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Upgrading a 745 Optiplex system

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  • FPS
  • Optiplex
  • Geforce
  • Components
Last response: in Components
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December 5, 2013 10:54:02 AM

Considering this card to improve my FPS Current card is a GeForce 8400 512 mb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-500-...

I have an old Optiplex system with a 280 watt power supply and a Duo Core Intel chip E6300 running at 1.86 mhz.. with 2GB RAM according to speccy. I game with my kids playing World of Tanks and it is barely passable. I have researched cards quite a bit and need a compact card as I have the Desktop tower and there's not alot of room. I ahve one PCe slot. I would like to string this computer along a bit longer as a 2nd or 3rd option and am wonder if this card would bottleneck at the processor? Would more memory help me or should I replace the processor with the recommended Q6600. Want it to perform past the jarring and frustrating 10 FPS i am dealing with now. I am willing to take any suggestions from those much more knowledgeable that I but won't spend a ton of money. Thanks

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December 5, 2013 11:11:04 AM

The card is a good upgrade choice. The processor will hold the card back a bit, but not terribly. The PSU should also support it, despite losing a few watts to age and likely not delivering it's advertised wattage as RMS.

I also strongly recommend getting 4gb of memory in the machine, that will make a large difference as well. If you're running 32-bit windows, the OS won't be able to recognize the full 4gb (with a 1gb video card, it will only be able to address 3gb of system memory), but it will be a considerable improvement anyway.

The CPU, while it will need to be replaced if you want to play more demanding games, is currently the strongest component in the system. Bumping up the video card and RAM first will give you more gaming benefit.

enjoy!
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December 5, 2013 12:18:24 PM

quilciri said:
The card is a good upgrade choice. The processor will hold the card back a bit, but not terribly. The PSU should also support it, despite losing a few watts to age and likely not delivering it's advertised wattage as RMS.

I also strongly recommend getting 4gb of memory in the machine, that will make a large difference as well. If you're running 32-bit windows, the OS won't be able to recognize the full 4gb (with a 1gb video card, it will only be able to address 3gb of system memory), but it will be a considerable improvement anyway.

The CPU, while it will need to be replaced if you want to play more demanding games, is currently the strongest component in the system. Bumping up the video card and RAM first will give you more gaming benefit.

enjoy!


Thanks Quilciri! That is a quick and solid answer. I don't need a mean machine rather just one that will run the game adequately. The board has four cards of 512mb DDR2 memory. Can I put in 4 1mb DDR cards. I know with some processors, it won't recognize RAM past a certain amount.

Thanks
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December 6, 2013 6:16:27 AM

Thanks Q I will go ahead and buy 4gb
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