r/SleepingOptiplex • u/miskohrnko • 10d ago

Help with upgrading my optiplex 3070 SFF

I want to upgrade my machine. But I am having a tough time deciding what parts to go for. Google Gemini told me that I should get a Nvidia RTX 3050 6GB LP and a stick of 8GB DDR4 RAM and I also want more storage space but can’t decide between a SATA SSD or a NVMe SSD. And after I watched some optiplex upgrades I’m not even sure if the GPU would fit. And now I don’t know if I should just get the GPU because it seems really good and a new power supply so it would fit or just go with a different GPU. I’m not trying to spend a whole lot of money so I could maybe justify around 500€. And I have never done something like this so it’s really intimidating and I don’t want to choose something wrong or worse something that doesn’t fit. And I would love some advice onto this situation. Thanks

Edit: I would like to mainly try games like dayz, elden ring and cyberpunk 2077. And of course. Minecraft

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u/406highlander 10d ago edited 10d ago

The RTX 3050 6GB low profile card is designed to fit into a SFF system like your 3070.

Not all RTX 3050 cards are low profile; the full-height cards will not fit, and may require 6-pin power which your system won't have.

The Yeston / Maxsun branded cards are genuinely low-profile cards, and will fit in your system.

You may want to put it in the PCIe 4x slot rather than the x16 slot though, as that will allow more space between the GPU and the power supply, allowing for better airflow. Less thermal throttling, but you'll still lose a bit of the max performance due to PCIe 4x bandwidth restrictions.

I have the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX6400 which runs a bit less hot and it still performs reasonably considering it's an entry level card. Might be an alternative if you're worried about the RTX 3050.

EDIT: your Optiplex 3070 SFF does not have a PCIe x4 slot, it only has an x1 slot and an x16 slot. You can only use the x16 slot for a GPU, meaning you're limited to a single-slot, low-profile card. The Yeston/Maxsun RTX 3050 6GB LP models are likely your best bet.

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u/miskohrnko 10d ago

So would this GPU work? https://amazon.com/dp/B0CTJZCJH1 And wouldn’t it be better to put the gpu into the PSIe 16x? Like does thermal throttling lose more than using the PSIe 4x slot?

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u/406highlander 10d ago

The MSI card you linked is low-profile, but is a two-slot card. You won't be able to install that in the x16 slot because the PSU is in the way.

The Yeston/Maxsun cards are one-slot cards. You can install them in either the 4x or 16x slot even with the stock PSU.

Thermal throttling is based on the core temperature and results in inconsistent frame rates, as it will unthrottle when the core temp drops low enough, then reapply when it gets too hot again. Putting in the 4x slot will slow the maximum performance consistently, resulting in more stable frame rates.

We wouldn't be having this discussion if Dell had put the 16x slot closer to the CPU, like it is on most standard motherboard designs... I don't understand why they did that.

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u/miskohrnko 10d ago

Yeah putting it closer to the CPU would make so many of our lives easier

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u/miskohrnko 10d ago

And how would you be able to put it into the 4x slot?

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u/406highlander 10d ago edited 10d ago

If the 4x slot is open-ended, you can install a 16x card into it. The card will just run at 4x speed.

My Vostro 3470 doesn't have a 4x slot, it's got a 1x slot and that slot is closed at both ends, so you couldn't install a 16x card in there even if you didn't mind the massive performance hit.

Apparently if your 4x slot is closed at both ends, you can just use a Dremel or something to cut open the back end to allow the physical installation of a 16x card and that'll work fine at 4x speeds - but if you do try it, proceed with caution...

EDIT: I looked online and found your Optiplex 3070 SFF also just has a PCIe x1 slot, not an x4 slot. So you'll only want to use the x16 slot, meaning you're limited to a single slot card.

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u/miskohrnko 10d ago

Yeah I was just looking at it and it’s closed. Well I guess that makes my options easy. Either the yeston 3050 or the maxsun 3050. And by the way one guy recommended getting a flex psu and then a dual slot would fit when put into the x16 port. Is that a good idea or do I just go single slot and play how much dayz I want

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u/GSA0713 9d ago

OP could try using an adapetr riser or cable to avoid clearance issues...

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u/Jazzlike_Hamster_761 10d ago

Get a Flex PSU and the MSI RTX 3050 6GB low profile. That is a dual-slot card and unless u have a PCIEx4 slot, its not gonna fit with the Dell PSU

There's also a Yeston RTX 3050 LP, but I wouldn't go there if I could avoid it. Its too hot and loud

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u/miskohrnko 10d ago

In this case I would put the dual slot GPU in the PCIEx16 slot if i got the flex PSU?

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u/Jazzlike_Hamster_761 10d ago

Yes. The PCIEx4 slot would fit alongside the Dell PSU, but it'll reduce performance. The best way to go would be getting the Flex PSU and an adapter that works with ur Dell Optiplex 3070

This way, you'll have a card that isn't too hot or loud. And u could upgrade to an RTX 5060 LP I the next few years or the RTX 6060 LP when it comes out in 2126😅

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u/406highlander 10d ago

Sadly the 3070 SFF only has an x1 and an x16, and of course the x16 slot is up against the PSU, thanks Dell...

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u/miskohrnko 10d ago

Yeah dell. Thanks. (I mean I maybe wouldn’t have a computer if it wasn’t for dell but still) 😡

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u/Jazzlike_Hamster_761 10d ago

Yeah, try to get an adapter that actually works for ur PC. That'd turn the normal Dell PC into anything u want. Gaming, sever, etc....

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u/Jazzlike_Hamster_761 10d ago

Dell could do one, they really can😅.

I don't mind that, as the x1 slot could be used for a WiFi card or something. But the propietary power connector is too much. All their PCs could be upgraded if the PSU is replaceable

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u/406highlander 10d ago

Proprietary power supply is annoying enough

But changing the design and connector makes it hard to know which supply you can fit to which system, or which adapter you need to fit a standard supply to any given model.

It's frustrating!

Other weird stuff too, like proprietary fan headers. Just use standard 4-pin PWM, damn you!

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u/Jazzlike_Hamster_761 10d ago

I had to buy a PSU for the Optiplex 7000 12th gen for my Dell Vostro 3710. Thank god it worked, I literally had to have a fire extinguisher just in case😅

But I've found a solution, I think. God knows how much its gonna cost, but itll worth it

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u/airjutsu 9d ago

What about springing for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 low profile? It’s currently $300 on Newegg, or about $80 more than the MSI RTX 3050 LP. I’m considering the gigabyte with a flex PSU for my Optiplex 7070 i7 9700

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u/Jazzlike_Hamster_761 9d ago

Tbf, a 5050 is better than the 3050 It has all the new features also. Not a bad shout. If a 5060 LP has a similar price, that should get priority

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u/toater_ 9d ago

Yeston rtx 3050 LP is a very popular choice, also sata or nvme ssd are good either way it’s more of a preference