Dell Optiplex 360/380 Upgrades

The things you can upgrade for the Dell Optiplex 360 or 380 computers are the following. Most of these computers were shipped out with Core2duo processors, and these are obsolete today. However, you can upgrade the CPU to a quad core CPU. For the Dell Optiplex 360, you can put in a Core2Quad Q6600, and on the Dell Optiplex 380 you can put in a Core2Quad Q9400 processor. This could extend the service life of your computer. In the following instructional videos, I will show the following.

  • Upgrade the CPU
  • Upgrade the power supply
  • Upgrade the graphics card
  • Upgrade the cooling system
  • Tests on How the computers work with the new upgrades
  • Common driver issues with the Dell Optiplex 380

The first video will show you how to upgrade a CPU on either a Optiplex 360 or a 380. The layouts of both systems are the same.


The next video will show you how to upgrade the power supply.

The next video will show you how to upgrade a graphics card. You can put in a small form factor video card, like a Geforce GTS 740. If you try to add a graphics card any larger than a small form factor card, it will not fit in the case. The reason for it is because the heatsink shroud is obstructing it.

The next thing you can upgrade is the cooling system. You may have to do this if you upgrade to a Core2Quad processor, because the new components will generate more heat than the stock Core2duo processors it came with. The first video is an overview, and the next one will show you how to do it.

The next videos will show you how the computers run using games, and other applications.

A common problem you will have with the Dell Optiplex 380 is when you try to install the network card, it will not install on a Windows 7, 8, or 10 operating system. The reason is because the network driver was written for Windows Vista, but there is a way to get it to install.