Dell OptiPlex GX280 Windows 7 drivers

41 Replies

Dell do not make any Windows 7 drivers available for the OptiPlex GX280 even though this machine can run it acceptably (32bit only). Where I work there are a few of these machines which will be kept as spares if any of the main stock of OptiPlex GX620 machines fail and need repairing, and for miscellaneous duties like driving plasma screens in reception etc.

These machines use the Intel 915G integrated video card which frustrated people by being advertised as Vista-ready (supporting Aero Glass transparency in the Vista Beta) but then having Aero support withdrawn completely. Since there is no WDDM driver for this chip, we need to use the XDDM (XP Display Driver Model) driver. For some laptops Windows Update will detect and install this driver, but not in this case. Intel also seem to hide it away on their download site. It can be found by navigating:

Graphics > Laptop Graphics Controllers > Mobile Intel® 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family > Windows XP Professional

…or directly from here.

The SoundMAX Integrated Audio is detected and installed by Windows Update, but if you’re maintaining a WIM image or building an unattended install you’ll need to isolate the driver files. These are also available at Microsoft Update Catalog – search for SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio, order by date and look for the Windows 7 driver published on 10/31/2006 version 5.12.01.7010.

41 thoughts on “Dell OptiPlex GX280 Windows 7 drivers”

Zoltan Gerczei December 18, 2010 at 01:42

It’s working! Thanks a lot!

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Prince Phoenix February 26, 2011 at 11:59

Thanks a lot. Your links were very helpful!

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Luqman May 14, 2011 at 08:53

Thnks Sir!

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Ahmer June 10, 2011 at 16:50

Good Job, thanks for the info, most of the other websites are pretty lame, but your info was straight to the point and useful. Thanks…

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Asif Ali June 29, 2011 at 20:36

Thank uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy Muchhhhh

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Harley Joel July 2, 2011 at 15:35

You are the best, been looking for this driver for a while!!

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waleed August 20, 2011 at 13:28

what about graphic card

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1. patters Post authorAugust 21, 2011 at 21:47
  
  The built-in gfx card is the Intel 915 which I mentioned. Not sure what possible add-in cards were sold with those PCs.
  
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maxomby August 21, 2011 at 00:21

pero si el mio esta funcionando con los driver del vista :D

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1. patters Post authorAugust 21, 2011 at 21:48
  
  Creo que es el mismo driver :)
  
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ALLYCAT September 8, 2011 at 17:55

bUDDY YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF.
cAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH

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Chris Whitley September 16, 2011 at 21:31

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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Arris Ar'ratib Suhendra November 30, 2011 at 10:46

Where can i download graphics card for gx280 with O.S win7?
please help me :)

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1. patters Post authorDecember 1, 2011 at 15:17
  
  It’s explained in the article above. You have to use the XP driver which I linked to, there is no Windows 7 driver for the Intel 915 chipset. No transparency effects but at least it’s better than the standard VGA driver.
  
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Andrew January 7, 2012 at 22:36

it says o.s not supported..what do I do??? email me andrew.bright1@gmal.com thanx..I want to have the aero effects working.

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1. patters Post authorJanuary 8, 2012 at 11:25
  
  You can’t have working Aero glass effects on Intel 915 GPU. But at least the XPDM driver is better than the one Windows uses by default.
  
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Rod Sterling January 22, 2012 at 05:49

Hi there. I appreciate your work here, and I have d/l’d the cab package – what do I do with it now? :) Sorry, I mean to say the audio driver.

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1. patters Post authorJanuary 24, 2012 at 12:14
  
  You only need this if you’re trying to get the driver for inclusion in an automated build. Use WinRAR or similar to extract the CAB archive. If you are just installing one PC, Windows Update will offer you the same driver.
  
