Upgrading an older Dell
The Dell OptiPlex 790: still going after 15 years — and that’s exactly the problem
Dell built the OptiPlex 790 in 2011, and a remarkable number are still quietly working today. We respect that — it’s why we sell business-grade Dell in the first place. But with Windows 10 support now ended and Windows 11 off the table for this machine, it’s genuinely time for an honest conversation about what comes next. Rated 4.9 on Google.
- ● Honest triage first — no hard sell
- ● Data moved across & Windows 11 set up
- ● 12-month return-to-base guarantee
Credit where it’s due
Still running? That’s rather the point
If your OptiPlex 790 still boots every morning, you own a machine that has outlived most of the computers sold alongside it. It launched in 2011 as Dell’s business desktop — built for offices that couldn’t afford downtime — and fifteen years later, plenty are still at it.
We’re not going to pretend that’s a fluke. It’s exactly why we sell business-grade Dell rather than consumer machines. The 790 is living proof of the build quality: proper components, sensible cooling, a chassis designed to be opened and serviced. We’ve been a Dell reseller since 2001, and machines like this are the reason.
So no, we won’t tell you your 790 is rubbish. It isn’t. But being well built and being fit for 2026 are two different things — and there are three honest reasons it’s time to move on.
The honest bit
Three honest reasons it’s time
None of this is scaremongering — it’s just what fifteen years does to a computer.
- The original hard drive is living on borrowed time. If your 790 still has its original mechanical hard drive, that’s a spinning part well over a decade old. Mechanical drives don’t fail politely — they tend to fail suddenly, taking your photos and documents with them. Every extra year is a gamble with your data.
- The RAM was fine for 2011, not for now. Machines of this era typically shipped with a fraction of the memory a modern web browser expects. A handful of open tabs plus Windows updates in the background is enough to bring one to a crawl — and that’s before you open anything else.
- The big one: it cannot run Windows 11 — and Windows 10 is no longer supported. Windows 11 requires an 8th-generation Intel processor or newer plus TPM 2.0. The 790 uses 2nd-generation Intel chips and an earlier TPM, so it doesn’t come close. And Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025, which means no more security patches. Every month you spend online on an unpatched machine, the risk grows — new vulnerabilities are found constantly, and this machine no longer receives the fixes.
The first two are inconveniences. The third is the reason we’d gently say: it’s time.
The question everyone asks
Can’t I just force Windows 11 onto it?
Honest answer: yes, the tricks exist. There are registry edits and installer workarounds that bypass the TPM and processor checks, and people have used them on machines like the 790.
We recommend against it, and here’s why.
- Updates aren’t guaranteed. Microsoft is clear that unsupported installs aren’t entitled to updates. You could bypass the checks today and find yourself cut off from security patches later — which puts you right back where you started, having spent an afternoon on it.
- The hardware simply isn’t up to it. Even if Windows 11 installs, you’re running a modern operating system on 2011-era silicon and memory. It won’t be a pleasant experience, and it won’t get better.
- You inherit all the other problems anyway. The ageing drive and the tight memory don’t go away because the badge on the operating system changed.
If a bypass were genuinely a good idea for our customers, we’d say so — we’re independent, and we’ve nothing to gain from pretending otherwise. It isn’t, so we don’t.
Honest triage
What we’d actually do with your OptiPlex 790
Not every 790 needs replacing tomorrow. Our upgrade services are available on request, and the first step is always honest triage — we’ll tell you straight which camp your machine falls into.
- Offline or light-duty use? If your 790 runs a workshop tool, a till, or lives entirely offline, a modest SSD upgrade can make it perfectly pleasant for years yet — and we’ll happily fit one. No internet means the end of Windows 10 updates matters far less.
- Daily use on the internet? Email, banking, browsing, anything with your personal data — then no amount spent on a fifteen-year-old machine changes the Windows 11 problem. We’d honestly rather you put that money towards a machine with a future.
We’re a family-run Dorset business, trading since 1995, and we work the way that suits you: we come to you at home or at work across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Dorset, we can meet at the Kinson Community Centre by appointment, and we offer free local collection for anything hands-on. Most advice starts with a phone call — 01202 775566. We’re independent for repairs and upgrades (not a Dell Authorised Service Provider), which means our only loyalty is to you.
The natural successor
The OptiPlex 3080 — the 790’s rightful heir, guide £545
When it is time, the natural replacement is the same idea, a decade on: a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 3080 — the modern equivalent of the business-grade desktop you already trust, at a guide price of £545.
Every refurbished Dell we supply includes:
- A huge generational leap — from the 790’s 2nd-generation Intel processor to the 3080’s 10th generation, with 16GB of memory as standard.
- A brand-new 1TB Samsung 990 PRO SSD — not a second-hand drive. Your data lives on a new, fast, reliable part.
