Loading...
> >

Wanting to buy a new graphic card

shg0816_13461e8196shg0816_13461e8196 Posts: 348
in The Commons

I bought a this computer on Amazon (Dell OptiPlex 7020 Plus Tower 7000 Business Desktop Computer, 14th Gen Intel 20-Core i7-14700 up to 5.4GHz, 64GB DDR5 RAM, 4TB PCIe SSD, DVDRW, WiFi Adapter, Ethernet, Keyboard Mouse, Windows 11 Pro); and I want to buy a nvidia graphic Card for IRAY rendering. What's the best I could potentially get without wrecking the computer. TBH, I tried finding more info out about my PC, but the infor really isn't there, so any advice would be helpful. I would also like to keep the price within reason, so about 500 or so

Comments

  • Matt_CastleMatt_Castle Posts: 3,004
    edited July 29

    The question is going to depend on what space is available within the case (both the depth of the slots and the length available for a card to sit. Some cases will only take reduced depth cards or don't have the length for fitting certain cards) and the rated wattage on your power supply. You may have to open the case to investigate these things.

    However, if they'll fit and won't exceed the limits of your power supply, your answer is pretty likely to either be the 12GB version of the RTX 3060 (not the "Ti" version) or the 16GB version of the RTX 4060 Ti, preferably the latter.

    Anything else that's actually better for Iray would significantly exceed your budget. VRAM is very important for Iray (if the scene doesn't fit into VRAM, you cannot use the GPU at all), and in both the 30 and 40 series the next few cards up actually have less VRAM than these models.

    Post edited by Matt_Castle on
  • Anonymous PosterAnonymous Poster Posts: 127

    I think you will struggle with bigger cards for sure, these dell machines tend to have nonstandard configurations for cards which means at best very resticted airflow.  You can get enclosures but thats just eating into your budget. 

    Based on this video  - it looks plausible but you would have to measure the space to be absolutely sure.  As Matt says the PSU might be the next issue - modern cards have their own supplies these days and the dell might not have the right cabling.

  • jmtbankjmtbank Posts: 187
    edited July 29

    Edit2  Original post can be seen in Lena's quote below.

    Removing my bad advice. I searched for "Dell OptiPlex 7020 Plus Tower 7000 Business Desktop Computer" but wasn't getting quick results from google.  I narrowed the seach term... without "tower". Which should have given it away from the get go but,...

    Post edited by jmtbank on
  • LeanaLeana Posts: 12,748

    jmtbank said:

    Edit: I'd better give a technically correct answer to the thread question "best I can get for it".

    Nvidia 5060 8GB low profile. A couple of different manufacturers make them with a few varients. Make sure you are buying a "75Watt" card. All the low profile models should mention their wattage, but check to be sure its not over 75.

    If I were you I'd consider selling the Dell, but if you can't, the above is what you are after. [2nd hand low profile Nvidia 4060 would be the next option]

    2 things to note if the plan is to use the new GPU for Iray rendering:

    • The version of Iray in DS4 is won't use 50xx GPU to render, only DS2025 can use them.
    • 8GB is not that much VRAM, so bigger scenes might be a problem.
  • Matt_CastleMatt_Castle Posts: 3,004

    I'll note that while there are small form factor (SFF) versions of the 7020, the information I found was that the Tower Plus variant mentioned is not restricted to half height cards, so I don't think that's a concern.

    However, yeah, if you are restricted in that respect, then you'll not currently be getting anything better than the 8GB RTX 4060 or 5060, as I don't think any thing more powerful has been forced onto a low profile board. As mentioned in my signature, I do have a low profile 4060, however, as Leana says, it's not spectacular for Iray work because of the low VRAM. (I didn't really buy it for Iray, I just wanted an upgrade to my my old monitor card, and it seems like having my secondary card as a 40 series will be good for back compatibility once I start looking at upgrading my main card to newer generations). I do a bit of a break down of its performance in the benchmarking thread here: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/9183366/#Comment_9183366

  • jmtbankjmtbank Posts: 187

    Yeah, my low profile advice was rubbish.

    Here is a post from someone with a 7020 "tower" with a Dell employee response on power supplies:

    https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/optiplex-desktops/tower-plus-7020-psu-upgrade-2024-version/67ae01632ade4f5067442042

    The owner states that their 7020 "tower" came with a 260W bronze power supply. With how much power an i7-14700 can chew through there 'aint much left for a graphics card.

    TLDR: This threads OP is gona need to take the side of their case off and see if its got that bronze power supply... because if it has, well you might not even be able to run a 75W low power card.

  • BejaymacBejaymac Posts: 1,942
    edited July 29

    First off any GPU that needs supplemental power is off limits, as those Dell PSU's don't have any, you also can't swap out the PSU as they are a different shape to a standard PSU, plus they use propitiatory connectors that are non standard, so you'll have a hard time connecting a new PSU to the motherboard as a result.

    Post edited by Bejaymac on
  • kprkpr Posts: 297

    Given the OP puts "upto 5.4GHz" then it's probably a

    Intel Core i7-14700F

    		 20 2.1 GHz 5.4 GHz Raptor Lake Refresh 65 W

    or just the vanilla 14700 (also 65W)

    The thread linked above by @jmtbank and the link to Dell says a 500W upgrade is available (if one is not already installed - as others have put, get the side of your case and check) <-- You must get/have a 500W to get anything like a decent GPU

    Get one of those (^) and a decentish 8GB GPU is possible - This link (no knowledge or affiliation) reckons a vanilla RTX 4060 will fit (with an SATA adapter) but I'd ask at Dell support (link in post above): https://www.hardware-corner.net/desktop-models/Dell-OptiPlex-Tower-Plus-7020-2024/ ; <-- It lists some older cards, all 8GB ... If you can find them for sale. If you do get an 8GB card, the Scene Optimizer add-on for Daz will assist you greatly.

    - If you do "ask Dell" about a 4060 upgrade then also ask about the 4060 Ti - which has 16GB VRAM - but, even if it does fit, finding a cheap one of those (outside of eBay) will not be easy (the 8GB can be got for ~£300)

  • Anonymous PosterAnonymous Poster Posts: 127

    It may very well fit, but I'd be surprised if the PSU has the required connectors or supply capabilities

  • Matt_CastleMatt_Castle Posts: 3,004
    edited July 31

    Connectors may be an addressable issue; if there's no 6 or 8 pin power plug spare on the power supply, but there are SATA connectors left over, you can get adaptors that will convert from those.

    However, the number that's left is going to affect what you can do (the adaptors tend to need 1x SATA for a 6 pin adaptor and 2x SATA for 8 pin), and if that's all there is, I'd be surprised if there's more than one or two, so that's going to limit your choices of card further.

    It'll need investigation as to what you can run and what will fit.

    Post edited by Matt_Castle on
Sign In or Register to comment.