OptiPlex 745 – Windows 7 and 10

Form Factors

Minitower, Desktop, SFF, USFF

System Upgrades

Service Manual

Ensure you reference your service manual before carrying out upgrades:

Dell Service Manual

The most recommended upgrade for this system is a Solid State Drive, here is my affiliate link to Crucial here. If purchasing a SSD or Memory Upgrade please use these links as I will get a tiny bit of commission which will help fund my guides

SSD Drive Upgrade

Memory Upgrade:

This system supports 8 GB of RAM 2×(2×2 GB Modules) or 4 GB RAM (2×2 GB Modules) for the USFF. Note the 32 Bit OS maxes out at 4 GB RAM. This can also be purchased using the affiliate link above.

Graphics Card

Please ask on the Dell Community Forums for the latest recommendation for Graphics Cards. Ensure to include your form factor when asking for a Graphics Card Upgrade Recommendation.

Operating System

It is recommended to install Windows 10 on this system see Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads. The Windows Vista OEM or Windows XP Product Key won't be compatible with Windows 10 Installation Media however you can run Windows 10 Unlicensed. Windows 10 will have most of the system drivers required inbuilt however you can install the Windows 7 Drivers if you have any unknown Devices in the Device Manager.

Drivers and Downloads for Windows 7

Legacy BIOS

System Utilities (Windows 7 Only)

Chipset (Windows 7)

Video (Windows 7 Only)

There are three variants of Video Cards installed by default on this model. The onboard Intel Graphics or a Dedicated ATI (now AMD) Graphics Card.

Communications (Windows 7 Only)

Not all systems have a modem. If the Driver fails to install, there is no need to try and install the rest in this category.

Ethernet (Windows 7 Only)

This has Broadcom and Intel variants. The driver is inbuilt for the Broadcom NIC. An older version of the Intel driver is also inbuilt.

Audio (Windows 7 Only)

Check the Architecture of the link and then select download.

These are available as .cab files. See instructions toinstall drivers via the Device Manager.

Card Reader

The Card Reader was optional and most of these units don't have a card reader.

Security

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