OptiPlex 980DT Need Assist with Upgrade Suggestions

[Tim Red Beard]

Got a new DT at work, needs some upgrades however. Current config is as follows:

NOTE: This is a small form factor PC, so the PCI Card are all Low Profile / Half Height

Optiplex 980
Intel i7 870 @ 2.93GHz
12GB RAM
64-bit Windows 7
120GB OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro - SSD Boot Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4550 - Currently in the BLUE PCI Slot on the board.
LSI1394 FireWire Card
Generic CardReader in the 2.5" bay.

What I'd like to do is update the Graphics Card, Add a USB 3.0 Card PCI Card, remove the FireWire Card and if possible run the 120GB SSD with a 1TB Hybrid Drive in Raid?

Any suggestions on Graphics Card and USB 3.0 Cards? My board is shown below, this is a work PC however I do heavy remote access on it as well as video monitoring and other things so I would like to have a good graphics card and fast USB transfers.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Tim Red Beard

 

[junkeymonkey]

them computers are sold as is to work as intended out of the box ... there mostly fixed to were there not upgradeable but its your time and money and like the 100's of others that post here at toms that spent on nice parts for there walmart computers just to find it will not work. its your risk all I can do is point this out to you so you won't feel so bad when it don't work out for you... this is why we do custom builds and dont look at them types of computers due to the fact there not limited to upgrading with in there compatibly .. now unless you can find and see those upgrades you want to do for your computer are proven beyond dought and not some one just saying ya ya ya on your computer then well its you call...

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Really no point in RAID if you already have an SSD.

USB 3.0 card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815166026

New power supply (definitely recommended in this case) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438015

New graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487025

 

[Tim Red Beard]

them computers are sold as is to work as intended out of the box ... there mostly fixed to were there not upgradeable but its your time and money and like the 100's of others that post here at toms that spent on nice parts for there walmart computers just to find it will not work. its your risk all I can do is point this out to you so you won't feel so bad when it don't work out for you... this is why we do custom builds and dont look at them types of computers due to the fact there not limited to upgrading with in there compatibly .. now unless you can find and see those upgrades you want to do for your computer are proven beyond dought and not some one just saying ya ya ya on your computer then well its you call...

I'm looking to upgrade it by putting in a PCI Card for USB3.0 and MAYBE get a little bit better graphics card, I don't need a gaming computer or a 300 dollar Graphics card, If I want a custom build I will buy all custom parts, this was given to me at work by a co-worker that left, it has a much better processor and hard drive them mine. It just doesn't have USB3.0 and I want to add that and alittle beefier Graphics card. That's all...I have no huge expectations.

 

[Tim Red Beard]

Really no point in RAID if you already have an SSD.

USB 3.0 card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815166026

New power supply (definitely recommended in this case) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438015

New graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487025

Thanks for the straight to the point answer. This is just what I needed. Thanks!!!

 

[HiTechObsessed]

No problem

And to junkey's point, that's why I included a power supply upgrade, as the ones built in are generally horrid quality lol

 

[Tim Red Beard]

No problem

And to junkey's point, that's why I included a power supply upgrade, as the ones built in are generally horrid quality lol

I think I also forgot to post that it's a Small Form Factor, so the PCI Slots are all Half Height, so that might make a difference as well. Sorry if I forgot.

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Ahh, gotcha. The links I went to on it referenced the regular tower.

R7 250 will be fine for medium settings or so, depending on the game.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131576

 

[junkeymonkey]

put all the power you want to its built in to there boards and bios to prevent that now a usb pci card may be fine but a gpu may not dude I said what the deal is on this and them types of computers and there a lot of threads here at toms with guys that spent well on upgrades just to find it not going to work now you can take it from here and do what you feel is right .. its all on you I said what I had to to try to save you some grief.. so as I said good luck

 

[HiTechObsessed]

The 7750 is fine for this motherboard. There isn't some chip built in saying OMG a new GPU, FAIL MISERABLY! Most people just don't do the upgrade correctly. Most of the problems with trying to upgrade pre-built OEMS units is in the power supply being junk, which is why I recommended a new PSU.

 

[junkeymonkey]

no but there is a bios that will

 

[HiTechObsessed]

What motherboard doesn't allow use of a graphics card?

 

[junkeymonkey]

a lot of these walmart computers don't you read any threads on this here? lots of folks crying about this heck go to dell and look at the ones crying there and get no help from them.. these computers are not sold to upgrade and sold as is to work out of the box with the parts that's in them there fixed so most upgrades will not work to keep the warrantee from being misused by you trying to jack with something on there computer and come back on them these are not like in any way the ones we buy to do custom builds.. this is done to protect them[dell acer, hp. gateway whoever] from undue claims . now I don't care if you go ahead with this but seeing you did not buy yet I thought I would fill you in on this now and you need to look and see if the upgrades have been proven to work solid proof, and not having someone saying ya ya ya when it mite be just no no no. ya I been called a dumbass a lot but there here crying.. I cant twist your arm you got to do what you feel is right and I hope im wrong on the model you got... it may it may not that's up to dell... and i'll leave ya'll alone so good luck I hope it work out for you..

 

[HiTechObsessed]

I've never seen a motherboard come with embedded code to restrict any kind of upgrading. As I said, most issues comes down the included power supply being shoddy, or the BIOS not being updated, or the wrong drivers, an individual part not being supported, or just plan user not knowing what they're doing, but not something restricting anything being added to it.