Hello Friends and thank you speedstep & KeepCalm (love that handle)

I made a foolish mistake and I'm returning this Optiplex 7050 for either a 3620 or T1700, (I'm currently comparing the two machines for best features). Glad I caught this needed information before I made any changes to the 7050, which was in 'Like-New' condition. The folks who sold it to me where fantastic; maybe I can exchange it? We'll see?

Don't know what I was thinking? Hoping I would get the same physical space as my old 790.Totally my fault. I've had Dell Desktops (Dimensions & Optiplex) since 1995. But soon the negatives added up: rediculous vertical wafer-thin Optical Drive, tiny M.2 board as a system drive and other folks trying to squeeze in a decent Graphics Card, it all added up ...

BTW KeepCalm & speedstep, what machines do you guys have? What modifications have you made? 

Thanks again speedstep!

That's the same model/case/cpu I just bought for a song.  Mine has a Radeon graphics card as well. 

What cards or mods do you foresee being a problem due to lack of space?

I just installed another drive and it was piece of cake getting it in there.  Incidentally, I'll be doing video editing as well and the NVME I just installed makes all the difference. Like a totally difference machine.    

I have the exact machine you do. 

What graphics card do you need to install?

Hello KeepCalm

I haven't decided on a graphics card quite yet until I make a definite decision whether I'll keep the 7050. BTW what is your general opinion regarding the other issues I mentioned:The vertically held wafer-thin Optical Drive? To me (as a filmmaker), I still burn a lot of Data & Video Discs so I'd have to pick up a 'stand alone' external burner. I prefer standing up the tower ...

(And) another consideration before I return the 7050: The manufacture dates of the more spacious Dell Precision 3620 (and) Dell Precision T1700: The 3620 came out in 2015 (and) the T1700 came out in June 2013. The 7050 I just picked up is only 5 years old ...

However there are 3620's available with: Intel Core i7-7700 @ 3.6GHz 8th Gen - The 7050 is 3.6GHz 7th Gen Quad (currently comparing these factors as well).

The ebay seller is checking his stock (we'll see)?

Thanx for your input

Mike

Hi @WWII Researcher,

Not sure what you've all seen for external DVD burners.  Search with just "external dvd burner" or "external dvd drive" and mostly the thin off-brand ones come up.  Even if it's a name brand like Asus, it's still only 8x DVD burn speed and 24x CD read speed.

I had to put in 2 hot swap HDD bays in place of internal DVD burners.  It's from 2014, but I have a never used before (open box) LG external dvd burner with 24x dvd burn speed and 48x CD read speed off of eBay.  Full size with its own power.  Not quite as fast as internal, USB 2.0, but it works good.

As for new, Asus has a blu-ray full size for $125 on Amazon.

However, if you decide on a Precision T1700 or 3620, you won't have to think about that anyway.

I do miss using my Plextor internal DVD burners.  Best ones a I ever had.  I did have a newer LG internal burner die on me a few years ago, and they don't see heavy use.

Hi Brad

Nice to see you again.

Thanx for the external drive info.I did find a few (intended for Macs): External Optical Drives 

Still feel foolish for lack of thorough research. Was focused more on technology and dependability of my old 790 that steered me to the 7050. But that's ok these folks will allow me to return the 7050. Its like-new, (haven't touched it) and thanks for all your help with that. For clarification, the Precision 3620 appears later in production (2015) than the T1700 (2013)? And the latest is the Essential Precision 3650 (@ $1900)? Currently looking at some stripped down 3620's (all under $200). If I keep the 7050, 'either way' I'll still need: Graphics, esata and Audio cards. Leaning toward 3620 (thanks to speedstep) LOL

May be you did a typo?  Precision 3620 and 3650 aren't the same.  There's been many complaints in that forum about the 3650 cooling issues, and any Precision with the same chassis.  Not unusual for people to put liquid cooling systems in the 3650 and the like.

Indeed, the 3620 is newer than the T1700.  Personally, I wouldn't order something as old as a T1700 anymore.

I don't know where you are, but no way a decent 3620 should cost you $1,900.

From a chart I screengrabbed:

Hi Again Brad

Sorry if I typed it wrong - Its the Dell Precision T3620 I7-7700 3.6GHz. And apparently a seller just wrote back and said his particular machine is a 2017 model? Although your table shows no later than 2016 (which is still ok by me). I ran my 790 for 11 years, (but always blew it clean with a compressor regularly).

If the price is still valid, (I definitely don't have the funds for this one) found while shopping around. And it appears they may have also done some head shrinking (the enclosure)?

Essential Precision 3650 Workstation 

I got the shipping label and will be sending the 7050 back. BTW, will I have to contend with another M.2 minature system drive in a 2016 Dell Precision T3620 I7-7700 3.6GHz?

Thanx Brad

The 3650 you linked comes with no HDD.

It's not unusual for some servers to come with no HDD.  That's so a person or company can configure it the way the want with the OS they want.  I'm sure you're aware there's RAID (configuration), Enterprise and Server editions of Windows, etc.

Amazon is another good place to look at refurbs, though they cost a little more than on eBay.

Whether a 3620 comes with an SSD/HDD or not depends on the seller.

And yes, it is possibly right that the 3620 you're looking at is a 2017 model.  The chart I uploaded shows the year the models were introduced.  My 7010 is timestamped 2014.

Hi again Brad ...

"so a person or company can configure it the way the want with the OS they want. I'm sure you're aware there's RAID (configuration)"

Yes I totally understand - as for 'Raid', again call me ole fashioned but I always preferred esta (with separate solid connections to each drive).

I've never seen Dell incorporate rear sata ports in their machines, (just internally)? I always used multi-port sata PCI cards.

And thanx for the heads up as M.2 being a possible system drive option for a Precision 3620.

Mike

"I've never seen Dell incorporate rear sata ports in their machines, (just internally)?"  I haven't seen external SATA ports on a Dell yet either.

"And thanx for the heads up as M.2 being a possible system drive option for a Precision 3620."  I haven't commented on that yet in this thread.  M.2 is a possibility though.  Precision 3620 Spec Sheet.pdf 

Hi again Brad - thanx for the spec sheet (shipping out the 7050 tomorrow).

Any comments I make are of a constructive nature as I enjoy Dell Desktops (25 years) as well as a few older Mac Desktops for Video & Audio.

I can understand the favorability of a full sized SSD, but (unless I'm missing something), can't comprehend the 'M.2 chip' as a legitimate system drive? I've also read SSD 'could' be slightly over-rated in that they're most beneficial with 'start up's'. As you mentioned yourself, certain conventional mechanical drives are still very effective.

Mike

SATA (full size, 2.5") SSD's have faster read & write speeds as compared to HDD's.  M.2 NVME drives are even faster.

SSD's have a limited number of writes, which is still high - 600TB for a WD Blue 250GB.  HDDs' number of writes are unlimited.

I use both an SSD and the WD VelociRaptor 10,000 RPM HDD I mentioned + a couple of HDD's for storage.

Thank You!