Dell Workstation Owners Club

[Susquehannock]

I was thinking of buying an adapter for the 5.25 simply because I would like to add a second drive plus one with front USB 3 ports.

There is actually places to mount two HDD up top. No adapters needed. Move all mine up there and eliminate the cumbersome swing out panel altogether. And they seem to run cooler too.

In my case I had to upgrade my Dell 525W PSU after installing GTX 1060 6gb (120 W only). After installing New GPU my system had frequent reboots. Only after PSU upgrade system was stable.

Suppose it is possible high ambient temps caused some stability issues. I am far more inclined to believe your PSU was worn out and could not hold proper voltages under load any more. Being we are talking used power supplies. it is possible the Dell unit has seen a decade (87,600 hours) of continuous hard use. Unless you have a lot of other 12 volt powered hardware hooked up a GTX 1060 should be no problem. Some of us are running RX 480 and 580 cards which can exceed 220 watts in heavy gaming.

This is a timely subject as I am installing a 750w EVGA G+ power supply into the second system listed in my signature right now. Just cannot find myself buying a used unit. Especially with some of the big discounts EVGA was offering.

Normal PSU will fit the Tx500 case though I am surprised no one else here has had issue with the upper retaining tabs. None of the aftermarket PSUs that I have installed would sit parallel to the top with them there, which in turn prevents the unit sitting square against the back where the 4 mounting screws go. Unacceptable. The inner tab (bottom of image) is easily bent out of the way but outer one is configured differently and will not bend flat so easily, so I just spend a couple minutes cutting it off with a bare hacksaw blade.

 

[Retrorockit]

I use EVGAs in mine also. The Dell PSUs are quality parts but they are all old now. I like to give them a try first if they're appropriate for what I'm doing. I usually have a few sitting around. A 375W Dell mid tower PSU is perfect for a low buck Optiplex build. I bought 3 of them for $5 each last week.
The workstation PSU tab has a little web that needs the be cut all the way to the back of the tab, then it can fold down like the Optiplexes etc.- hacksaw blade is the tool.

 

[DarthBubba]

If it's a 148W card you should be able to run it with a splitter off of the 6 pin PCIe.. 150W should be available (75w+75W) there. <much deleted> No matter how many connectors it has a 150W card will only draw 150W, welll within spec. for a single 6 pin PCIe setup.

Okay, I have this EVGA GTX 970 card and it steadfastly refused to run with only one of the two 6-pin PCI connectors energized. If I plugged the 6-pin PCI power line to the socket nearer the blower fan, it flashed a message on the monitor saying "plug in and energize the other socket too." Plugging power into just the 6-pin socket further away from the blower resulted in no boot up. I've jerry-rigged power lines from a stray Molex connector such that both 6-pin sockets are energized - happiness prevails. At some point I'll install the T5500 power supply I bought a couple of weeks ago which will give me two proper 6-pin PCI power lines and dispense with the extraneous wiring.

Just as an aside: I chose the blower style GTX 970 because it helps ventilate the case. Those other single and twin fan jobbies likely scatter hot air around the internal space - of course this is just a SWAG, but I can feel the warm air exiting out the 970's exhaust port. Cleaning out all the dust in the 970's heatsink and off the blower's squirrel-cage fan lowered the GPU temp by two degF.

 

[Retrorockit]

If you run a splitter from the single 6 pin to both the 6+8 pin connectors on the 150W GPU it should have enough power to run. If it was a 160W-225W GPU then you would have a problem doing this on the Dell PSU. As long as you stay within 150W this should be OK.
https://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-12-198-016

 

[sepheronx]

Alright, got second hard drive in. It is a hot mess inside this machine.

Now it runs warm cause I couldn't stand the noise of these arctic cooling F8 PWM fans. They ran at full speed even when using the dell pwm splitter. So, can anyone recommend silent fans that seem to run at full speed anyway?

 

[Retrorockit]

I don't see the blue RAM cooling shroud which guides air fron the CPU fan through the CPU heatsink. This and the HDD tray forms a duct there like the older BTX used. Air coming out of a fan doesn't want to go straight it wants to spread out in a wide cone unless it's contained somehow.