- Windows 11 properly installed and supported — Home or Pro, professionally set up, with security updates for years to come. No bypasses, no asterisks.
- A 12-month return-to-base guarantee — extended to 5 years on a 365 support plan (from £18.25/month per computer at home, from £24.38 for business).
Want a step up? The OptiPlex 3090 is £550, and the 5000-series (5080 around £615, 5090 £620) adds business-class headroom. You can pick your successor, check availability and get a quote online — including our comparison showing how much faster it is than your current computer.
Switching without stress
We move everything across — and retire the 790 properly
The reason people cling to an old computer is rarely the computer — it’s everything on it. So we handle that part.
- Your data moved across — documents, photos, email and favourites transferred to the new machine as part of the price.
- Windows 11 set up properly — Home or Pro, updates done, printers connected, ready to use rather than ready to configure.
- Optional £49 Setup Pack — full home or business setup, 30 days of remote support while you settle in, and a full service at the 30-day mark.
- Your old 790 dealt with responsibly — data securely wiped and the machine responsibly recycled, so nothing personal leaves your hands readable.
We deliver and set up at homes and businesses across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and the rest of Dorset, with remote-first support afterwards. Call 01202 775566 (Mon–Fri 9–5) or text 07520 615332 — or start by picking your successor online.
// RELATED
- “This PC can’t run Windows 11” on a Dell — what the message actually means, and your honest options.
- Windows 10 ESU or upgrade your Dell? — paying for extended updates versus moving on, weighed up honestly.
- Refurbished OptiPlex 3000 series — the 790’s natural successors, from £545.
- Refurbished OptiPlex 5000 series — the business-class step up.
- All refurbished Dell hardware — pick a machine, check availability and get a quote online.
- Secure IT disposal — how we wipe and recycle your old computer responsibly.
- Why computer prices have gone up — and why business-grade refurbished is the sensible answer.
FAMILY-RUN SINCE 1995 · ★ 4.9 ON GOOGLE · 200+ COMPUTERS UNDER OUR CARE · NO FIX, NO FEE · SAME-DAY REMOTE SUPPORT
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Can the Dell OptiPlex 790 run Windows 11?
No — not officially. Windows 11 requires an 8th-generation Intel processor or newer plus TPM 2.0, and the OptiPlex 790 uses 2nd-generation Intel chips from 2011 with an earlier TPM. Bypass tricks exist, but updates aren’t guaranteed on unsupported installs and the hardware isn’t powerful enough for a good Windows 11 experience anyway.
Is the OptiPlex 790 still good in 2026?
As a piece of engineering, genuinely yes — fifteen years of service proves Dell’s business-grade build quality. As an everyday internet-connected computer, honestly no: Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025, so it no longer receives security updates, and it can’t move to Windows 11. For offline or light single-task use it can still earn its keep.
Is it safe to keep using Windows 10 on my OptiPlex 790?
Offline, it’s fine. Online, the risk grows every month — Windows 10 stopped receiving security patches on 14 October 2025, so newly discovered vulnerabilities stay unfixed on your machine. For email, banking or browsing we’d honestly advise moving to a supported Windows 11 computer.
Should I just put an SSD in my OptiPlex 790?
Sometimes, yes — and we’ll tell you when. If the machine lives offline or does one light job, an SSD is a sensible, inexpensive way to keep it pleasant for years. If it’s your main internet-connected computer, an SSD doesn’t fix the Windows 11 problem, so we’d rather you spent the money on a machine with a future. Honest triage first, always.
What should I replace an OptiPlex 790 with?
The natural successor is a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 3080 — guide price £545 including 16GB of memory, a brand-new 1TB Samsung 990 PRO SSD, Windows 11 professionally set up and your data moved across. The 3090 (£550) and the 5080/5090 (around £615/£620) are the steps up. You can pick one and get a quote online at our Dell hardware page.
Will you move my files and settings to the new computer?
Yes — data transfer is included with every refurbished Dell we supply. Documents, photos, email and favourites come across, and Windows 11 Home or Pro is set up properly before you take over. The optional £49 Setup Pack adds full home or business setup, 30 days of remote support and a full service at 30 days.
What happens to my old OptiPlex 790?
We securely wipe the data and responsibly recycle the machine — nothing personal leaves your hands in a readable state. See our secure IT disposal page for how that works.
Do you have a shop I can bring my OptiPlex 790 to?
We don’t run a walk-in shop — we come to you at home or at work across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Dorset, offer free local collection for hands-on work, and can meet at the Kinson Community Centre by appointment. Most advice starts with a call to 01202 775566 (Mon–Fri 9–5) or a text to 07520 615332.
Ready to plan your OptiPlex 790 upgrade?
Pick the successor and get a quote online — including a “how much faster than my current computer” comparison — or call us first for honest advice. 01202 775566, Mon–Fri 9–5, or text 07520 615332.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM