(Dell Optiplex 9020) Ghetto Gamer Build

User228035 on 29/09/2017 - 21:51

Just bought a Dell optiplex 9020 (i5 4570) for $255 leaving me with $350 for upgrades needless to say I am in need of advice.

Many people have mentioned the issue of its psu not being enough to power an after market GPU and the need for adapters if both SSD and HDD are to be used.

I've heard of people using GTX 1050 OC Low Profiles with no trouble but $150 only to find out the PSU won't cut it would suck.

As far as SSDs go I have no idea which adaptors are necessary or what Ram is compatible.

Running a stock heatsink if anyone is curious BTW.

Any and all advice is appreciated!

Computing

Comments

  • airal3rt on 29/09/2017 - 22:42

    Crack open that biatch and look at the PSU to determine what connectors are available? Then google the power supply requirements of your chosen 1050/1050ti model(some only draw from the PCIE slot btw).

    • subywagon on 29/09/2017 - 23:52

      I had to buy a PSU for my Optiplex 9010 tower as it wasn't suitable for the graphics card. I didn't need any adapters for the SSD or HD, just used the SATA cables. I did have to destroy the hardrive caddy to fit in a full size GPU. I'm still using the stock heatsink for the CPU as it's cold down here in Tassie. I'll see how it goes on the one day of summer we might get.

      My pc may be different to yours as it's a 9010 and a tower…

      • subywagon on 29/09/2017 - 23:52
        +1

        Didn't mean to put it in as a reply to you airal3rt! Sorry!

      • User228035 on 30/09/2017 - 08:59

        Yeah I will need a 24 to 8 pin adaptor if I want to swap out the psu apparently so that is a bummer :(

        • SimpleRoger on 18/11/2017 - 19:53

          Have you finished your built what kind of performance are you getting?

  • tebbybabes on 30/09/2017 - 01:47

    I have no experience with the Dell Optiplex so don't have any advice to share.

    I just wanted to applaud your efforts at your ghetto gaming build. I wouldn't mind looking into that myself, just for the heck of it!

    edit - I'm assuming your $255 purchase price is for pre-owned? Or am I just rubbish at googling?

      • User228035 on 30/09/2017 - 03:23

        I actually got the i5 4570 for $318 with the 20% off code on eBay but same thing basically.
        ($255 total cost with code)

      • tebbybabes on 01/10/2017 - 01:42
        +1

        Ahhh, thanks mate. TBH these deals always flew under my radar… Must rectify that from now on.

    • User228035 on 30/09/2017 - 03:44

      Yeah pre owned.

      Way I see it the CPU and OS are worth the $255 alone but I was just lazy and didn't feel like starting from scratch and the idea of a portable PC able to play csgo, rainbow 6, pubg etc is pretty appealing.

  • Wampus on 30/09/2017 - 08:19

    From memory the 9020s won't have a PSU that will run a decent GPU :(

    But they are pretty bulletproof

    • User228035 on 30/09/2017 - 09:24

      Might need a whole new mono to bypass the 24 to 8 pin power problem

      • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2017 - 19:03

        The adaptor are like 5 bucks on eBay/Aliexpress, can't confirm the quality though

  • AlienC on 30/09/2017 - 15:48

    This sounds like a really good ghetto gamer build, I wonder how much extra it would cost to make it accommodate a GTX 1070 if possible.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/10/2017 - 05:20

    Depends on model, if it's the 200w PSU you're cutting it fine… Otherwise it should manage it. Just ensure it's a card without an external power connector, this way it artificially limits consumption to the 75W PCI power.

    • User228035 on 04/10/2017 - 03:27

      PSU is 240W but many have supposedly just slapped a gtx 1050ti low profile without much trouble at all!

      Its been 6+ years since my last build.

      Gotta say I'm at the point now where I just wanna say (profanity) it and build a new PC but I digress.

      Since the sff got here last friday EVERYTHING has been getting in the way of picking up a gfx card and ssd, since Monday the gtx 1050ti lp ($150) has sold out, the ssds I hoped to get have disappeared?

      (MSY policy: Don't ask, don't tell and especially don't pick up the phone!)

