamerz]

The original cover has to go. Here's the right cooler aasembly J9761.
https://www.ebay.com/p/Genuine-Dell-Optiplex-745-MT-Heatsink-W-Shroud-D9729-J9761/1671386341
The one you ordered is for the mid towers. If you look at the end where the fan goes you'll see it flares out on both sides. The one you ordered is straight on one side and won't line up with your fan holder. It's a better cooler but you need the right housing and then mod it to fit. J9761 is a drop in part. Keep your fingers crossed, maybe thay just posted a generic photo. By part# it should be OK.

Heres pics of the old heatsink i just took it out
https://ibb.co/zNQ493D
https://ibb.co/51kvCtc
https://ibb.co/BKnY1P8
https://ibb.co/m6QRHbn
https://ibb.co/5RZ3ZQb
https://ibb.co/dcvmNG2
https://ibb.co/sCMHWBc

the new heatsink fits perfect to me it seems btw.

 

[MrDreamerz]

here i go im going for it ill let ya now what happens ;0)

UPDATE: all done! now how long do i wait till i try booting up after replacing the cpu?

 

[MrDreamerz]

SUCCESS!! It's Working!!!
Thank you for all your help!!!!

BTW everythnig reads fine except it still says 2 cores 2 logic, do i need to go into the bios or something to change something to get it to read 4 cores?
update!
i fixed the cores i had to uncheck the number of cores in systen config

 

[william p]

I would go to userbenchmark.com and run it and see what your CPU score is. Q9650 is about 40%, so expect about 44% for the X5470.
Congratulations, you're now a Certified Dell Modder

 

[MrDreamerz]

I would go to userbenchmark.com and run it and see what your CPU score is. Q9650 is about 40%, so expect about 44% for the X5470.
Congratulations, you're now a Certified Dell Modder

Here's my results from userbenchmark.com
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/12712421

 

[william p]

Your CPU is 1 % better than mine. I see you have the GTX1050Ti in there. The only thing I would suggest is an SSD.
If you do that turn off Auto Defragmentation in Accesories/ System Tools. Dell has it on by default and SSDs don't like that.
My X5470 GTX1050Ti is the one just above yours in the list. Probably the SSD put it ahead since your other scores are equal or better.
I always thought an X5470 should go 45%, but mine didn't quite make it. Nice work.

 

[MrDreamerz]

Your CPU is 1 % better than mine. I see you have the GTX1050Ti in there. The only thing I would suggest is an SSD.
If you do that turn off Auto Defragmentation in Accesories/ System Tools. Dell has it on by default and SSDs don't like that.
My X5470 GTX1050Ti is the one just above yours in the list. Probably the SSD put it ahead since your other scores are equal or better.
I always thought an X5470 should go 45%, but mine didn't quite make it. Nice work.

thanks!
ill look into getting a ssd now

 

[MrDreamerz]

Your CPU is 1 % better than mine. I see you have the GTX1050Ti in there. The only thing I would suggest is an SSD.
If you do that turn off Auto Defragmentation in Accesories/ System Tools. Dell has it on by default and SSDs don't like that.
My X5470 GTX1050Ti is the one just above yours in the list. Probably the SSD put it ahead since your other scores are equal or better.
I always thought an X5470 should go 45%, but mine didn't quite make it. Nice work.

Hey there me again
PC is working Great!
Now im pimpin it out one of the things im doing is trying to put in this temp fan display controller thingy, heres some pics,
https://ibb.co/tP331Jd
https://ibb.co/qJhcSPz
https://ibb.co/THcnCG1
https://ibb.co/BLBmgQt
https://ibb.co/Jt1qpHN
is this possible?

 

[william p]

IDK I just use Throttlestop to monitor things. It can put a readout in the taskbar.

 

[MrDreamerz]

IDK I just use Throttlestop to monitor things. It can put a readout in the taskbar.

Ok cool.
Btw i wanna put in a extra led fan or 2, is that extra free 3 pin plug that is not being used right above the the graphics card can i use that for the fan? or what is that for?
Also i wanted to put this in,
https://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Express-Controller-Internal-Connector/dp/B00JFR2H64
will this work in one of those lighter colored pcie slots?
i wanna put that in to use the 20 pin connector to put this in,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011NLXC5O/ref=psdc_516872_t2_B01D31V2L8
Do you think it will work?

 

[MrDreamerz]

IDK I just use Throttlestop to monitor things. It can put a readout in the taskbar.

you think this will work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Dual-Fan-4Heat-Pipe-Quiet-CPU-Cooler-Heatsink-For-Intel-LGA775-1156-1155/323598767496?_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170221122447%26meid%3D2bddbcc030a24c7f9f036c88121c5b57%26pid%3D100752%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D323598775370%26itm%3D323598767496&_trksid=p2047675.c100752.m1982

 

[william p]

The bolt holes in the Dell BTX don't match anything else, and the CPU is turned 45* with components surrounding it. The D9729 heatsink or J9761 cooler assembly will cool that. If you want more cooling them get the NC466 fan and replace the whole fan and housing with just the huge fan.A little velcro and duct tape will hold it in there. I used TS to undervolt my Xeon to 1.100V. and ran Prime 95 at 42*C. with this setup.

 

[MrDreamerz]

The bolt holes in the Dell BTX don't match anything else, and the CPU is turned 45* with components surrounding it. The D9729 heatsink or J9761 cooler assembly will cool that. If you want more cooling them get the NC466 fan and replace the whole fan and housing with just the huge fan.A little velcro and duct tape will hold it in there. I used TS to undervolt my Xeon to 1.100V. and ran Prime 95 at 42*C. with this setup.

Thanks for the tip, i'm more concerned about pimping it out making it look good with led rgb lights and stuff like that.
I already put in a Xeon 5470 cpu wit ha different heatsink and i got rgb light strips and a rgb fan in the back as well as rgb ram covers with a see through window side panel i cut out and made. I thought it would be cool to put some light on the heatsink but if you got some more ideas i'm all ears!!
Here are some pics.
https://ibb.co/F3sYm94
https://ibb.co/vVGG0J2
https://ibb.co/qJ1k6Jk
https://ibb.co/W353FBw
https://ibb.co/YZng9GL
https://ibb.co/wNzhqh9
https://ibb.co/kDZG4kz
https://ibb.co/jMhWBBN
https://ibb.co/5R9NHwG
https://ibb.co/R4TNyYG
https://ibb.co/C1cRdbj
https://ibb.co/v42YkGK

 

[william p]

That's all going to be trial and error. Nothing is made to fit those.

 

[MrDreamerz]

That's all going to be trial and error. Nothing is made to fit those.

Cool thanks for the response!
It's experimentation time!!
BTW im now currently also working on a Optiplex 9020 MT any ideas into modding this one?

 

[william p]

You should start a separate thread for that one.

 

[MrDreamerz]

You should start a separate thread for that one.

i wanted to strip the optiplez 380 down and paint the case, will it be ok if i take apart everything and put it back together again?
i wont need to reflash bios or anything like that right?

 

[MrDreamerz]

You should start a separate thread for that one.

Hey william p long time. I was wondering if you happen to have the mod files for flashing the motherboad for the dell optiplex 380 mt?
I'm asking because the site link you gave me years ago no longer works and i might be flashing another board in the near future.

 

[USAFRet]

Hey william p long time. I was wondering if you happen to have the mod files for flashing the motherboad for the dell optiplex 380 mt?
I'm asking because the site link you gave me years ago no longer works and i might be flashing another board in the near future.

3-4 years later.....

Please don't dredge up ancient threads.