 

[lexluthermiester]

1066. It is what came with the system.

Would recommend getting 1333 modules as they will give better performance overall. Try to stick with 7-7-7 timings, but 8-8-8 will still give better results.

 

[sepheronx]

I don't see the blue RAM cooling shroud which guides air fron the CPU fan through the CPU heatsink. This and the HDD tray forms a duct there like the older BTX used. Air coming out of a fan doesn't want to go straight it wants to spread out in a wide cone unless it's contained somehow.

I wont be able to get it to fit tbh.

Would recommend getting 1333 modules as they will give better performance overall. Try to stick with 7-7-7 timings, but 8-8-8 will still give better results.

I would but I cant spend anymore money atm.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I would but I cant spend anymore money atm.

Fair enough. File it under future upgrade advice.

 

[Retrorockit]

I wont be able to get it to fit tbh.

A piece of cardboard stood up between the RAM and CPU heatsink would guide the air through the CPU cooler. I don't see why you would need the exhaust fans at this point if everything else is working properly. I'm not a big believer in them anyway. In an ATX they can give the disorganized air flow some direction. But with the straight through cooling layout of the BTX style Dell I think the air will find it's way out.

 

[sepheronx]

If anyone is interested, here is a quick video test of the game on my T3500 setup:

As noted, video recording did eat up system resources and did hit performance a bit. Any recommendations to having lossless recordings?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Any recommendations to having lossless recordings?

External HDMI video capture device. There are a ton of them on Amazon/Ebay and various other sites. B&M has a few really good ones, but are pricey.

 

[sepheronx]

External HDMI video capture device. There are a ton of them on Amazon/Ebay and various other sites. B&M has a few really good ones, but are pricey.

Can you link any?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Can you link any?

Sure, here's a couple.
Inexpensive and has a good variety of inputs. Full 1080p recording. It's a noname brand though;
https://www.amazon.com/DIGITNOW-Capture-Converter-Adapter-Recorder/dp/B0747R2VMZ
Here's one from AVerMedia for a good price, but only HDMI;
https://www.amazon.com/AVerMedia-EzRecorder-Definition-Recording-ER130/dp/B00LAP3GC8
Here's one from Pyle that's a bit more spendy, but very high quality;
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Video-Game-Capture-Card/dp/B0771145S7

 

[DarthBubba]

If anyone is interested, here is a quick video test of the game on my T3500 setup: As noted, video recording did eat up system resources and did hit performance a bit. Any recommendations to having lossless recordings?

I dunno man, without recording during game play I imagine that the game looks pretty good - as good as many "current" dedicated gaming machines. It looks like you've hit that inflection point where the next 10% performance improvement is gonna cost 50% more money. Your system setup is what I am aiming for, give-or-take a few minor differences. How tightly is your CPU wound up? What GHz?

 

[Retrorockit]

If he gets the cooling under control Throttlestop overclocking costs $0.

 

[sepheronx]

I dunno man, without recording during game play I imagine that the game looks pretty good - as good as many "current" dedicated gaming machines. It looks like you've hit that inflection point where the next 10% performance improvement is gonna cost 50% more money. Your system setup is what I am aiming for, give-or-take a few minor differences. How tightly is your CPU wound up? What GHz?

current test was at 3.4ghz (stock). If I threw in my GTX1070 from my other machine, I would be able to get max settings at around 100fps as I do on my other machine with a core i7 4770. This machine is a beast (Dell T3500).

I ran throttlestop and got it stable at about 30x (so around 4ghz) but the front fans started to really spin up and made a horrible noise.

 

[DarthBubba]

current test was at 3.4ghz (stock). If I threw in my GTX1070 from my other machine, I would be able to get max settings at around 100fps as I do on my other machine with a core i7 4770. This machine is a beast (Dell T3500).

I ran throttlestop and got it stable at about 30x (so around 4ghz) but the front fans started to really spin up and made a horrible noise.

Not being insulting but are the "details" taken care of, like new thermal paste under the CPU heat sink, etc? Can you add a DIY wind shroud of some type to better direct the airflow from the front fan to the CPU heat sink if the blue RAM duct and HD flap are absolutely a no-go? My EVGA GTX 970 overlaps the blue RAM duct by 1.5" (but passes above it by .125 ") and both still fit in there at the same time. A GTX 1070 would be a nearly 50% performance boost for the same power draw - and I'll add a 1070 as soon as someone gives me one.

