It is possible to do, but there are other considerations.
If needing a new PSU and a single slot 1650 (not a powerful card to begin with) and given wacky GPU prices right now) I would have second thoughts.
Also the PSU does not look like an ATX standard size so not easy to find off-the-shelf replacement.
It won't be capable of playing AAA titles except on the low settings. So it might seems a little disappointing after all the time, expense and expectation - unless you find some miraculously cheap components, have realistic expectations or just enjoy the tinkering.
The airflow could be a problem in such a restricted case so it could run very hot and it is not reassuring to hear all the fans at max RPM.
The SSD is only half a TB, so after the OS etc maybe 400MB and many newish games are 50GB to 100GB. So you might need to prepare for only having one or two titles at a time or perform a lot of file delete/re-installs.
Well, the storage part is something he could address relatively easily. That standard blue holder allows 2 x 2.5" units (2nd is on the bottom), so he could simply add a 2.5" as 2nd unit for games
yes I know, and i agree. Maybe this can help as reference :
With a quadro P600 ( that he could install without doing any other change ) I can play cyberpunk 2077 without issues, by example. So him, with a 7700, should be in a similar situation. Then you are correct, there are a lot more factors.
If he starts to do too many changes, would be actually better to resell and buy something else ( or go the console way )
Indeed, but my thinking was that OP wanted to use this for gaming presumably with only limited/no expenditure. But after a new GPU, PSU and more SSD + the cost of games it is not so cheap afterall and will forever be compromised by the form factor.
It all depends on what sort of games the OP wants to play really. If it was something like chess or Sim City, then I would just leave as it. But if it was RDR2, Control etc I would just get a PS4 rather than put money into something which is almost already hitting the wall in terms of possible performance.
Thank you everyone for the input. The games I am currently playing are not super demanding, I was looking to see what options there were for improvement. Given all input I think I agree that while it could be done, it is a slippery slope. My summary is that good GPU triggers a new PSU which then leaves the CPU and motherboard lagging. So my money would be better spent going into savings and buying a proper gaming computer in a year or two, then keep this as a utility computer for less demanding things (email, web browsing, 3D printing, etc). Thanks for all the input!
then keep this as a utility computer for less demanding things (email, web browsing, 3D printing, etc). Thanks for all the input!
Yes, it would be good for CAD/3D-Design for the 3D-Printer (I have one also). It would also be well suited for DAW or Video-Editing.
Actually, you can tell that this computer was configured for doing "real work" and not just docs and spreadsheets. They just wanted it to be small for some reason.
I have been reading up on this thread and have a couple questions myself if that is ok. I have a Dell Precision 3420 and I am not getting an output from the Nvidia K1200 mini HDMI ports. The screen simple goes into standby mode. It did for a moment connect and saw an HDMI signal but nothing came up on the screen. The screen works perfectly with other sources. So my questions are:
1. Is this the Nvidia K1200 and should I replace it. Its USD 850!! Eeeek!! At this stage there is no other way to see what is happening on the computer as there are no other outputs for a display.
2. If not the Nvidia would it be the Motherboard and Extension Slot?
3. Could I re-instate the Non-active ports (DisplayPort and HDMI) on the Motherboard by removing the Nvidia K1200?
3) integrated graphic depends on which cpu is installed , so you would have to provide more details in this sense
1) the ports are minidsplay ports, not hdmi ... so, what did you connect to ? what did you use to connect ? a converter ? active ? passive ? And 850usd is an unrealistic price put up by some sellers.. at this point in time you can buy a RTX 4000 with that much
3. What CPU do you have? The 3420 can take Xeon's that don't have onboard graphics. On the other hand, if you have a 7th gen i7, i5, or i3, the 3420 then has onboard graphics. So, if you remove the graphics card, the onboard ports should work.
Thank you for the response. Much appreciate your time. I have solved the issue but the solution I am a bit confused about. I found another Precision 3420 computer in our office that had the same Nvidia K1200 and I decided to swop the graphics cards. I then plugged the faulty computer into the screen of the computer I found and a "Recover from BIOS" display appeared. I decided to recover this computer from the BIOS and now all is back in order with the replaced graphics card. I really don't know why this happened but can only think that the computer failed and needed to be rebuild from the Recover Image. Any advice would be appreciated.
More than one thing was done at once though. If I have this right - monitor swap and GPU swap. If it were one at a time, then there's more of a possibility of pinpointing. Not sure what went on with the BIOS.
If you're really curious, you could still try the original monitor and GPU separately if you think it worth the effort. I might be inclined to leave it as long as it's working. Or even just try the original monitor, but leave the GPU alone as to not chance it screwing up the PC. Just trying the original monitor could rule out monitor or GPU.
It is possible the two 3420's had different BIOS versions, one more updated than the other. I don't know that would do it though.
I am glad you got it working. It was seeming almost next to impossible for a while there.
You are right Zambian. Was really stuck not knowing what could be done but luckily we had bought all the same units. I think I will leave the units as is as we are currently under pressure and needing people working and getting stuff done!! Thank you all for the help. I have bought a spare GPU for spares though.
TPHK
1 Rookie
•
49 Posts
1
February 7th, 2022 09:00
It is possible to do, but there are other considerations.
If needing a new PSU and a single slot 1650 (not a powerful card to begin with) and given wacky GPU prices right now) I would have second thoughts.
Also the PSU does not look like an ATX standard size so not easy to find off-the-shelf replacement.
It won't be capable of playing AAA titles except on the low settings. So it might seems a little disappointing after all the time, expense and expectation - unless you find some miraculously cheap components, have realistic expectations or just enjoy the tinkering.
The airflow could be a problem in such a restricted case so it could run very hot and it is not reassuring to hear all the fans at max RPM.
