Can you upgrade Dell OptiPlex 7000 M to play games?
Dell OptiPlex 7000 M is a business desktop computer in micro form factor. It is using a processor that provides both the CPU and GPU functionality.While integrated GPUs are sufficient for basic gaming, they are not powerful enough to run demanding games. Dell OptiPlex 7000 M has no space for dedicated graphics card.
Microdesktop machines like Dell OptiPlex 7000 M are usually used as home theater PCs (HTPC), in home lab projects or a as home automation servers.
Please explore the sections bellow to find ideas and suggestions on how to upgrade Dell OptiPlex 7000 M.
Windows 11 compatibility
Yes, Dell OptiPlex 7000 M is compatible with Windows 11. According to Windows 11 specification, all models that have Intel 8th Gen processors (or newer) with TPM 2.0 support and a UEFI BIOS with Secure boot, are eligible to upgrade form Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.
GPU upgrade
It is not possible to upgrade Dell OptiPlex 7000 M with a dedicated GPU due to the lack of space and absence of a PCIe slot. However, you can still use the integrated graphics processor for gaming. There arenumber of games you can enjoy with an Intel HD and UHD iGPU.
Processor
The Dell OptiPlex 7000 M supports Gen12 Intel Core technology. The 12th generation Intel Core processors were released in 2022. Named Alder Lake they use a hybrid between the Golden Cove and Gracemont architecture. The main differences to the previous generation, is the support for both DDR4-3200 and DDR5-4800 memory. The 12th gen comes with support for the new PCIe 5.0 bus, potentially increasing the bandwidth two times compared to the PCIe 4.0.
Best CPUs for Dell OptiPlex 7000 M upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 12500 | 6(12) | 3.0 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| Core i5 12600 | 6(12) | 3.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz |
| Core i7 12700 | 8(16) | 2.1 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| Core i7 12700F | 8(16) | 2.1 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| Core i9 12900 | 8(16) | 2.4 GHz | 5.1 GHz |
| Core i9 12900F | 8(16) | 2.4 GHz | 5.1 GHz |
Memory
Dell OptiPlex 7000 M has two RAM slots. This is more than enough for most users. For those of you who need extra flexibility and RAM size, go for a model with 4 memory slots.
To cover the needs of your OS, games, and apps, Dell OptiPlex 7000 M supports up to 64 GB of SODIMM DDR5-4800 RAM. For office work, home use, and light gaming we recommend 8GB of RAM. For everything else, use 16GB or more.
Faster RAM speeds permit your processor to access the data stored inside the memory faster. This is important for the overall speed of your system. The motherboard of the Dell OptiPlex 7000 M supports RAM speeds of up to 4800 MT/s.
Wi-Fi Support
Dell OptiPlex 7000 M supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card with the on-board M.2 2230 (Wi-Fi/BT) slot. The card contains a Wi-Fi module that supports various Wi-Fi standards, as well as aBluetooth module. It is small circuit board that is designed to fit into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.
Keep in mind that the card is not always included and you have to install one yourself.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Dell OptiPlex 7000 M:
| Model | Speed | Frequency | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 6E (Gig+) Kit | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Rekong AX210 | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Gigabyte GC-Wbax200 | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer TX50E | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer T9UH | 1300 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | USB 3.0 |
Ports
Ports are important and often people don't think about them when buying a PC. For example, if you don't have enough USB ports, using external devices becomes problematic. Before you buy any system, considering your use case, check the number of external devices you are going to use and plan the number of the extension ports accordingly.
USB ports
The Dell OptiPlex 7000 M comes with nine USB ports in total. Having more USB ports is always better, but also pay attention to the version of those USB ports. Higher version ports support faster transfer speeds. It is nice to see that the model has a USB 3.1 port. This interface is using 10Gb/s connection and it's very useful when you transfer big files to external drives.
Video ports
The DisplayPort (DP) is the most widely used digital interface for transmitting digital video and audio between display devices and PCs. It is good to see that the Dell OptiPlex 7000 M is featuring a DisplayPort 1.4a. The post version is important if you target higher resolutions with high refresh rate. Although, ver. 1.2 is completely fine for most users, if possible, aim for the higher versions DisplayPort.
The HDMI port is another digital video port you can use to connect external display. It has very similar capabilities to the DisplayPort with few exceptions. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7000 M doesn't have one. This is not a problem if there is on-board DisplayPort.
*Please keep in mind in order to use the video ports available through the motherboard, you need a CPU with integrated graphics card. If you have a dedicated GPU, use his ports instead.
SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports
The SATA port is one of the places where you can connect a stora gedevice. Having few SATA ports might limit your options for additional storage devices. The Dell OptiPlex 7000 M has no SATA ports available on the motherboard so you will most probably need to use the M.2 interface instead.
Dell OptiPlex 7000 M has also two M.2 socket(s) that supports both PCIe NVMe (PCIe 4.0 x4) and SATA M.2 drives with speed of up to 8 GB/s. Currently this is one of the fastest commercially available versions of the PCIe bus (second to PCIe 5.0), making this configurationperefect for both gaming and work related tasks.
The M.2 PCIe SSD connector in combination with an NVMe drive allows for higher transfer rates, compared to the old SATA interface. In some situations, NVMe device connected to the M.2 PCIe socket can be more than 5 times faster.
Best PCIe NVMe drives for Dell OptiPlex 7000 M storage upgrade:
| Model | Form factor / Interface | NAND type | DRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 PRO SSD | M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| CORSAIR MP600 PRO | M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus | M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| Western Digital Black SN770 | M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
| Kingston A2000 | M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe | TLC | Yes |
Power Supply
The Dell OptiPlex 7000 M comes with a 180 Watt PSU. Having a power supply with high power rating is important, especially if you are doing upgrade with addtional components, like dedicated GPU and more HDDs. Will this 180 W be enough, it all depends on your specific use. Please keep in mind that some models might have more than one PSU option. Whenever possible get the most powerful one, as it might make future upgrades easier.
