Power Supply & Video Card.

[srtony2047]

I went to a local store to buy a Video Card Upgrade. I found A really nice one, New, Nividia 9600Gt Recommended by the Young sales person. But my power supply could not handle It so he recommended a better power supply. I have a Dell 8400 with a 350watt power supply he recommended 500watts. No prb there, So I go home and well the power supply would not fit, Back to the store I go. The saleperson recommends another PS, Still no fit, But they put the Video card In anyway, and told me I would have to order a PS from Dell. Dell claims 500 watt PS will hurt my mother board and other things?, They recommended A lower grade card for my 350 watt PS. So, Off the the local store I GO, 4th Trip!!!!!. I get there and they say they cannot upgrade my Video card with anything bigger than my current card ATI X 1300. SO, I told them to put my old one back IN. I play COD4 Online Would love to upgrade to a ATI 1900 or better. I have Pentium 4 cpu 3.00ghz 3.00 gb Ram Running XP Os, And I have 2 160 gb Hardrives. Please help! Thanks.

[CrowdAds]

[ddoggma]

Dude, Get a HD3870 for the same price as that card. It will run on your PSU. If your and NV guy, you could still get the 9600. I bet it would run on your PSU too. If not you could "MAKE" a new PSU fit in the case somewheres. Damn I hate Dells games they play.

[SRTDodge05]

The power suppies dell uses are pretty strong. If you do want to upgrade it check this site out. Dell Upgrade Power Supplies from PC Power & Cooling

[srtony2047]

Thanks for the reply, I tried running the 9600 with my 350watt psu It ran my computer but powered down, won't work. What I need to know is with 2 hardrives what card can I run with my current PSU?.

[SRTDodge05]

Nvidia 8800GT, 7800GT, 7900GS all should work fine.

[ddoggma]

I'm thinking a HD3850 would run also. I have one running no problems on a shitty TT430watt. With a week 18amp 12volt rail. But I have only 1HDD and 1DVD burner, 2 sticks of RAM and a soundcard. I'm drawing about 300watts while gaming. This crappy PSU is good to go untill about 360 to 380watts. SO Im good for now. But, Im looking for a deal on a earthwatts.

[Deer Slayer]

A 500 wat psu WILL NOT hurt your motherboard!! I've NEVER heard anything so RETARDED, figures it would come out of the mouth of a dell support employee. Anyways, I dunno what the dell powersupply looks like, but if the plugs and everything are the same, you COULD put an adapter plate in there or something if there's room in the case. The PC power units are NICE, and well worth the $$$. If the case doesn't have a big enough hole for the new PSU, you could buy a nibbler, and open up the hole. As long as there is physically enough room to put it inside the case, you can make any psu that's electrically compatable work. I suggest you test the PSU BEFORE you hack up your case!

[rjs735]

Some of Dell's systems used a proprietary PS. That's where the "hurt" your motherboard came from. They have rewired the 20 pin connector to be incompatible with std cabling some gnd and Volts line are crossed so you would end up with a fried PS and or MB. If you google the net for Dell PS you will locate a site that has the docs on the differences.

Dell PS exact replace is not bad on pricing and even cheaper than an after market exact replace unless you find a pull that fits your system.

You can check the pinout for your system by downloading the MAint manual from the dell site.

[Mankal3]

I believe Dell uses proprietary motherboard that will NOT be compatable with another PSU, I had this problem a few years ago

[rjs735]

Only some of the systems used proprietary. That's why it's best to check the documentation and double check with physical ps cable connector for the color coded wiring.