      ☔ ?!?!FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!?!?! ☔

      The ram is also of interest seeing as it came with a single 4gb 1Rx8 PC3 @ I believe 1337mhz, found a lot of conflicting information about what ram will work so I'm probably gonna slap in a cheap 8gb stick then maybe buy another down the road when I have actual money (more than 600ish).

      Many thanks to everyone who contributed, whether you felt it a little or a lot you've given your time and it has helped me along the way, I appreciate that.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2017 - 05:47

        The RAM is a little odd, mine came with 2x 2GB 1Rx8 PC3 1600Mhz lol

        RAM is usually easy enough to find, it's DDR3 so just find someone who's recently upgraded to a Ryzen or something and see if they needed new RAM. Worst case you should be able to find some second hand for cheap. Compatibility isn't usually much of a problem, it'll usually just run at a lower speed if it's not supported.

        Otherwise, just go with an 8GB set of RAM, 1050 (non-ti) and a cheap SSD. Might even be able to afford a 240GB ssd if you get the ram and 1050 cheap enough.

        • User228035 on 04/10/2017 - 08:04

          Damn straight its a little odd!

          I ask if the PSU can support a GPU that requires 300w and 3-4 days later no answer from the friendly vendor worrying intensifies

        • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2017 - 10:10

          @GozeGreedyGews:

          The information nVidia provides is only a guideline. The card uses 75w max (PCI lane limit) and the CPU 84W. That's 160w, so 80w for the MB, RAM and storage. The motherboard would only use ~20-30w (remember these are efficient business class machines). Storage uses <5w a drive. RAM uses like 2-3w/stick.

      • ultracheapweeabookun on 30/04/2018 - 19:28

        when was the gtx 1050 ti lp $150?

  • [Deactivated] on 06/10/2017 - 16:21

    Did some research and apparently a lot of people are putting GT 1030s in these. Just make sure it's one with a fan if you do this - the silent models rely on case fans which these Dells don't have.

    Edit: this dell + this 1050 is more where it really shines - bloody solid budget build for ~$250. I would assume you're aiming for a little more performance than a 1030.

    • AlienC on 01/05/2018 - 01:52

      Link points to a GT 1030 just saying.

      • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2018 - 03:26

        Staticice stuffed me I guess lol

        Best currently is around $150 with eBay +20% sale.

  • User228035 on 07/10/2017 - 14:18

    You read my mind, 1050s were sold out and the only thing they had in the close vicinity was a 1030 so I will probably wait it out and take your advice on that 1050.

    I will be sure to keep you updated as I get along but the way she's going I'll be waiting until Christmas :L

  • magic8ballgag on 08/10/2017 - 10:02

    I purchased a 9010 from one of the eBay deals recently and just installed a 750ti and it runs fine, so I imagine the PSU in the 9020 would suffice also?

    • User228035 on 09/10/2017 - 05:24

      That was my first thought but the PSUs seem to vary even on the same models (200-300w), my 9020 is 240w and maxes at 255.

    • AlienC on 27/10/2017 - 09:31

      How much was the 750ti?

      • magic8ballgag on 27/10/2017 - 09:33

        I got it second hand for roughly ~$100 delivered.

        • AlienC on 27/10/2017 - 09:34

          Ah ok. Gumtree?

        • magic8ballgag on 27/10/2017 - 09:41

          @AlienC:

          Yeah, I was looking on both GT and eBay and saw a few pop up over the span of a few weeks.

        • AlienC on 27/10/2017 - 09:45

          @Lorindor: is there something wrong with eBay I found plenty at around $60 AUD with free postage and shipping and everything

          Example: https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Video-Card-Cooler-Fan-For-NVIDIA-G…

          I chose this one as an example because the rest seemed to be from China.

        • magic8ballgag on 27/10/2017 - 09:48

          @AlienC:

          That looks like a fake, I would steer clear of listings for graphics cards outside of Australia/US/UK etc.

          Something like this is what you're after, although I have a Gigabyte card, they should be similar.

          You could even spend a bit extra and get a GTX 1050 which is newer, and runs cooler etc.

        • AlienC on 27/10/2017 - 20:48

          @Lorindor: ah cheers thanks I knew this might be too good to be true but I have seen reports online of some people getting these 750 ti cards at these prices before so I thought maybe I should ask as the market is very complicated and keeps changing.