I'm of the opinion that Dell's engineers designed the box as an integrated system where the cooling is concerned, and believe that taking pains to keep that aspect of the case structure as original as possible is a worthwhile goal. Airflow in a hobby game box with six fans is one thing, but my beasts ran almost ten years in hot Georgia airbase hangars with only TWO fans. They checked out 100% using Dell's own diagnostics with all the dust still inside them. They looked like new after I gave them an air bath and all the little dust kitties ran away.

Just my two cents, and worth every penny you paid me

-DB

 

[sepheronx]

Not being insulting but are the "details" taken care of, like new thermal paste under the CPU heat sink, etc? Can you add a DIY wind shroud of some type to better direct the airflow from the front fan to the CPU heat sink if the blue RAM duct and HD flap are absolutely a no-go? My EVGA GTX 970 overlaps the blue RAM duct by 1.5" (but passes above it by .125 ") and both still fit in there at the same time. A GTX 1070 would be a nearly 50% performance boost for the same power draw - and I'll add a 1070 as soon as someone gives me one.

I'm of the opinion that Dell's engineers designed the box as an integrated system where the cooling is concerned, and believe that taking pains to keep that aspect of the case structure as original as possible is a worthwhile goal. Airflow in a hobby game box with six fans is one thing, but my beasts ran almost ten years in hot Georgia airbase hangars with only TWO fans. They checked out 100% using Dell's own diagnostics with all the dust still inside them. They looked like new after I gave them an air bath and all the little dust kitties ran away.

Just my two cents, and worth every penny you paid me

-DB

As I shown above in pictures, the W3680, was cleaned. I then applied some MX-4 thermal compound. I also ghetto modded a 80mm fan to the CPU cooler and added two 80mm fans in the back. Unfortunately, even with the Dell 5 pin to 4 pin pwm adapter, the 80mm F5 Arctic cooling fans are very very loud. So I instead am looking to replace them with something dead quiet at full blast. Reason is front fans are even louder as they seem to rattle and vibrate in the case of they manage to go full speed.

Otherwise, this setup is awesome. Some more future adjustments needed. Otherwise, it's great.

 

[lexluthermiester]

the 80mm F5 Arctic cooling fans are very very loud.

What speed are they?

Reason is front fans are even louder as they seem to rattle and vibrate in the case of they manage to go full speed.

I'm using zip-ties. They hold strong, look good and are easy to remove. Only a suggestion though.

 

[Aaron_Henderson]

I swapped the fans on my 290x to 3 x high amp 80x35mm server fans and overclocked (1150/1500) never goes above 63 C...could probably run 1200/1600 and barely break 70 C...if you can bstand the noise...server fans are great!

 

[sepheronx]

What speed are they?

I'm using zip-ties. They hold strong, look good and are easy to remove. Only a suggestion though.

I took a look again, I was wrong on name. They are F8 80 mm fans.

https://www.arctic.ac/worldwide_en/arctic-f8-pwm.html

rated to 2,000 RPM.

 

[Retrorockit]

I like to start right at the CPU and sand them flat on a piece pf glass until they're flat and smooth aka "lapping". You'd be surprised how caved in some of them are.
You should be able to stick something soft in between the front fans and the housing. to keep them from rattling. Or switch them and see if one is bad. They are ball bearing and can get noisy when they dry out. If you poke a hole in the center of the decal and put a couple drops of oil in there it will get to the bearings.
I don't think the rear fans are going to do much for you. I would concentrate on getting the front fan working properly, and make sure the air is going where it's supposed to. The case, the HDD tray, and the RAM shroud form a 4 sided duct forcing the air into the CPU cooler.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I don't think the rear fans are going to do much for you.

Have to disagree with this. When I added the rear fans in my T3500, the temps came down in all areas of the system. The thing is, it doesn't take powerful fans. They just need to be there to pull air through. 1200rpm fans are what I have and they're quiet. Can't even hear them over the front fans.

 

[Retrorockit]

I guess with the monstrous front fans I run they aren't needed, but w/o that I guess theyr'e useful.