Graphics Card upgrade for Dell Optiplex 745?

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DSzymborski
On an old PC with the basic 300W, low-quality OEM power supply, your only real option without other upgrades is the 750ti, which doesn't need a supplementary power connector and is powered right from the motherboard. If you swapped out the PSU, your options improve a little, but you'll be limited by your CPU.

Honestly, except for *maybe* a GPU upgrade, it's not a rig I'd recommend putting more money into. Unless you've made upgrades over the time, the best CPU that Dell lists for that system was a mid-range CPU about 8 years ago when it was released.
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DSzymborski

DSzymborski

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On an old PC with the basic 300W, low-quality OEM power supply, your only real option without other upgrades is the 750ti, which doesn't need a supplementary power connector and is powered right from the motherboard. If you swapped out the PSU, your options improve a little, but you'll be limited by your CPU.

Honestly, except for *maybe* a GPU upgrade, it's not a rig I'd recommend putting more money into. Unless you've made upgrades over the time, the best CPU that Dell lists for that system was a mid-range CPU about 8 years ago when it was released.
 
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awsome110

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Would any of these graphics cards be compatible with my motherboard?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150663&cm_re=radeon_hd_7750-_-14-150-663-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121727R&cm_re=radeon_hd_7790-_-14-121-727R-_-Product
 
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DSzymborski

DSzymborski

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It's not a motherboard issue, but a power one. The 7790 takes too much power. The 7750 would likely work, but it's a much weaker card than a 750 ti, which is the best current GPU that can be run without supplementary power.

And I say likely, because they may not. You have a very basic, low-end, power supply that is now extremely old. If you're not currently running a discrete GPU successfully in it, I'd be extremely wary about taxing it at all.
 
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mikebaltitas

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Just to chime in and seek direction if possible, I'm working on a similar upgrade, just swapped in a QX6700 Quad, Crucial SSD, and 6GB RAM on an Optiplex 745 Desktop (or mini tower or whatever the largest one is). WEI rates well, COD:AW and CS:GO run, most games I've tried are playable. Currently using a GT 610 though and looking to upgrade, but not sure exactly where to go with it...Initially I was looking at the 7750 low profiles, but now with DSzymborski's comment about the GTX 750 I'm leaning towards that. I know with a PSU upgrade and riser I could potentially, theoretically put in whatever video card I feel like paying for, but without overclocking capabilities (thanks Dell) it doesn't seem quite worth it. Unless of course I intend to swap said new video card into a new future rig, SLI or Crossfire (or w/e) it with something else, and expand upon that rig. Is it totally unreasonable to put, say, a R9 290X into this machine, and move that on to a new machine later? Maybe even, a year or so from now?
 
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