Can the Dell Optiplex GX620 video card be upgraded to an ATI Raedeon HD, NVIDIA7

[dvcaroli]

Can the Dell Optiplex GX620 video card be upgraded to ATI Raedeon HD, NVIDIA 7800 series or Intel Series 4 integrated or greater? Does the power supply need to be upgraded as well?

 

[Kisianik]

So lets clarify a few things here.
First which form factor do you have, look at the pictures below (they are for the similar Optiplex 755, but this picture will give you an idea) and choose appropriately - your next steps would depend dearly on your correct choice.

Second, according to your your statement it is seems like you don't have any card installed now, am I correct?

So another question, what is the purpose of your upgrade? Gaming or just general use like movie watching, or engineering programs like CAD?

Also, are you consider also upgrading your RAM and CPU? if yes, please state your complete specifications for your RAM and CPU, not just 2 GB and 2.4 GHz, I hope you understand what I mean.

After you answer those questions, we can proceed to the next steps.

 

[dvcaroli]

So lets clarify a few things here.
First which form factor do you have, look at the pictures below (they are for the similar Optiplex 755, but this picture will give you an idea) and choose appropriately - your next steps would depend dearly on your correct choice.

http://imageshack.us/a/img834/5105/1541optiplex755family30.jpg

Second, according to your your statement it is seems like you don't have any card installed now, am I correct?

So another question, what is the purpose of your upgrade? Gaming or just general use like movie watching, or engineering programs like CAD?

Also, are you consider also upgrading your RAM and CPU? if yes, please state your complete specifications for your RAM and CPU, not just 2 GB and 2.4 GHz, I hope you understand what I mean.

After you answer those questions, we can proceed to the next steps.

Thanks for the response. It is the Mini Tower form factor, there is a video card installed, an Intel 82945G Express Chipset Family.

The upgrade is for gaming and possibly AutoCAD software (i may just utilize the new laptop for that)

Pentium 4 CPU, 2.80 Hz 2.79 GHz, 0.99 GB of RAM. I'm not sure but think they will require an upgrade as well

 

[Kisianik]

Thanks for reply, forget to ask, which Windows you have? And the BUDGET of course.

 

[dvcaroli]

It says Windows XP Pro, but when updating the drivers says its "unknown." Budget-wise lets sayl $150- $250 U.S. (anything more and should just purchase new)

 

[Kisianik]

Do you have Genuine WinXP copy or cracked?!

 

[dvcaroli]

I'm not sure...I purchased the system used. It has the trade mark and the product key tag on top of the CPU

 

[Kisianik]

UPDATE regarding video card only.

Unfortunately no card that is more than 7.5 inches long or 2 slots wide will PHYSICALLY FIT inside the case - it was found that only single bracket video card can fit due to BTX MOBO, where card internals facing upward towards PC internals, not ATX, where dual card design is blocking another PCI slot by facing downward.

If you prefer the card with beefier fan, then the length of the card must not exceed 7.5 inches, otherwise only "skinny" single bracket, single slot cards can physically fit.

Pictures below will prove my point.

View shows no room for dual bracket

Single bracket only, or you have to cut dual bracket in half

Here you can clearly see only single place for the bracket

Visual explanation

7.5 inches explained, also shown "obstacles"

This is the picture of actual "skinny" single slot video card (not sure which model)- perfect, "glove" fit.

So, I found 2 GDDR5 7750 cards (GDDR5 is better than GDDR3, even if GDD3 offers 2 GB RAM), which confirmed in reviews to fit Optiplex gx620, 745 and 755 cases (the difference between those models are different processors).

Skinny, flimsier in terms of construction, completely single slot XFX 7750 http://www.amazon.com/XFX-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-FX775AZNP4-FX-775A-ZNP4/dp/B007Z3T5JC

A bit beefier cooler, not as skinny, more durable in construction PowerColor AX7750 http://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-AX7750-1GBD5-DH-Video-Graphics/dp/B00775OC28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362783129&sr=8-1&keywords=AX7750+1GBD5-DH

I cannot say which one of those 2 is better, both are good and got less bad reviews related to structural build.
I saw recent recommendation regarding drivers "Changing to the just-released AMD catalyst 13.2 BETA driver improved performance noticeably in just about every game" posted 03/05/2013.

If you had previously NVIDIA card or NVIDIA chip - drivers have to be completely uninstalled prior to installing ATI card.

This is it for video card.

If you would like to find out about processor upgrade, let me know.

 

[dvcaroli]

Thanks for the assist. Is the processor upgrade an easy task? Not much experience in that area.

 

[Kisianik]

CPU upgrade here would not make you PC much faster, maybe 10 -15 percent increase at best, you can not go to modern processors, just a bit faster than yours.
If you still want to see choices just let me know.
All processors would have to come from eBay for sure, not bad choice anyway.
Intel Pentium D 960 3.6GHz is the strongest processor reported and well documented to work in GX620, it will require different processor cooler http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Pentium+D+960&_sop=15
If you are ready to go this way, let me know, I will provide much more info.

 

[jdog19]

UPDATE regarding video card only.

Unfortunately no card that is more than 7.5 inches long or 2 slots wide will PHYSICALLY FIT inside the case - it was found that only single bracket video card can fit due to BTX MOBO, where card internals facing upward towards PC internals, not ATX, where dual card design is blocking another PCI slot by facing downward.

If you prefer the card with beefier fan, then the length of the card must not exceed 7.5 inches, otherwise only "skinny" single bracket, single slot cards can physically fit.

Pictures below will prove my point.

View shows no room for dual bracket

Single bracket only, or you have to cut dual bracket in half

Here you can clearly see only single place for the bracket

Visual explanation

7.5 inches explained, also shown "obstacles"

This is the picture of actual "skinny" single slot video card (not sure which model)- perfect, "glove" fit.

So, I found 2 GDDR5 7750 cards (GDDR5 is better than GDDR3, even if GDD3 offers 2 GB RAM), which confirmed in reviews to fit Optiplex gx620, 745 and 755 cases (the difference between those models are different processors).

Skinny, flimsier in terms of construction, completely single slot XFX 7750 http://www.amazon.com/XFX-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-FX775AZNP4-FX-775A-ZNP4/dp/B007Z3T5JC

A bit beefier cooler, not as skinny, more durable in construction PowerColor AX7750 http://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-AX7750-1GBD5-DH-Video-Graphics/dp/B00775OC28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362783129&sr=8-1&keywords=AX7750+1GBD5-DH

I cannot say which one of those 2 is better, both are good and got less bad reviews related to structural build.
I saw recent recommendation regarding drivers "Changing to the just-released AMD catalyst 13.2 BETA driver improved performance noticeably in just about every game" posted 03/05/2013.

If you had previously NVIDIA card or NVIDIA chip - drivers have to be completely uninstalled prior to installing ATI card.

This is it for video card.

If you would like to find out about processor upgrade, let me know.

I installed the AMD HD 7750 in my gx 620 all i get is "amd catalyst failed to load detection driver" i tried rebooting in safe mode and using driver sweeper. still cant get the drivers installed

please help