Using an old optiplex to make a custom gaming pc?

[TemptingColt21]

So I've got an old optiplex 745 sff computer with the following specs

 

3 ghz pentium d dual core processor

8gb ddr3 memory

1tb hard drive

370 watt power supply

 

I have some leftover parts from a pc I have been upgrading that I could use. I have a 500w psu and a different case I could use. I wanted to buy a new motherboard of the same chipset (lga 745) since I know the dell optiplex one is proprietary for the case. I was thinking about upgrading the cpu but I don't know what one to pick. I want a decent cpu that I could overclock if possible along with mobo that will work for overclocking. Then I'll toss the new mobo and cpu in my leftover case with my 500 watt psu. I might put my gtx 960 from my gaming rig in it too. Any suggestions would help. Thank you!

[masterkickass7]

1 hour ago, TemptingColt21 said:

So I've got an old optiplex 745 sff computer with the following specs

 

3 ghz pentium d dual core processor

8gb ddr3 memory

1tb hard drive

370 watt power supply

 

I have some leftover parts from a pc I have been upgrading that I could use. I have a 500w psu and a different case I could use. I wanted to buy a new motherboard of the same chipset (lga 745) since I know the dell optiplex one is proprietary for the case. I was thinking about upgrading the cpu but I don't know what one to pick. I want a decent cpu that I could overclock if possible along with mobo that will work for overclocking. Then I'll toss the new mobo and cpu in my leftover case with my 500 watt psu. I might put my gtx 960 from my gaming rig in it too. Any suggestions would help. Thank you!

if it's socket 775 assuming get a q6600 on ebay for $15 and a get a rx460 or gtx750ti

[Goodman2265]

No such thing as LGA 745, That CPU is socket 775 tho

[GDRRiley]

you should be able to but make sure that the mobo supports quad core cpus if you want to upgrade 

[FurdTurgeson]

Just now, masterkickass7 said:

if it's socket 775 assuming get a q6600 on ebay for $15 and a get a rx460 or gtx750ti

He said it's ssf, small form factor, so he'll have to get the Gigabyte Low Profile 750ti. That's what I did with my 380 sff 

[Goodman2265]

CPUs for this socket

http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket 775 (LGA775).html

[GreezyJeezy]

2 minutes ago, masterkickass7 said:

if it's socket 775 assuming get a q6600 on ebay for $15 and a get a rx460 or gtx750ti

get a 750 ti, dont pair it with anything better, unless you want frame drops for days on any game that will use the CPU to a moderate extent 

[GreezyJeezy]

and make sure the GPU require NO EXTERNAL POWER, becase of that psu 

[Goodman2265]

Just now, GreezyJeezy said:

and make sure the GPU require NO EXTERNAL POWER, becase of that psu 

he has a spare 500 watt ans spare case

[ARikozuM]

You might be able to fit a GTX 950 75W. Just note the orientation of the PCIe slot as some OEM's like to make the x8/16 slot the top only to be obstructed by the case if you use a double slot card.

[GreezyJeezy]

i have a x4 760k with mobo

 

and r7 260 if you wanna buy it, 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Goodman2265 said:

he has a spare 500 watt ans spare case

 well this is why we need to read before we comment eh?

 

by we I mean me  

[aisle9]

What type of case is it? The motherboard isn't necessarily proprietary, it's just in the BTX form factor that's been dead for a decade.

 

Actually, it was kind of DOA, but that's beside the point.

 

Anyway, about the best processor you can put in a 745 is the Q6600. You can put the X6800 in there if you really want, but the addition 0.3GHz isn't worth the cost if you can't overclock, and Optiplex boards can't. You can do the BSEL tape mod to a Q6600 to make it think it's overclocked.

 

If you have a mini tower (MT), you're in good shape in terms of graphics card potential. If you've got the desktop (DT) version, you can install a PCIe riser, but the layout is wacky and you'll only be able to fit a half-length mini ITX card. If it's a SFF case, the best you can do is a tiny, low-profile card. I've got a GT 730 in my SFF Optiplex, and I had to ghetto rig a 755 to take a GTX 750 Ti.

 

Let me get this out of the way now: THE SFF CASE WILL NOT FIT THE SFF HALF-WIDTH GTX 750TI. The hard drive caddy interferes with the cooler, and even if the HDD caddy were out of there, that SFF 750 Ti would light that case up like a 9590 with a Logisys PSU. You have negative zero percent cooling, and you have no PCIe connector on your PSU (the 750 Ti doesn't need one, though).

 

Do put 8GB of DDR2 RAM in there. Speed isn't terribly important, but getting the 8GB is if you intend to run Windows 10.

 

Of course, you could always take all the fun out of it by moving everything into another case with a new motherboard, but that's not sporting, is it? I've got two Optiplexes, a 755 DT and a 745 SFF, set up as HTPCs/very light gamers. I spent a total of about $120 between the two of them, not counting the 750 Ti and hard drives I already had, and really think they were some of the best builds I've made. Those Optiplexes are worth their weight in gold if you're using them right.

 

Hit me up with any questions. I've worked with the 745 and 755 a few times each.

[Goodman2265]

1 minute ago, aisle9 said:

What type of case is it? The motherboard isn't necessarily proprietary, it's just in the BTX form factor that's been dead for a decade.

