Upgrading GPU in Optiplex 990 DT

geforce GT1030 should work, if it meets the speed needed for that game. Get the low profile version, Also make sure it's GDDR5 (the ddr4 versions are too slow to consider). You might not even need to replace the PSU, but always good to have spare parts on hand.

Brad will see this post soon and he may well have better ideas, as he's pretty knowledgeable on gpu cards. Wait a while before you commit to ordering anything.

Sure enough, Brad saw this thread.

What exact CPU do you have?  Goal is have best pairing of GPU and CPU so there isn't bottleneck issues.

Also, what GPU's did you try that didn't fit?

Hello Brad, sorry for the long delayed follow-up, I am running an i5-2500 @ 3.3GHz (2011 model) with an MSI GTX 1650 OC, after running bottleneck test it is 21.97% and too weak for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. I have 32GB of Ram and running a Samsung 1TB SSD...but still, maxing out the CPU. Can you tell me if a higher grade i7 would work and how high I can go i7- ####?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Further to the question, if a better i5 is the best I can do I just want to make sure it will pair best with the MSI GTX 1650 OC that I have. Not really sure what will pair best with it as I've got the best I could find to fit the Low Profile case and Mini-ATX motherboard. 

Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!

The GTX 770 is 230w.  In an Optiplex, it would be best paired with an EVGA 700-750w B1 or BR PSU.  Corsair is also a good brand.  Minimum PSU Nvidia recommends is 600w.  Speedstep typically goes higher to make sure there's enough power on the 3.3v & 5v rails.  Aftermarket PSU's can boast more wattage, but many skimp on those rails as compared to Dell, and then they don't work.  Speedstep might even chime in and suggest/recommend EVGA 800-850w B1 or BR PSU if you go with the GTX 770.  And of course, with a DT, it would have to sit outside the case.

WOW!!! I cannot begin to thank you enough for such a thorough and well explained answer Brad, you really went out of your way to help me understand JUST what I needed to know. I'm computer savvy, but no programmer, so this info is absolutely PRICELESS and going to save me alot of trouble as I went through 3 GPU's before I found the right one to fit.....I'm a slow learner, lol. I'll let you know how it goes, I'm jumping on ebay to pick-up the I7-4770 right now. You rock man!!!!!!!!!!!

Last question Brad, is a "K" an option to possible overclock? Or just stick with standard, no letter's after? And will a 4th GEN work? I would want to get the newest possible I would think. But if it won't make any difference i'll just grab the cheapest I find. 

Thanks again my friend!

I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention the rarer XE2.  The MT comes with 365w PSU and the SFF* 315w.  *But the space is tighter.

Glad you're happy with the answer(s).

Naturally, I hope you meant picking up a PC with the I7-4770, as the 990 can't take 4th gen.

Optiplex BIOS doesn't have an OC option, so go with the non-K version.  An Optiplex will still take a 'K', but you won't notice a difference in performance as compared to non-K.  If the base and turbo GHz isn't the same, it's too close anyway to notice the difference.

I'm not a computer programmer.  I learned some in high school in 1992.  It took hundreds to thousands of commands just to make a pixilated picture of a ship with smoke coming out it on an Apple.  So I knew it wasn't for me to pursue.  I have enjoyed working on and modifying my own PC's, including a successful rebuild of a notorious Gateway Profile 4 all-in-one some years ago.  I switched to Dell due to using them in the workplace and liking them.

I think you might've missed it though - a 990 can't take an I7-4770.  The 7020 & 9020 can.  I almost thought you might order one of those 2.  I used to say there's many good deals on refurbs, but it looks like they've gone up since the pandemic.  Many also come with SSD's now.  Amazon is usually a little higher than ebay because they have "renewed."

It's truly appreciat it Brad, I've ordered the 4770 on ebay and will come back with feedback once I've installed and run some new benchmarks and test for FPS in the Flight Sim. Fingers crossed it'll be enough, if not I'll just shelf the sim until I'm ready to upgrade to a better PC. All other games are running just fine even at 20fps. 

Ah, sorry Brad, I cancelled the order, yes, I did miss that. I was looking at the bottleneck test and thought you were showing it would work, but now I see what you mean as MT being "Mini Tower". So you're saying there is no way for me to upgrade to anything on this DT at all to make the GTX 1650 work without upgrading the entire system then?

Right.

You could still upgrade to the top CPU for the 990, the I7-2600, but remember the screengrab?  You'll still have bottleneck, just less of it.  If you're budget is understandably too tight, you could still try the I7-2600 and see how it performs with the 1650, but no guarantees.

You probably know, theres other 990's with the 1650.  The 1st video does give specs right away - I7-2600 for one.  (SFF's went the ones that came up when I tried for DT.)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cBavF6PMKZ8

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZONV2_nqJc

That’s exactly what I’m going to try, it’s worth a shot and running 32GB of RAM even at 10.1% (just a hair over) it may get me within range where it says “You’re good”, lol. Even 9.6-7 would be like you said would be WAY better than what I’m currently getting on bottleneck.