Dell Optiplex 990 SFF Graphics Card Upgrade

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samp5150

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So, I'm planning to upgrade a dell opitplex 990 sff with a msi 1050 ti low profile card. I'm curious if anyone else has had experience upgrading the graphics card on this particular model, the main thing I'm worried about is the 240W power supply. Additionally, according to the manual, the PCI x16 slot has a max of 35W power drawn from the motherboard. However, I have seen some other threads that say that it should work fine anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_BcUmcDXvs <--- Someone with the same setup as mine that claims to have a working system after months.

Do you think my psu will blow up if I try this? Thanks
 
Solution
imsqam
Just a caveat about the power calculation and the restricted slot. The GPU and the CPU will run off the 12V rail of the PSU, this link shows 17A on the +12V for 204W available. This leaves 34W for all other 12V component.
http://www.fkapowersupply.com/165-thickbox_default/dell-optiplex-990-sff-small-form-factor-240-watt-psu-power-supply-03wn11-h240as-00.jpg

Now as PSU's age they lose power capacity so you will not actually have 204W available, it will be something less. Seems to me to be like a rubber band stretched almost to the breaking point, you never know when it is going to just let fail out of nowhere.

For the slot, the 1050 Ti is a 75W card but most of the time it will not draw that. It may boot and somebody may show a...
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william p

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I've also heard of people running powerful GPUs in the limited slots. But the risk is on you. The 240W PSU should be OK. The Optiplexes have a 95W CPU limit, and the SFF has few extra slots and bays to power. 95W CPU+75W GPU=170W. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a 65-75W CPU anyway.
 
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imsqam

imsqam

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Mar 25, 2011
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Just a caveat about the power calculation and the restricted slot. The GPU and the CPU will run off the 12V rail of the PSU, this link shows 17A on the +12V for 204W available. This leaves 34W for all other 12V component.
http://www.fkapowersupply.com/165-thickbox_default/dell-optiplex-990-sff-small-form-factor-240-watt-psu-power-supply-03wn11-h240as-00.jpg

Now as PSU's age they lose power capacity so you will not actually have 204W available, it will be something less. Seems to me to be like a rubber band stretched almost to the breaking point, you never know when it is going to just let fail out of nowhere.

For the slot, the 1050 Ti is a 75W card but most of the time it will not draw that. It may boot and somebody may show a workable system over some months but they may not be aware of the signs of an unpowered GPU.
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/signs-symptoms-computer-not-receiving-enough-power-74039.html

The real consequence here will be that you will be very often or constantly running the mobo GPU circuitry at max power draw and again things blowing up is an issue.

Long story short if you don't care about frying anything in the computer, it is old, then plow ahead. But you may lose that new GPU as well.
 
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william p

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https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-tfx-350w-psu-review/
You might do some measuring and see if this would work. But the slot power issue you're going to be on your own. The Mini Towers are a much better place to start with old Dells. Aftermarkets PSUs, full height graphics cards.
 
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imsqam

imsqam

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Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that the PSU for this computer is an external unit. From the looks of your linked PSU it is an internal.

UPDATE: My apologies, posted to wrong thread, disregard
 
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