Best card for Dell Optiplex

[thefultonhow]

I'm looking at upgrading my work desktop to two of the new Monoprice 27" monitors, which requires me to look at a new video card so I can get a card with two dual-link DVI ports, or at least a card that has one dual-link DVI and one DisplayPort that can be converted to dual-link DVI. I don't do any gaming, but would like something semi-powerful anyway.

Here's the catch, though -- the desktop is a Dell Optiplex 980. The PSU does not have any 6-pin PCI-E connectors, so I need a card that doesn't require that. Also, the card must only take up a single slot from the outside, because the PCI-E x16 slot is the topmost slot (and faces up). Finally, if the cooler does not stick out into the next slot, the card can be a maximum of 7" long; if the cooler does stick out, it needs to end at most 6.5" from the back of the case.

And once again, I need two dual-link DVI ports, or one dual-link DVI port plus a DisplayPort port that can be converted to dual-link DVI.

It looks like a GeForce GT 640 or Radeon HD 7750 would meet my needs, but I'm not sure on their lengths. Any input?

[glc]

How many watts is the PSU (brand and model would help)? What kind of onboard video does it have?

[thefultonhow]

Dell 305-watt. It's a first-gen LGA1156 i7, so I think it doesn't have onboard video? I'm not sure, though.

[glc]

Does it currently have a card? If so, what? What type of output(s) does it have?

Can you read the +12v rail amperages off the PSU label?

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by glc Does it currently have a card? If so, what? What type of output(s) does it have? Can you read the +12v rail amperages off the PSU label?

The current card is a Radeon HD 3450 (Dell OEM specific).

Two +12V rails -- one with 15A, the other with 10A.

[glc]

I think I'm running into the same "gotchas" as you are. You don't have enough power to run a high end card, you don't have enough room for a high end card. Trying to find a low end card with two dual link DVI-D is kicking my butt.

This may be worth a try:

ATI FireMV 2260 100-505533 Workstation Video Card - Newegg.com

It's dual DP, and AMD says that the DP's will do 2560x1600. However, it says that max with DVI is 1920x1200. This may be a limitation of the adapters. Now, looking for DP to dual link DVI adapters is coming up with stuff that's 100 bucks EACH?

Good luck.

[thefultonhow]

So you don't think the GeForce GT 640 would work?

[glc]

This one looks like it will fit:

EVGA 02G-P4-2645-KR GeForce GT 640 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Newegg.com

However, although both DVI outputs are dual link, one is DVI-I and the other is DVI-D. Will that work?

You may be pushing the PSU - specs call for 20 amps and 350 watts.

[thefultonhow]

DVI-D should work. I'm probably going to have to wait until the new fiscal year (July 1) to purchase, so we'll see if anything new has come out by then.

[glc]

According to the Monoprice page, it *HAS* to be DVI-D. I'm wondering if the DVI-I will also work. Logic says it should, but you need to confirm.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by glc According to the Monoprice page, it *HAS* to be DVI-D. I'm wondering if the DVI-I will also work. Logic says it should, but you need to confirm.

DVI-I is a superset of DVI-D -- as in, it offers everything that DVI-D does, plus extra pins for VGA operation. It will be fine.