Ugrading Dell Precision T3500

[devun]

Current Specs:
Windows 7
NVIDIA Quadro graphics
Intel Xeon 5600 series Processor
4 GB RAM
550 Watts

I want to know how I can upgrade my graphics card and the processor. I think I can use them Xeon W3580 Processor but I want more options and confirmation on that. Thanks.

 

[hang-the-9]

You need to check the compatibility list from Dell, maybe the motherboard model will also help you find some info. For the video card, that is a 9 year old system, I would stick with video cards a bit older to make sure they work, Radeon 2xx models, nVidia 7xx models. The power supply should be OK for most of the cards barring some of the high end older cards.

 

[william p]

W3680/W3690 32nm 6 core are the maximum CPUs for that. But W3580 45nm 4 core is a good choice too.
Here's why.
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/throttlestop-overclocking-desktop-pcs.235975/
X5680/X5690 are cheaper. But not as much fun.

 

[Susquehannock]

Sure. The W3580 will work. My choice would be the X5687. Fastest speeds non-overclocked. Can be had for $40. Install them in every T3500 that passes through my hands now. Hex cores are good for some things, but there is no real benefit to them in a gaming system.

T3500 will take good graphic cards too. Have installed several 1060 and a few 1070. My personal box has been running RX 480 for well over a year now. Power draw is close to that of a 1080. You have to do a couple things to make a full size card fit. Nothing major. Involves a few screws.

 

[william p]

Did you have any BIOS issue with the AMD GPU? The T3400 has the Error Code 43 BIOS issue. I see almost no Radeons at userbenchmark for the T3500.
I would love to be able to run my 2x R9-285s in a T3500. Does the RX series support Vesa Mode 103 that Dell required, or is the T3500 where that ended?

 

[Susquehannock]

First thing I do is update to latest BIOS (A17) and chipset drivers.

>> http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/precision-t3500/drivers

No BIOS issues at all with RX 460 or RX 480 so far. GTX 9xx series also work well.

Far as I know none of the AMD R series will work with these because of the issue you mentioned. So you are probably out of luck there.

 

[william p]

Actually the R9-2xx (except 285), and R7 series are OK. HD series also. I consider the RX to be R10 series also (X=10 in Roman) I haven't heard an all clear from anyone on this though. AMD, and Dell don't talk about it much. They leave it to the users to find out the hard way. Did you try those cards in a T3400. I would be interested to know if AMD fixed the card, or if Dell fixed the BIOS?

 

[Susquehannock]

No experience with T3400. Very different than T3500 so could not say.