          Damn at those prices I might as well get a GTX 1050 ti at $200.. the performance gain seems worth it now.

          But if I can find a 750 ti at $50-60 AUD including shipping then I might jump on that.

  • AlienC on 27/10/2017 - 09:33

    So how is it going so far? Made any improvements or changes.

    This ghetto build really intrigues me as if it can play some modern games at decent settings I might actually try it.
    Obviously not looking for mind blowing graphics but if it can handle some 2016/2017 games even at medium or low settings I'll be happy.

    • User228035 on 28/10/2017 - 01:04

      Don't bother IMO its worth waiting as long as necessary to do a brand new build, nothing but trouble tbh and sunk $255 on crap which could be worse but not worth the time spent without a doubt

      • AlienC on 28/10/2017 - 01:16

        Damn thanks anyways for replying.. this was unfortunately my thoughts ok back to a fresh new build and back ultimately to the drawing board.

        Hmm some Ryzen 5 1600's are about now starting to slowly look nicely :) haha lol

      • joungs on 19/11/2017 - 22:00

        What were the main issues? The PSU not being able to support the gpu?

        • magic8ballgag on 20/11/2017 - 08:06

          Most likely unrealistic expectations from a ~$300 PC.

  • klaw81 on 20/11/2017 - 10:25

    I have to say I'm surprised at the negative tone of the OP's conclusions.

    I did a fairly similar build for a friend recently, based on a HP Elite 8200. From memory it was an i5-3470 with 8GB RAM and 500Gb HDD. I popped in a used SSD ($40) and a low-profile GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, installed Windows 10 and after a little mucking about to get the BIOS updated and appropriate drivers installed, it's been a champion ghetto gaming rig. It performs surprisingly well in PUBG and other modern titles.

    • joungs on 01/12/2017 - 01:10

      Im intrigued, how hard was upgrading the bios and drivers? Also you had no issues with PSU or pcie slot not being able to provide enough power?

      • klaw81 on 01/12/2017 - 07:42

        Upgrading the BIOS was simple - just needed to download the files and run them. Same for the drivers - it's all hosted on HP's website so it wasn't too hard to find the appropriate files.

        The GTX1050 only draws 70W so it can be powered directly from the motherboard, without needing extra cables from the PSU. The PSU is 240W, which is more than enough to handle CPU + GPU and a couple drives.

        • joungs on 01/12/2017 - 13:15

          Oh yeah nice, where did you get the 8300, I'm looking at some on eBay and hope all the sff ones are the same. I know with the dell 7010 there were two configs of the motherboard where 1 would only accept a single slot graphics card.

        • klaw81 on 01/12/2017 - 13:30

          @joungs: I got the HP Elite 8200 on eBay, from a Brisbane store. I checked a few pictures online before I bought it, just to make sure it had the slots and space required.

        • joungs on 01/12/2017 - 14:00

          @klaw81: oh yeah nice, what brand graphics card did you use?

  • nickmate on 02/12/2017 - 02:46

    Seeing as I literally just did exactly this build (ghetto gaming PC with Dell Optiplex 9020 base system), I think I may be able to shed some light on a few things I've learnt along the way.

    What I bought:
    Ex-Lease Dell Optiplex 9020 SFF (i5-4690, 4GB RAM, No HDD) — $200
    550W PSU — $20
    ATX Case — $5
    Corsair Vengence 2x4GB 1600MHZ CL9 RAM — $81
    MSI Aero ITX GTX 1060 6GB — $320
    24 Pin to 8 Pin Motherboard adapter — $10

    TOTAL: $636

    I didn't want to settle for just using a low profile 1050TI, sure the card can run off the power from the motherboard and fits in the Dell case (if put in the PCIE x4 slot) — however it lacks the power I'm after (for PUBG).

    In my example, to use a GTX 1060, you'll need a new PSU (>400W) and an ATX or M-ATX case.

    A 1060 cannot run off the power just from the motherboard and needs to be plugged into a PCIE 6/8pin connector. The Dell proprietary PSU only includes an 8 pin motherboard power connector and a 4pin CPU power connector, no additional connectors. You'll therefore need to replace this with a standard PSU, and additionally get an 8pin to 24pin adapter (plenty on eBay).