 

Actually, it was kind of DOA, but that's beside the point.

 

Anyway, about the best processor you can put in a 745 is the Q6600. You can put the X6800 in there if you really want, but the addition 0.3GHz isn't worth the cost if you can't overclock, and Optiplex boards can't. You can do the BSEL tape mod to a Q6600 to make it think it's overclocked.

 

If you have a mini tower (MT), you're in good shape in terms of graphics card potential. If you've got the desktop (DT) version, you can install a PCIe riser, but the layout is wacky and you'll only be able to fit a half-length mini ITX card. If it's a SFF case, the best you can do is a tiny, low-profile card. I've got a GT 730 in my SFF Optiplex, and I had to ghetto rig a 755 to take a GTX 750 Ti.

 

Let me get this out of the way now: THE SFF CASE WILL NOT FIT THE SFF HALF-WIDTH GTX 750TI. The hard drive caddy interferes with the cooler, and even if the HDD caddy were out of there, that SFF 750 Ti would light that case up like a 9590 with a Logisys PSU. You have negative zero percent cooling, and you have no PCIe connector on your PSU (the 750 Ti doesn't need one, though).

 

Do put 8GB of DDR2 RAM in there. Speed isn't terribly important, but getting the 8GB is if you intend to run Windows 10.

 

Of course, you could always take all the fun out of it by moving everything into another case with a new motherboard, but that's not sporting, is it? I've got two Optiplexes, a 755 DT and a 745 SFF, set up as HTPCs/very light gamers. I spent a total of about $120 between the two of them, not counting the 750 Ti and hard drives I already had, and really think they were some of the best builds I've made. Those Optiplexes are worth their weight in gold if you're using them right.

 

Hit me up with any questions. I've worked with the 745 and 755 a few times each.

LGA 745 doesnt exist. 

 

That CPU is 775

[aisle9]

2 minutes ago, Goodman2265 said:

LGA 745 doesnt exist. 

 

That CPU is 775

Dell Optiplex 745, not LGA 745.

 

If you read the first line of the OP, things make more sense. Just a thought for future reference.

[aisle9]

14 minutes ago, TemptingColt21 said:

370 watt power supply

Are you sure about that? I've never seen a 745 SFF with a power supply that big. The one I have in the closet has a 275W power supply, as does the one under my TV. The DT 755 in the living room also has a 275W, as I recall.

[SLAYR]

12 minutes ago, masterkickass7 said:

if it's socket 775 assuming get a q6600 on ebay for $15 and a get a rx460 or gtx750ti

 

10 minutes ago, Goodman2265 said:

CPUs for this socket

http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket 775 (LGA775).html

If it is an old pentium d it most likely only supports pentium 4s, and ds, it is better to just get a better system from scratch, as even the psu is over 10 years old.

[aisle9]

Just now, SLAYR said:

 

If it is an old pentium d it most likely only supports pentium 4s, and ds, it is better to just get a better system from scratch, as even the psu is over 10 years old.

It supports up to Conroe Core 2s. The PSUs in Optiplex workstations are, I believe, built by Delta. Godmode, basically. They live forever.

[pblegend]

On 8/23/2016 at 10:37 PM, aisle9 said:

What type of case is it? The motherboard isn't necessarily proprietary, it's just in the BTX form factor that's been dead for a decade.

 

Actually, it was kind of DOA, but that's beside the point.

 

Anyway, about the best processor you can put in a 745 is the Q6600. You can put the X6800 in there if you really want, but the addition 0.3GHz isn't worth the cost if you can't overclock, and Optiplex boards can't. You can do the BSEL tape mod to a Q6600 to make it think it's overclocked.

 

If you have a mini tower (MT), you're in good shape in terms of graphics card potential. If you've got the desktop (DT) version, you can install a PCIe riser, but the layout is wacky and you'll only be able to fit a half-length mini ITX card. If it's a SFF case, the best you can do is a tiny, low-profile card. I've got a GT 730 in my SFF Optiplex, and I had to ghetto rig a 755 to take a GTX 750 Ti.

 

Let me get this out of the way now: THE SFF CASE WILL NOT FIT THE SFF HALF-WIDTH GTX 750TI. The hard drive caddy interferes with the cooler, and even if the HDD caddy were out of there, that SFF 750 Ti would light that case up like a 9590 with a Logisys PSU. You have negative zero percent cooling, and you have no PCIe connector on your PSU (the 750 Ti doesn't need one, though).

 

Do put 8GB of DDR2 RAM in there. Speed isn't terribly important, but getting the 8GB is if you intend to run Windows 10.

 

Of course, you could always take all the fun out of it by moving everything into another case with a new motherboard, but that's not sporting, is it? I've got two Optiplexes, a 755 DT and a 745 SFF, set up as HTPCs/very light gamers. I spent a total of about $120 between the two of them, not counting the 750 Ti and hard drives I already had, and really think they were some of the best builds I've made. Those Optiplexes are worth their weight in gold if you're using them right.

 

Hit me up with any questions. I've worked with the 745 and 755 a few times each.

 This post hit the nail on the head. Informative and exactly the information I was seeking. Currently maxing out a 745 MT I've decided to resurrect and it's been a blast. Thank you, aisle9!!