Best Graphics Card for Dell Optiplex 745

I'm trying to figure out what is the best Graphics Card for my CPU, I have the Tower model

I was hoping to be able to play BF 3 and Skyrim on at least Med. Settings

Can you tell us which version it is?

http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/optiplex-745/pd

Their are different Tower Models.

Depending on which one you have(PSU limitations) I'd say the best card you can get is the 6670/5670.I would say you should upgrade the power supply but i'm not sure they make any that will fit those type of towers.

The biggest one on that page? You mean the Mid-Tower Desktop? The one that looks like a normal PC?

EDIT: Oh I see,if you look at the miscellaneous tab it shows pictures of each PC.They call it a Mini-Tower but it's actually a Mid-Tower.

If thats the PC you have then you have a lot more upgrade paths than the others.What is your budget for the new graphics card?

specs are here
http://support.dell.com/support/ed [...] #wp1133451
Dell 305w PSU = to about a 380w-400w max aftermarket PSU

I would stick with the HD 6670/5670 myself
possibly a HD 5750 though it is pushing it

the PSU can be replaced with a standard ATX

I have a HD 5670 in my Dell Optiplex 745 Slim Desktop
I also have a OCd E4500 @ 2.93ghz/1066fsb
http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpu [...] guide.html
it is possible to overclock some C2Ds in that tower (E4xxx)

I play
Crysisi Warhead at 1920x1080 Gamer setting
Crysis 2 at 1920x1080 DX9 Hardcore setting
Witcher 2 1920x1080 high setting
Metro 2033 1920x1080 high DX11
BioShock 2 at high 1920x1080
Far Cry 2 at high 1920x1080
Left 4 Dead 2 high 1920x1080
all of these at no AA

I have a Youtube account and have been meaning to post a video of the tower
playing Crysis 2 at hardcore 1920x1080
if you are interested I will send you link

look at more info-member configuration to see my Dell

the HD 5670 is OCd to 850core/1050mem

I havent run a FPS meter but the games look and play good
no lag or skips
and gameplay is smooth
different people have different standards I guess
I wear glasses so my vision isnt that great so AA doesnt mean much
to me
but I dont like games lagging or skipping
so I do like them higher than 30 FPS generally
(Warhead is actually ok at lower FPS-game is different than other games)
so that is how I judge them
I cant play Crysis Warhead at 1920x1080 enthusiast for example
because the game will momentarily freeze sometimes
but at 1920 x 1080 gamer or 1680x1050 enthusiast it is fine

like I said everybody visions and standards are different

BTW this is link to my YT video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxf0Xz0s0RQ
that is my 745 with a HD 4650 1gb DDR2 playing Warhead at 1920x1080
the game looked better than in the video
I am still working out bugs recording
I used Taksi for that one
My new one I am going to to use Windows Media Encoder x64 for screen capture
plus a different format
so hopefully look better and have sound

also this is my daughter Molly Mystic on Youtube
and she also has another video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZUOWUpe144
Next American Idol superstar

I woud suggest saving big time for a whole new PC.Perhaps you could build it yourself this time.A new CPU,Mobo and RAM would do you good,your PC is long overdue for an overhaul anyway and it would get you closer to playing BF3 maxed out and smooth.

okay read this again
http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpu [...] guide.html

easier than it looks

the HD 6670 is your best choice

not with that Opitplex 745
the HSF that Dell used was designed to handle Pentium D and keep it cool
it works great with the cooler running C2Ds
it actually has a copper heatsink with dual heatpipes going to an aluminum
heatsink
only thing is that the CPU HSF is the only fan intake on case
so I removed the internal speaker in front of case and replaced with about
a 60 mm fan intake
also has 80mm exhaust fan I added

remember by doing the BSEL pin mod on a Core2Duo
it gains about 800mhz in clockspeed by having the FSB
"bootstrapped" to the next higher one 800>1066mhz

only works on 800mhz FSB Core2Duos on the 745 board
takes ten minutes to draw the copper trace jumper on CPU pads
then about an hour to let the conductive ink dry
really easier than you would think
jumped my E4500 2.2ghz 800mhz FSB to 2.93ghz 1066mhz
prime95 tested for two hours and been running 24.7

very true
stock the cooling is only good for offices with good AC LOL
also without a hot GPU in it

I actually took a PCI slot fan with a 4 pin molex and removed the blank
face plate where the floppy drive was
and then fit the PCI slot cooler in that space with a vented cover plate
as an intake
it also sucks the heat off of the VelociRaptor (with IcePak heatsink casing)
and then exhausts out the rear
then I have a 80mm I screwed on the back of the case exhausting off of the
ventilated IO panel
plus the small ball bearing high CFM intake in the front grill

you got to remember this was a Pentium D tower with
2gb ddr2-533,no video card and a crappy 80gb HD

now it has
4gb Gskill DDR2-800 CL5
E4500 @ 2.93ghz
HD 5670 low profile
VelociRaptor HD
Asus Xonar DG sound card
ATI Theater Pro 550 tv capture card

not your grandma's Dell LOL

really it is just a temp tower until I do a custom build
I am buying parts with moving to a new build in mind
I just ordered a Asus 24x DVDrw DL drive
and I have the Raptor and Barracuda
and the HD 5670,sound card and tv tuner for new build

probably will be an AMD build since budget is tight
thinking X 3 Rana 455
under 100 bucks and will be nice having the extra core

OP sorry for hijacking
wont do it again

How about If I were to save up and buy this Rig?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] VIEWS#tabs

or something under 600$ similar




EDIT : Also sorry If I have become a hassle, I'm a super CPU noob

If you absoultey don't want to build your own I would say this is the closest to the next best thing.Although I highly reccomend building your own

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6883229256

I was looking at the same one LOL
Decent for the money
but a HD 6670 is by no means a gaming card
i have the HD 5670-very similar-it can play new games at medium settings
but within a year or two that card is going to be left behind
and the OP will be in the same situation

going for a cheaper tower because it has no video card and buying one separate would
be better IMHO

kinda of like ordering a new car without the car stereo-cheaper to get a better one aftermarket

Thanks guys, I'm going to consider getting this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ftx1hqwcg1 and just upgrade the card later down the line. I was looking at this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102908

Do you think Best Buy would build me a tower? I'm not to sure about those CPU shops you see on the Corner around here...

The one I posted has a quad core a 3.4.ghz.The 6670 isn't a bad card at all.Of course it's no gaming card but it's better than most of the lower end cards PC manufactures include with their builds.Also with a quad core it should be able to produce pretty good graphics when paired with the 6670.

BestBuy isn't a great place to get computer stuff and I think they would overcharge for building a PC.Same goes with any PC maker that you ask to make a custom build.

Their are plenty of tutorials on youtube for noobs building their own PC.

Nice taste purple
that first link is one of the ones I posted
and has a HD 5750 which is at that price range the best video card you are going to get

but I like the tower you first picked
the cyberpower 965? with HD 6670
then doing the upgrade to card later

the combination of the 965 with a HD 6670
is decent

the OP was only looking for medium settings
and that card can do medium settings on any game up to 1920x1080
resolution

unless of course you have 20/20 vision and need over 60FPS

just to show that the Optiplex 745 C2D 2.93 with a HD 5670 will play
Crysis 2 1920x1080 DX9 Hardcore setting
take a look at this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqo [...] er&list=UL