The SSD is only half a TB, so after the OS etc maybe 400MB and many newish games are 50GB to 100GB. So you might need to prepare for only having one or two titles at a time or perform a lot of file delete/re-installs.
mazzinia_
6 Professor
•
1.5K Posts
1
February 7th, 2022 10:00
Well, the storage part is something he could address relatively easily. That standard blue holder allows 2 x 2.5" units (2nd is on the bottom), so he could simply add a 2.5" as 2nd unit for games
mazzinia_
6 Professor
•
1.5K Posts
1
February 10th, 2022 08:00
yes I know, and i agree. Maybe this can help as reference :
With a quadro P600 ( that he could install without doing any other change ) I can play cyberpunk 2077 without issues, by example. So him, with a 7700, should be in a similar situation. Then you are correct, there are a lot more factors.
If he starts to do too many changes, would be actually better to resell and buy something else ( or go the console way )
TPHK
1 Rookie
•
49 Posts
1
February 10th, 2022 08:00
Indeed, but my thinking was that OP wanted to use this for gaming presumably with only limited/no expenditure. But after a new GPU, PSU and more SSD + the cost of games it is not so cheap afterall and will forever be compromised by the form factor.
It all depends on what sort of games the OP wants to play really. If it was something like chess or Sim City, then I would just leave as it. But if it was RDR2, Control etc I would just get a PS4 rather than put money into something which is almost already hitting the wall in terms of possible performance.
gray0239
1 Rookie
•
4 Posts
0
February 10th, 2022 14:00
Thank you everyone for the input. The games I am currently playing are not super demanding, I was looking to see what options there were for improvement. Given all input I think I agree that while it could be done, it is a slippery slope. My summary is that good GPU triggers a new PSU which then leaves the CPU and motherboard lagging. So my money would be better spent going into savings and buying a proper gaming computer in a year or two, then keep this as a utility computer for less demanding things (email, web browsing, 3D printing, etc). Thanks for all the input!
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
February 10th, 2022 21:00
Yes, it would be good for CAD/3D-Design for the 3D-Printer (I have one also). It would also be well suited for DAW or Video-Editing.
Actually, you can tell that this computer was configured for doing "real work" and not just docs and spreadsheets. They just wanted it to be small for some reason.
Olivermr77
3 Posts
0
July 5th, 2022 08:00
Hi Everyone.
I have been reading up on this thread and have a couple questions myself if that is ok. I have a Dell Precision 3420 and I am not getting an output from the Nvidia K1200 mini HDMI ports. The screen simple goes into standby mode. It did for a moment connect and saw an HDMI signal but nothing came up on the screen. The screen works perfectly with other sources. So my questions are:
1. Is this the Nvidia K1200 and should I replace it. Its USD 850!! Eeeek!! At this stage there is no other way to see what is happening on the computer as there are no other outputs for a display.
2. If not the Nvidia would it be the Motherboard and Extension Slot?
3. Could I re-instate the Non-active ports (DisplayPort and HDMI) on the Motherboard by removing the Nvidia K1200?
If you can help it would be incredible.
mazzinia_
6 Professor
•
1.5K Posts
0
July 5th, 2022 09:00
Hello,
lets go not in order :
3) integrated graphic depends on which cpu is installed , so you would have to provide more details in this sense
1) the ports are minidsplay ports, not hdmi ... so, what did you connect to ? what did you use to connect ? a converter ? active ? passive ? And 850usd is an unrealistic price put up by some sellers.. at this point in time you can buy a RTX 4000 with that much
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
0
July 5th, 2022 11:00
3. What CPU do you have? The 3420 can take Xeon's that don't have onboard graphics. On the other hand, if you have a 7th gen i7, i5, or i3, the 3420 then has onboard graphics. So, if you remove the graphics card, the onboard ports should work.
Precision 3420 Spec Sheet.pdf
Olivermr77
3 Posts
0
July 5th, 2022 15:00
Hi Guys
Thank you for the response. Much appreciate your time. I have solved the issue but the solution I am a bit confused about. I found another Precision 3420 computer in our office that had the same Nvidia K1200 and I decided to swop the graphics cards. I then plugged the faulty computer into the screen of the computer I found and a "Recover from BIOS" display appeared. I decided to recover this computer from the BIOS and now all is back in order with the replaced graphics card. I really don't know why this happened but can only think that the computer failed and needed to be rebuild from the Recover Image. Any advice would be appreciated.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
0
July 5th, 2022 16:00
More than one thing was done at once though. If I have this right - monitor swap and GPU swap. If it were one at a time, then there's more of a possibility of pinpointing. Not sure what went on with the BIOS.
If you're really curious, you could still try the original monitor and GPU separately if you think it worth the effort. I might be inclined to leave it as long as it's working. Or even just try the original monitor, but leave the GPU alone as to not chance it screwing up the PC. Just trying the original monitor could rule out monitor or GPU.
It is possible the two 3420's had different BIOS versions, one more updated than the other. I don't know that would do it though.
I am glad you got it working. It was seeming almost next to impossible for a while there.
Olivermr77
3 Posts
0
July 6th, 2022 02:00
You are right Zambian. Was really stuck not knowing what could be done but luckily we had bought all the same units. I think I will leave the units as is as we are currently under pressure and needing people working and getting stuff done!! Thank you all for the help. I have bought a spare GPU for spares though.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
0
July 6th, 2022 10:00
You're welcome. : )
MHMCAD
1 Rookie
•
1 Message
0
August 28th, 2024 18:14
Good afternoon, I have a Dell Precision SFF 3420, and I would like to know if connecting an external GPU enclosure is possible, and if so how?
(edited)
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
0
August 30th, 2024 04:19
I think what you're looking for is a PCIe x16 extender cable?