Right Choice? Purchasing a Dell Optiplex 790 Core i3 2120 USFF

By sloanb
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sloanb

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Hi Team,

 

A few questions

 

Interested in purchasing a Dell Optiplex 790 Core i3 2120 USFF particularly for its size. I don't need a powerful machine however I do need this little thing to pack a punch... Would anyone know if I could upgrade the CPU to an i5... a 64-bit at that?? I believe the socket is 1155 but my other concern is could the motherboard handle it? ...of course the Ram is an easy upgrade... I'd like to be able to do some LIGHT home video editing using Sony Vegas Pro 12 (kids sports)...

 

Thoughts?

Grand Master

sc302 Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
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Look at an asus vivo pc. They start at around 500 but are tiny. Decently powered. If you want a bit more power and something thin look to a asus gr8. We were looking for small and quiet which we bought one of each for testing. The smaller vivo worked fine for our needs, but we did install more memory and update the drive to an ssd, which put both in the same price range.

Proficient

_BeanZ_

Posted
Posted

To answer your actual question, no, the CPU and sometimes even the RAM in laptops are soldered on and not replaceable, best option is to get a decent laptop with in i5 from the get go 

 

OP is talking about a small form desktop rather than a laptop though.

 

The CPU in the Optiplex 790 will be replaceable. The 790 was available with an i5, so there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to swap it - that said; I believe the chipset only supports Sandy Bridge CPUs.

 

Unless you're working to a very limited budget that means you're stuck looking at discounted, refurbished kit, I would recommend looking for something newer; the 790 was released in 2011.

  • MorganX and xendrome
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Grand Master

Intersect

Posted
Posted

To answer your actual question, no, the CPU and sometimes even the RAM in laptops are soldered on and not replaceable, best option is to get a decent laptop with in i5 from the get go 

That only seems to be the case with those "ultra books"

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iogbrideau

Posted
Posted

OP is talking about a small form desktop rather than a laptop though.

 

The CPU in the Optiplex 790 will be replaceable. The 790 was available with an i5, so there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to swap it - that said; I believe the chipset only supports Sandy Bridge CPUs.

 

Unless you're working to a very limited budget that means you're stuck looking at discounted, refurbished kit, I would recommend looking for something newer; the 790 was released in 2011.

 

Dell computers are very sensitive to changes, I would take this with a grain of salt. I would look into other brands with small form factor such as the Asus gr8 that was already suggested in this topic.

Collaborator

ThePhoenix

Posted
Posted

Might be worth looking at a Intel NUC, we've sold a couple recently to clients and they are pretty powerful, at least the model we sold, and only rougly the size of a apple tv and about twice the thickness, roughly anyway  :rofl:

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

The best pack you can punch in a small form factor is an Brix Pro i7-4770r

 

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1240720-my-christmas-present-to-myself-gigabyte-brix-pro-i7-4770r/

Grand Master

xendrome

Posted
Posted

Dell computers are very sensitive to changes, I would take this with a grain of salt. I would look into other brands with small form factor such as the Asus gr8 that was already suggested in this topic.

 

False.

 

Sensitive to change? How so? If you are speaking of the Windows activation then what does that have to do with Dell? Secondly, 100% of the time I've done only a CPU upgrade, it has never broken activation.

Contributor

iogbrideau

Posted
Posted

False.

 

Sensitive to change? How so? If you are speaking of the Windows activation then what does that have to do with Dell? Secondly, 100% of the time I've done only a CPU upgrade, it has never broken activation.

I'm not talking about activation. The computer will stop working or tell you a part is failing (often another part). Such is the case mainly with some workstation models such as the T3600 and the T3610. This has happened mostly when upgrading the RAM (that we made absolutely sure that it was compatible but still caused some errors about other parts failing), and videocard upgrades.

 

I do agree though that a CPU upgrade shouldn't change anything.

Grand Master

Jose_49

Posted
Posted

Hw about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0HMRH2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

If you're going t purchase a PC, be it as future proof as possible. That processor is heading for its 5th year release.

You should look at least at a core i3 4xxx series

Grand Master

xendrome

Posted
Posted

Hw about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0HMRH2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

If you're going t purchase a PC, be it as future proof as possible. That processor is heading for its 5th year release.

You should look at least at a core i3 4xxx series

 

That's pretty large compared to the USFF Dell or Intel NUC

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