Optiplex 3050 - Optional Radion R7 450 Video Card Install

Your stock psu of 180w implies you have 3050 SFF.  Psu for 3050tower is 240W.

Video spec for 3050 SFF :Video Controller - Discrete

• 1 GB AMD Radeon R5 430 (optional)
• 2 GB AMD Radeon R5 430 (optional)
• 4 GB AMD Radeon R7 450 (optional)

choose a low profile OEM card from above for SFF.  although general recommendation of psu for R7 450 is 250w, you may be okay using 180W stock psu in a prebuilt pc, especially if you have i5 cpu

http://gpuboss.com/gpus/Radeon-R7-450-vs-Radeon-R5-430

you do have option to upgrade psu to 240W Dell psu. Dell p/n DK87P.

Hi @redxps630,

Thanks very much for your time. Unfortunately, you are correct about the SFF, so the power supply will not fit in the SFF case. I have come to terms with this.

Just a question. To your knowledge, would a Radeon R7 430 work with the 3050? It's not on the list.

Thanks again for your valuable time.

In Peace.

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R7 430 OEM will work, but R7 450 is significantly better than 430.

Re: power supply will not fit in the SFF case,

actually there are Dell 460/500W TFX psu that fit in the 3050 SFF case. 

it is interesting to note that 3050 SFF and MT appear to use psu of same thin form factor (TFX), although the chassis size are different.  also noteworthy is that Dell made a step towards ATV12VO standard by using the proprietary 6 pin ATX connector, which has 12V (but no traditional 5/3.3V).

You might want to look at the Nvidia GT710. It only uses 19 watts of power and will support 3 monitors. It takes one PCIe x16 slot. They tell you that you need a 300w PS but it is on the lower side of power consumption. Mine came with low profile installation brackets. 

The reference design GT 710 is a dual-width card thanks to its lumpen passive cooler, and is just under 6 inches long and 2.7 inches high. Power consumption is a modest 19W.

Please see this thread toward the end and the end in reference to the 3050 SFF.  https://www.dell.com/community/Optiplex-Desktops/Optiplex-SFF-mini-tower-graphics-card/td-p/6023730/page/3 

I like your font size.  I just posted the results from running an R7 450 card in each of my 3050's with 180 W supplies.  One point five years and not a single issue, thermal, current, or anything.  The only thing I did was to ensure good airflow in an open environment.

Does anyone know if the power supplies are derated?  If so, it would certainly explain some things.  

My apologies. I do enjoy disrupting the "norm" when the opportunity arises. 

Thanks all !

In Peace.

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Hello and thanks to all who contributed to my original post.  I felt that I should update my situation.  I upgraded my two 3050 SFF's with one each R7 450 video controller. That was 18 months ago and they have run flawlessly.  I made sure that there were no obstructions to airflow and watched the internal thermal profile at least twice a week and during long-haul dev work.  I thought about the 240 W upgrade, but instead I replaced both 3050's with 5060 SFF's and am currently running RX550's in both.

I was going to do the 240 W upgrade but instead put the money into two 5060's running RX550's that replaced the 3050's.

I have to admit that I really love these little boxes.  They are reliable workhorses and are versatile.

My best to everyone in the Dell Desktop Community!

In Peace.

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Just to let you know, speedstep hasn't been on this forum since Sept. 2022.

I have heard of Dell underrating their PSU's.  One can always test the voltage and I guess watts/amps with a PSU tester.  Quite a few on Amazon.

@KB3020​ Are you still around? :) I think I'm in the exact place you were when you posted this. I wanted to ask a couple of questions about the Dell 3050 Multiplex desktop tower and how to look into a dedicated graphics card like you mentioned?  jack ":-Dx