32GB RAM in an Optiplex 790/990?

I was recently looking for a low profile, low wattage, low cost video card for my Dell Optiplex 790 DT.

Here is a list I put together during my search of possible video cards to get. I ended up getting the AMD Radeon HD 5450 Graphic Card.

Dell Optiplex 790 - possible low profile Video Cards
==========================
Low Profile Video cards

model - benchmark - wattage of card - typical used price

GeForce GT 720; benchmark  758 - 19 W -- $35.00

AMD Radeon R5 230 1GB DDR3; benchmark  424 -  W -- $35.00

GeForce GT 610 1024MB GDDR3; benchmark 357 - 29 W -- $35.00

Asus ATI Radeon HD6450 Silence 1 GB DDR3; benchmark 287 - 18 W -- $25.00

AMD Radeon HD 5450 Graphic Card; benchmark 231 - 19.1 W -- $25.00

Sapphire AMD FirePro 2270 1GB DDR3; benchmark 230 - 17 W -- $25.00

Radeon HD 6350 512MB ; benchmark 212 - 19.1 W -- $10.00

GeForce 210 Silent 1GB DDR3; benchmark 184 - 30.5 W -- $25.00

ASUS Radeon EAH4350 512MB DDR2; benchmark 177 - 20 W -- $20.00

ATI Radeon HD3470 256MB; benchmark 149 - 30 W -- $10.00

ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro 256MB; benchmark 126 - 14.8 W -- $15.00

ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB DDR2 ; benchmark 124 - 25 W -- $10.00

GeForce 8400 GS 1 GB DDR3; benchmark 115 - 40 W -- $25.00

Thanks for the info! What CPU is in your 790 DT?

I currently have an i7 running at about 95W. With a 250W PSU, I'm concerned that I might be running up to the max load of the PSU.

My Dell Optiplex 790 DT has an Intel i5-2400.

Here is the hardware and software installed as of Sept 2015:

Installed Bios: - Dell 790-A18

Operating System: - Windows 10 Professional x64 (upgraded from Windows 7 Professional x64)

CPU: - Intel Core i5 2400 / 3.10GHz, 6M, 95W - CPU benchmark 5819

PSU: - 235 WATTS (power supply that came with Optiplex 790 DT)

MEMORY: - 16GB -
memory slots 1st and 3rd - (2x4GB) KINGSTON (KVR13N9S8/4R) 4GB DDR3 1333MHz (PC3-10600) CL9 NON-ECC 240-pin Registered DIMM

memory slots 2nd and 4th - (2x4GB) KINGSTON (KAC-VR313S/4G) 4GB DDR3 1333MHz (PC3-10600) CL9 NON-ECC 240-pin Registered DIMM

GPU: - AMD Radeon HD 5450 PCIe x16 Graphic Card, low profile;  19 Watts, GPU benchmark 231

Monitor: - 24-inch LCD Dell E2415H (using Digital - DVI input)

Hard Disk: - 3-TB Western Digital WD Green (WD30EZRX) 6 Gb/s SATA (on SATA 0 connector) using UEFI / GPT Partition.

Optical Disk: - LG Internal Blu Ray DVD Drive WH14NS40; HL-DT-ST BD-RE WH14NS40 (on SATA 01 connector)

PCIe 1x USB 3.0 Card, Low Profile: ORICO PME-2U USB 3.0 PCIe X1 Expansion Card (with 2 external USB 3.0 ports)

Wifi Adapter: Belkin F9L1108-TG Dual-Band USB 2.0 Wifi Adapter

====================================================================

CPUs used in Dell Optiplex 790's

Dell Optiplex 790 CPUs - models MT, DT, SFF, USFF

models MT, DT, SFF
Intel Core i7 2600 / 3.40GHz, 8M, 95W - CPU benchmark 8259
Intel Core i5 2500 / 3.30GHz, 6M, 95W - CPU benchmark 6218
Intel Core i5 2400 / 3.10GHz, 6M, 95W - CPU benchmark 5819
 
models USFF
Intel Core i7 2600S / 2.80GHz,, 8M, 65W - CPU benchmark 7109
Intel Core i5 2500S / 2.70GHz, 6M, 65W - CPU benchmark 5159
Intel Core i5 2400S / 2.50GHz, 6M, 65W - CPU benchmark 4851


models MT, DT, SFF, USFF

Intel Core i3 2120 / 3.30GHz, 3M, 65W - CPU benchmark 3870
Intel Core i3 2100 / 3.10GHz, 3M, 65W - CPU benchmark 3628

Intel Pentium G850 / 2.90GHz, 3M, 65W - CPU benchmark 2677
Intel Pentium G840 / 2.80GHz, 3M, 65W - CPU benchmark 2595
Intel Pentium G620 / 2.60GHz, 3M, 65W - CPU benchmark 2283

Not sure what the W draw specs are on it but I plugged my GTX260 Core 216 EVGA as well as Corsair 750W and it works like a charm. I will see to post picture later today of the inside the tower and what I did :)

Great. Thanks for sharing! I will be very excited to see a photo of your modifications!

What memory (size, mfg, part #, configuration) did you install.

Thanks,

Mover

Here it is:

I just wanted to confirm that this part number works like a charm in Dell Optiplex 790 desktop version:

In local Micro Center there was a 2x8GB kit for 84.99 which I got yesterday, installed it today, and without any problems I am running total of 20GB of RAM... machine is super fast!!! so glad it worked out well. 

Note that part# BLS8G3D1609ES2LX0 is located on the chip itself. 

2x8GB kit part# is BLS2C8G3D1609ES2LX0 - only difference is 2C behind BLS... 

Ballistix 2 chips 8G... and the rest is jumble mumble :)

you can take to 1600mhz 4gb memory OptiPlex 990

I can also confirm that I ordered two of these kits:

http://secure1.ncix.com/products/?sku=95955

(if the link doesn't work, Kingston HX316C10FBK2/16, HyperX Fury Memory Black - 16GB Kit (2x8GB) - DDR3 1600MHz)

and am now running 32GB of RAM in an OptiFlex 790 with BIOS A18

Passed all diagnostics tests, and all 32GB are recognized (under linux)

Are these Dell proprietary Ram sticks? Or will Kingston etc. bought thru crucial.com or another reputable ram distributor work well with a Dell 790? While I'm asking, is there a solution to enable Bluetooth on an Optiplex 790?

Dell does not use proprietary memory.

Bluetooth would require a Bluetooth add-in card.

790 Intel chipsets do however only support low density single or dual rank UN BUFFERED Un Registered Ram.

Any ole Joes Crab shack made in hong kong ram is not suitable.

https://www.amazon.com/Ballistix-DDR3-1600-Profile-240-Pin-BLS2K8G3D1609ES2LX0/dp/B00A14ZT8I

I hate the thought of ordering 32 gb (8x4) of ram, just to find out it does not work.

Or even 16gb using 8x2.

All published literature from Dell and Crucial state that an Optiplex 990's chipset,

only supports a maximum 4gb module.  I was under the impression that the Chipset created the limit.

Or is this only capable to crack with Linux, and not Windows 7 or 10.

I guess I'm not $140 convinced.