Upgrade advice: Dell Optiplex GX 620

[KingGheedora]

I want to keep this case and drives. Just need a better mobo and CPU.

I use this for work, software dev. Anti virus, windows firewall, outlook w/ very large email collections ("active" mailbox small, but have kept all emails from past 7 years across various outlook datafiles which I have to search through from time to time), SQL server development. .NET dev, web dev, running VM's from time to time.

Currently:
Pentium D 3GHz
4GB DDR2 (2GB PC4200, 2GB PC6400)
160GB Intel SSD (G2)
Win 7 x64

Want:
Faster CPU, >= 4 cores, Virtualization support
BTX form factor, best/fastest SATA support
>=4GB RAM

Nice to have:
DirectX11 support, via onboard GPU if possible
onboard eSATA
Use current RAM if possible

Budget: ~$400

 

[ecom]

Those computers use BTX boards. You're better off buying another Dell or another computer because BTX boards are not common.

Boards from these should work: Optiplex 755 or 760, Q35 and Q43 chipsets. The board from a Optiplex 960 might fit and it has Q45 chipset. Just don't get boards from the USFF models because those are proprietary.

You may be better off with a new computer though to be honest. The Q series is more for enterprise use because of the vPro and AMT features but lacks things such as h264 and VC1 decoding -- I don't know if this is important for you. I honestly don't see any of the AMT features being very useful for home computer.

You can keep 2 GB of your RAM, but if you put 4, it may slow down slightly because it is PC4200. Most CPUs now use PC5300 or higher, if not DDR3. The boards I described above both take DDR2 and have 4 slots.

 

[RebateMonger]

I haven't opened any new Dells lately, but, historically, Dell used special motherboard trays and a Dell-specific cable to connect to the front panel for power, USB, lights, switches, etc.

While things do change, historically it's cheaper to get a new Dell and sell off the old one.

 

[themisfit610]

+1 on get a new box. You won't save much by re-using your existing case. You're out, what - $100-150 for a case / power supply? Plus you get better airflow and no worries about whether or not your Dell IO cable will work.

You can build a socket 1156 Core i7 box for surprisingly cheap these days, as is the case for a socket AM3 Phenom II box.

~MiSfit

 

[KingGheedora]

OK, any recommendations within ~$400 that include new case and PS?

Is there anything faster than SATA II right now?