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Arsalan Waleed February 9, 2012 at 14:39

I installed the intel driver..but still it ain’t working for me.. :(
email me with the solution please! awzarsal89@gmail

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Paul March 7, 2012 at 16:40

muchas gracias, mne funcion desde panama

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Jean Marie March 16, 2012 at 18:30

what about drivers for modem? any idea where i get it? thanks in advance for your help.

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Osb June 9, 2012 at 14:16

please
where can i download dell optiplex gx280 vga drivers for windows 7
please help me

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JOEL July 20, 2012 at 17:43

Gracias, tenia un buen buscando el driver, el que no soporte aero ya es otra cosa..de vdd gracias….

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moune July 26, 2012 at 15:34

So there is no way to find one that will support Aero effects ??

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nathan August 21, 2012 at 21:14

God bless you! thanks a lot.. :)

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nathan August 21, 2012 at 21:16

I have Win 7 but I’ve downloaded vista’s driver and worked. :) thank you again!

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kallis September 15, 2012 at 21:18

thank you so much

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Robert Delestrée September 27, 2012 at 20:02

Hello, thanks for the driver Intel 915G integrated video card for W7 It’s working! Thanks a lot!
I have a problem with Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 : “Impossible to start Movie Maker” reason : video driver ? The DDI Version is 9 (video card) and the DirectX version is DirectX 11 (System)
Please help me to resolve this problem.
Regards

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1. patters Post authorSeptember 27, 2012 at 22:39
  
  You won’t be able to run Movie Maker – that GPU is too old and lacks the required features (Pixel Shader 2.0 and DX10 native support, from memory). If it’s a desktop PC you may be able to find a replacement graphics card.
  
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cody December 6, 2012 at 03:43

so ive go windows 7.. is it compatible?

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Hammad December 14, 2012 at 17:27

Well, accept the fact that Gx280 (915 chipset) is an old machine, and Win7 wasn’t actually made for it. Although, this machine can run it, but one’d have to face some problems. The windows or windows update wouldn’t detect-n-install sound and vga drivers on it’s own, as it does with supported Machines. One’d have to find and install an alternate driver software (Device Drivers from dell for its machines) to get things working.

For sound:
Google seacrh “R145551 Dell”. Analog Devices ADI 198x Integrated Audio. Basically its the sound driver software for Gx520. Download it and install the software. Hopefully, It’ll work for you.

OR Directly Follow the link for download:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails?driverId=R145551

I’m still unable to fix the GX280 VGA driver issue for Win7 OS. I couldn’t yet find out proper alternative driver software to resolve this problem. I guess there’s nothing out there for it.
If there’s any you’re aware of, please let us know, by mentioning it in a reply.

Thanks!

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Ahmer June 1, 2013 at 02:50

sir, which AGP or PCI card is supported with dell gx280 and would gives us full aero support for windows7?

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Yaw September 11, 2013 at 15:44

Medaase (Thanks buddy) :)

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Dell GX280 December 6, 2013 at 21:44

Outstanding! Tried 6 different graphic drivers for Dell OptiPlex GX280 on Windows 7 Ultimate.
This was the only one that worked.
Breathed new life into an old but completely functional machine.

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MJG December 17, 2013 at 17:15

A big thank you to the original poster. Wonderful. This version absolutely worked for me when many others failed! Do not use the executable in unzipped folder as it told me Win 7 was not supported. Just point to the directory of unzipped files when updating the video controllers from device manager.

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anthony December 24, 2013 at 00:44

thank for the awesome post a great help

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Rashid July 3, 2014 at 15:04

you do not have to downld drivers for windows 8, just run the original programs in compatibility mode for xp,to go to compaitibilty option g0 to the setup file and click properties run the program in compaitibilty and the setup will run and install the drivers

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cris anton November 14, 2016 at 08:54

I FOUND A DRIVER FROM HEWLETT PACKARD WITH THE NAME SP34749 WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF OPTIPLEX280/ WIN7/ UPGRADE CARD GRAPHICS. SHAME ON YOU DELL. TO FIND YOUR DRIVERS BY HP.

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