Power Supply For Upgraded Desktop

[DragoWeedACorpse]

Ok, so i have a dell Optiplex 9010 with an i7 3770 and 16gb ddr 3 ram, and want to put a graphics card into it for a decent gaming machine. Only thing is that the pc only has a 240w psu, so i need a new one of them. I have a graphics card lying around, its an XFX R9 280x. The box of the card recommends a 650w psu. Do i really need one of such high wattage? Is it worth getting something like a 1050ti and a lower power supply to save money? how much money would i save? Also i know that i wont be able to chuck any psu in there due to dells weird case and stuff, luckily i have a full atx case lying around too.

 

[clutchc]

The retail case you have laying around may not match up with the front panel connections on the Dell motherboard. Dell sometimes uses proprietary connections.
Which of these Optiplex 9010 PCs is yours? http://www.isometric.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Dell-OptiPlex-9010-desktop-family.jpeg

 

[DragoWeedACorpse]

Grandmaster, the second one, also sorry didnt mean to downvote your question

 

[clutchc]

Grandmaster, the second one, also sorry didnt mean to downvote your question

Just vote it back up.

That model is the SFF. Obviously you'll never fit a R9-280X in there. And the PSU is not up-gradable. You'll definitly need to move the hardware to a mid tower case to use that card and upgrade to a new PSU.

Also, the front panel connections will be different on a retail case than they are on the Dell. Not a job you'll want to tackle.

 

[DragoWeedACorpse]

How about a 1050 ti? would that fit in there? and would the 240w be enough for it/

 

[clutchc]

How about a 1050 ti? would that fit in there? and would the 240w be enough for it/

The problem is that the case requires a low-profile design card. The only GTX 1050 Ti low-profile at this time is this one: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137081
It is a 75W card that requires no 6-pin connection. But a 300W PSU is recommended. Yes, it should just fit that case, but you use it at your own risk. It should work fine, but it may overload the small PSU at times.

I'm PMing with another person who has just ordered one for his Dell Optiplex 7010 SFF with the same 240W PSU. He just got it and is in the process of testing it with some games. He said he'd get back to me on how well the PSU holds up.

I have a 60W GTX 750 Ti L-P running fine in my Optiplex 790 SFF with that 240W PSU. But I haven't tried the 75W 1050 Ti yet.