Video card upgrade for Dell Optiplex 9010

For DT PC you are limited to low profile graphics card unless you leave the case side panel open for full height card to stick outside case partially.  for low profile card GT1030 is often suggested for light gaming.

@redxps630 When you say suboptimal, could you quantify that? Right now it's running with lag on the integrated video card. Would there be some increase in performance? This is an 11-year-old kids computer, so I'm not looking for perfection. He's just used to PS4, so the difference is quite obvious right now.

@redxps630 The plan is to re-build into a bigger case, because of the space issue with the DT. Does that make a difference or would you still say the 1030?

A quick calculation of psu requirement for i5-3470 and GTX1050, if you do not power the DVD drive, have a 22 inch LCD monitor, psu is about 300W.  

DT psu is 250W.

But the real problem is that the PCIe slot in DT in 9010 can only support up to 50W card, not 75W for GTX1050. https://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optiplex_9010_technical_guidebook.pdf

you may have to upgrade to a higher power gpu that has a discrete 6 pin power connector and install an aftermarket psu.

or you have to live with suboptimal video card performance of gt1030 for this game.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR RAINBOW SIX: SIEGE
Minimum requirements:
Video card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD5770 (1024 MB VRAM)

Recommended requirements:
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.3 GHz or AMD FX-8120 @ 3.1 GHz (you have i5-3470 which is not bad just a bit slower than 2500k)

Video card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 or AMD Radeon HD7970 / R9 280X or better (2048 MB VRAM)s

so for this game, gt1030 is too weak and you want to get a GTX 1050 or 1050Ti. preferably low profile for DT you have.

@bradthetechnut 

So what you're saying is I can run the 1050 at least, possibly the 1050 ti, with the current power and everything else that I have now?

Up to you if you want to do that for an 11 yr. old's PC.  Much easier would be a 9010 MT.  Almost always good bargains on refurbished.

@bradthetechnut  Got it! Thank you again!!

And of course, remember LP (low profile) with short bracket version.

Also, you're welcome, thanks for the kudos and marking my post as accepted solution.

@redxps630 

So the 670 would be your suggestion?

Optiplex 9010 DT + GTX 1050 + YouTube List  What you'll see is SFF models (that's what came up) with 240w PSU's powering the GTX 1050 (& ti).  Dell's 240w-290w have been powering 75w cards for some years now.  This is outside of printed specs. back to the time of mfr.  However, I've been presenting what YouTubers have done for years with positive feedback from actual users.

It looks like the GTX 1050 is your best bet.  The bottleneck with an i5-3470 is so minor with the GTX 1050 ti, it's also a good choice.

for that game recommended (not minimal) system requirement is GTX 670 or comparable gpu.  670 is 99% faster than gt1030, while 1050 or 1050ti are only single digit (6%) slower or faster than 670.  so gt 1030 will perform quite badly.

https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Nvidia-GTX-670-vs-Nvidia-GT-1030/2181vsm283726

the motherboard slot 50W limitation remains when you move to newer case, but in mini tower case you can use standard ATX psu to power a GTX 670.  this card has two 6 pin connectors and requires a 500W psu (this being an old card is power inefficient).  so the lack of 25W in 9010 PCIe slot is compensated by plenty of power supplied by the two 6 pin.

@bradthetechnut

Thank you so much for the information. I think I'm going to go ahead and follow your recommendation. Thanks again! 

yes since you said you do not plan a major future proof upgrade. if you just want him to play this particular game and you can find a cheap deal (like 30-40) on ebay or local market, yes.

also newer 900-1000 series cards can be pricy due to mining drive, whereas the 600 cards are excluded from mining due to old architecture.