Hi tonyantonio,

You can upgrade to following processors given below on the Dell OptiPlex 745c.

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600 (4M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6700 (4M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)

OptiPlex 745c system supports up to 4 GB RAM 667MHz and 800 MHz DDR2 memory.

The graphics card ‘AMD Radeon™ HD 6870’ needs minimum 500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors but OptiPlex 745c comes with 305watt power supply and one 75w power connector you will have to upgrade the power supply for using the ‘AMD Radeon™ HD 6870’ graphics card.

Please let me know if this helps.

I actually put the wrong gpu... I meant the 6670 and are those the only prossecers it can be upgraded too? I seen other people put in Q6600 and Petinum D's... are you sure?

Hi tonyantonio,

The graphics card ‘AMD Radeon HD 6670’ needs minimum 400 Watt or greater power supply

The Intel Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) is not compatible with the Intel Q965 Chipset on the motherboard.

The Pentium D processors have low FSB so I would not recommend you to downgrade your processor.

Please reply for any queries.

The 6670 works with Towers and stock 305 watt Power supply.

HOWEVER the video card slot is only 1 card wide.

DUAL SLOT USING Cards WILL NOT FIT into any of the 745c  cases.:emotion-3:

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/745c_customer_brochure.pdf

The 745C is smaller and therefore I would not even try anything higher than a 6570.

The Card Below fits in all 745's except the USFF

VisionTEK

VisionTek Radeon HD 6570 SFF DMS59 - Graphics card - Radeon HD 6570 - 1 GB - PCI Express 2.1 x16 low profile

what about quad core?

Also dont worry about me using a dual cards... (But will that mean if I get a bigger card I must mod the case?)

2X WIDE or 12 INCH LONG Cards will not physically Go in.  There are some that used Dremel Tool and hacksaw to cut things to fit it.

Intel Pentium D 940 Dual core 3.2GHz 4M/800MHz SL95W

Smithfield Presler

90 nm 65 nm

No quads.  Request Denied.

The OptiPlex 745 features an Intel (Pentium 4HT, Celeron D, Pentium Dual Core, or Core 2 Duo) processor, up to 4GB memory, and is available in four chassis: Desktop (SDT), Mini-Tower (SMT), Small Form Factor (SFF), and Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF).

Optipex 745 Tech Specs

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 1066MHz FSB Socket T with Dual Core technology XD, EM64T, 2MB and up to 4MB L2 cache, EIST and VT (E6000 series)

Intel® Pentium® D 800MHz FSB Socket T with Dual Core technology XD, EM64T, 2x2MB L2 cache, EIST, and VT on 950/960 (900 series)

Intel® Pentium® D 800MHz FSB Socket T with Dual Core technology XD, EM64T, 2x1MB L2 cache (800 series)

Intel® Pentium® 4 800MHz FSB Socket T with HT, XD, EM64T, and 1MB L2 cache (500 series)

Intel® Celeron® D 533 MHz FSB Socket T with XD and EM64T (300 series)

This would lead me to believe that these work fine.

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6700 (4M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6600 (4M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6420 (4M Cache, 2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 (2M Cache, 2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6320(4M Cache, 1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6300 (2M Cache, 1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)

Chris M would have to say what processors were validated with the 745 since I'm only guessing.

Well this forum begs a differ... they even have people using the cpu

hardforum.com/showthread.php

ARK | Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8M Cache, 2.40 GHz ...

 Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)

Might work.   However any such attempt could prove FATAL to your motherboard and the Processor.

Any Non validated processors are not supported.

There is only an argument if I choose to engage that.  Request Denied.

Chris M would have to say what processors were validated with the 745 since I'm only guessing.

I am not Dell Nor am I Dell engineering.

I do not have a list of the Validated Processors for this system.  Nor Do I have a list of the Minimum Required Bios version for supported microcode.

http://processormatch.intel.com/CompDB/SearchResult.aspx?ProcNbr=Q6600

There is no one size fits all forever and ever.

Educated Guess would be SL9UM  and  SLACR Not all of the versions are listed as compatible.

so what do you mena without all those caps

I do not know if This processor is supported or validated.  If it is not compatible it could destroy the processor and the motherboard.

I have an OptiPlex 745 Mini-Tower. Proof you can use a Q6600 (Or a Q6700, for that matter) with the Intel Q965 Northbridge.

EDIT:

I also have a Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 installed with 1GB DDR5 RAM. I went with the low-profile version. The 6670 requires no external power connectors and will run off your stock PSU. To run the GPU and CPU, you will need an upgraded Power Supply Unit. Anything with 18 Amps on the +12v rail. My current PSU is a 500w with dual 18amp/12v rails. This may be a bit late, but is proof positive for future forum-ers.

Whoohaha

This is great news for a few of us here.

@tehjoeman: Please don't be so harsh on Dell forum, this is place for helping users to fix their PCs and do modest, Dell recommended upgrades, anything beyond Dell recommendations is generally not supported and not welcome. I would not expect any other reply from SpeedStep, including his definite overuse of BOLD CAPS.

Look at my signature, I am running CPU not supported by Dell engineers as well first, and second I overclocked (no overclock features enabled in basically all Dell line, except Alienware) this CPU to respectable numbers.

Good news, good news.

Which BIOS version do you have now with Q6600?

I fail to see how I was being harsh? I feel my post was rather objective. Informational, even. Happy upgrading!