    Secondly, because of the small form factor case, a 1060 will not fit heightwise, nor will it fit lengthwise. To my surprise — the Optiplex 9020 SFF's proprietary motherboard fits perfectly in an ATX or M-ATX case (5/6 mounting holes line up). Please note: the Optiplex 9020 SFF motherboard's PCIE x16 slot is the second slot, not the first (PCIE x4). You need a case with at least 3 PCIE slots as a 1060 is a double slot card.

    Furthermore, the CPU cooler is mounted into the Dell case. This creates an issue as a standard ATX/M-ATX case will not have these mounting holes. To get around this you'll need 4 M3 nuts and 4 M3 Nylon washers to secure the cooler to the CPU. An X bracket could work however I'm unsure of the dimensions.

    Notes:
    - If possible, try to get an ITX sized graphics card. A full-sized card will block the SATA ports (possibly get around this with right-angled SATA cables).
    - You cannot overclock this unit via BIOS or software such as Intel XTU or Throttlestop. I'm yet to try any FSB modifier software.
    - The motherboard only allows RAM to run at 1600MHz at CL11 or higher. Even though the Dell spec sheet suggests it supports DDR3 up to 1600MHz, the RAM I'm using is 1600MHz, however is CL9 and is thus forced to operate at 1333MHz
    - You'll obviously need an SSD or HDD, I used the SSD from my old machine and also swapped the RAM I had in the old machine.
    - Dell uses proprietary connectors for power switches/lights, front audio/USB hubs, etc… You'll need a multimeter to figure it out and rewire. (I only bothered to wire up the power switch and lights)
    - End Spec: i5-4690 3.5GHz, 16GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 (force clocked to 1333MHz), 6GB GTX 1060, 250GB SDD

    Any questions feel free to ask.

    • AlienC on 02/12/2017 - 07:16

      Where are you located can I hire your leet services to make a similar specced device.

      Starting from the complete bottom up I.e I have nothing atm no mouse no keyboard no monitor no case etc.

      Also aiming for a 1060 build.

      • nickmate on 03/12/2017 - 02:29

        I'm actually based in Auckland — however I'm more than happy to help in any capacity I can. Shoot me a message whenever you need.

    • magic8ballgag on 02/12/2017 - 10:29

      I think this sort of setup defeats the purpose of specifically buying a SFF PC, only to rip the guts out and transport it into a larger case, with a more powerful PSU/GPU.

      • nickmate on 03/12/2017 - 02:43

        I understand what you're getting at — however as mentioned, the purpose of this build was to hack together a budget gaming PC, not to keep any specific form factor. The purchase on a prebuilt SFF machine was purely for the value. I haven't looked around too much but I think it would be pretty difficult to find a 4th gen i5, motherboard and ram for ~$200. I think these computers fly under a lot of radars because of the importunate use of proprietary hardware, which creates the misconception that they are unable to be upgraded and/or modified.

    • DeToxin on 25/03/2018 - 22:22

      old post i know, but what sort of temps do you get on the cpu and gpu running pubg?

      I've been looking to try and find a way to modify the fan profile because dell seems to have designed it with low-noise in mind, rather than low temps.

      I've just bought a 9020 sff and put a 1050ti in it and am very happy with it, but it does run a bit hot.

      • Balmaino on 02/09/2018 - 01:07

        hey lyle are you running the 1050ti in the 4x slot?
        i have a 9020 and a 1050ti on the way for a friend.
        do you think the power supply is too close to allow the card to cool properly?

  • joungs on 02/12/2017 - 21:35

    Anyone put a low profile graphics card in a hp elite 8300?

  • thors_hammer on 03/12/2017 - 01:02
    -1

    Avoid Dell like the plague. You're on your own after handing over your $

    https://www.productreview.com.au/p/dell-australia.html

    • joungs on 03/12/2017 - 02:45

      These are all old refurbished units so no manufacturer warranty anyway

      • thors_hammer on 03/12/2017 - 19:41
        -1

        But it goes to Dell's reliability and business ethics.

  • G-Dawg on 14/05/2019 - 08:39

    I did this with a refurbished optiplex 9020 (SFF).

    Updated the bios, added some ram and installed a low profile gpu (Gigabyte GTX1050Ti).

    Worked fine and cost less than $500.

    Would have been cheaper had I been patient and waited for a better deal on some of the parts.

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