graphics card recommendation for old Optiplex GX620

i had to look up the specs .. i was surprised to find your system has a PCIe x16 slot and a good 375w ps which makes life easy.

my suggestion depends on your use of the system ... 

if you don't play any video games on the system i would use the ATI HD 5450

if you are planning on mild gaming the ATI HD 5570  or the Nvidia GT 430 

don't go insane with spending money on upgrading a system that old though ... you'll won't get modern day performance.

I bought this system a couple years ago from Dell Auction for next to nothing to replace an 8 yr. old Dimension 8200 that died.  I have already added memory and swapped out the 320 GB hard drive from my XPS420 (it had an 80GB) and added the floppy drive, USB 2.0 add-in card and CDRW drive from the dead Dim 8200. This system is connected to a flat screen TV for streaming music and video and used for backup. I don't play games. This is more or less a tinker machine. I knew I needed PCIe. As you suggested, I do not want to spend a lot of money on this machine. It is running ok with aero off, but it is a little sluggish at times, more so that with Win XP installed. Also, I had to install Microsoft drivers as nothing available online for Win 7. Thank you for your suggestions.

Hi

I have an older system similar to yours - second-user SFF GX620 - also used for light household duties rather than playing games. I'm looking for a graphics upgrade but in my case from on-board to a separate card.

Disappointingly, I haven't found guidance in the Dell site about compatible cards or requirements for compatibility, so I'm looking for someone's experience as a guide. What did you do in the end?

best regards

I don't have a GX620, but I do have several other SFF machines and I'd suggest the 6450 if gaming is not an issue. (The 6450 will handle light gaming, though.)

Freakmarket read  those stats wrong. The 620 has only a 275w psu. It would be better to save the money for a new computer since very few graphics cards can use 275w psu. 

The low-end HD 4000 cards, like the 4300 or 4550, should run OK in that box. A number of 4550s have sold on eBay recently for USD25 or less. These are DX 10.1 parts, but they are supported by current Catalyst driver releases.

However, as others have said, there's not a lot of bang available in that machine, so be careful with your bucks.

Freakmarket read  those stats wrong. The 620 has only a 275w psu. It would be better to save the money for a new computer since very few graphics cards can use 275w psu.

I also used a 4650 in a 540s with 250-watt power supply for a year, with no issues, gaming or otherwise.

I got the SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4550 512MB 64bit DDR2 Video Card for $29.99 on ebay based on the above recomendation, but that was almost a year ago, this is an old thread. It helped quite a bit, but it is what it is. I generally use this machine for backup as my XPS420 is also getting long in the tooth. Mine previously had an ATI card (see specs above), so this wasn't a major upgrade. Since you are using onboard graphics, I would think any card would help. I was mainly just trying to get mine to run Win 7 more effectively (I was having network issues mixing Win 7 and Win XP) which I did accomplish, It works pretty well for backup and web surfing.

OK; thanks to all. I feel informed now; any card will do as an upgrade but a high-ability card will not be appropriate on (at least) grounds of

                              * power available without PSU upgrade

                              *cost

                              * cost vs benefit

I'll look for a 4550 low-profile candidate. $30 equivalent feels OK.

regards

F

The SFF has VERY VERY LIttle Room.

You may not physically get a low profile card to work unless its very narrow.

Some of the 5450 cards etc WILL NOT PHYSICALLY GO INTO the SFF because the slot is too narrow.

The Heatsink will hit the hard drive bracket AND the cover will not close.

My older Dell is an Optiplex GX620 Desktop with  Windows XP and  good innards.  I want to add a monitor, having then dual monitors, but need to add a video card to do so. 

Anyone care to assist with card selection and associated other problems?  ATI HD 5570, ATI HD 5450 AND NVIDIA GT 430 are no longer available.

Thanks.

DBob83c

Email id removed per privacy policy>

OK; thanks to all. I feel informed now; any card will do as an upgrade but a high-ability card will not be appropriate on (at least) grounds of                               * power available without PSU upgrade                               *cost                               * cost vs benefit I'll look for a 4550 low-profile candidate. $30 equivalent feels OK. regards F

I realize this is a 2 year old post, but if one was to get a stronger power supply then got a gtx750 video card. Would that work?

I recently purchased a refurbished Dell Optiplex gx620 and it seems a pretty decent machine except for the graphics card. Can you recommend a decent upgrade? The ones mentioned in the original answer are out of stock at NewEgg - any other suggestions? I do some gaming - (Chat Republic Superstar Racing online) and the internal is obviously inadequate.

Thanks!

Mike

Your choices are slim to NONE depending on which model you have.

The models that use 2 slots wide do not go in. Get a GDDR5 card 7750 or R7250