Dell 750W PSU with GTX 280?

[darwin]

Hi all, need a bit of help. Having got tired of building my own rigs, I bought a Dell XPS 710 for a knockdown price a while back and I want to upgrade the OEM 8800GTX that came with it. The sticky bit is the PSU cannot be replaced as it has proprietary connections to the (BTX) motherboard. The PSU itself is a 750W affair with quad 12v rails @ 18a each.
I am hoping to upgrade to a GTX 280. I realize this requires one 6-pin PCI-E connector and one 8-pin connector. The PSU has two 6-pin connectors only.
Do you think I would get away with using the 6-pin to 8-pin adaptor most likely provided with the GTX 280? My system specs are:

QX6700 @ 2.8Ghz
2 x 320GB HDD
and usual optical drive, sound card etc.

I have read reviews about other people using oldish Seasonic 600W PSU's with no trouble hence my desire to upgrade! Thanks...

 

[Antx777]

I think you'd be ok with the adapter i(f supplied with the GTX280 - cause it's a pain if you don't get one). have you checked to see if your psu has "2 pin connectors" that make up an 8 pin when added to the 6 pin? My psu (Gamestram 850 watt) has these "2 pin connectors". I think you'll be ok, as you certainly have the power (750 watt) do these Dell's use 16x pci express?

Wait for other comments too, but you seem ok looking from were i am

~Ant

 

[darwin]

Wow that was quick, thanks! I'm on hols at the moment but will check when I get back, although I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any spare two pin connectors.

 

[rounddodger]

Only 36A on the 12V+ rail though?? Cutting it a bit fine I reckon.

 

[Antx777]

Only 36A on the 12V+ rail though?? Cutting it a bit fine I reckon.

He did say "quad 12v rails @ 18a each"

~Ant

 

[Bony Maloney]

I have a Seasonic S12 600w, I can't find any info of these being OK with GTX 280. This is the card I'm lookiing to upgrade to without changing out my psu (unless I absolutely have to). Any info on the GTX280's and my psu folks?

 

[Reality|Bites]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-280-review-test/11


GeForce GTX 260 | 280

A GeForce GTX 260 requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 38 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.
A GeForce GTX 280 requires you to have a 550 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 40 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.
GeForce GTX 260 | 280 SLI

A second GeForce GTX 260 requires you to have a 700 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 50 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.
A second GeForce GTX 280 requires you to have a 800 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 55 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.

 

[darwin]

Thanks fo all the help. I made a small mistake with the PSU specs they are:
Output +5V 16A, +3.3V 30A, +12VA 18A, +12VB 18A, +12VC 18A, +12VD 16A, -12V 0.2A, +5VFP 3A. (+5V & +3.3V Shall Not Exceed 700W, +12VA, +12VB, 12VC and +12VD Shall Not Exceed 700W)
Just to clarify, I have a total of 70A available on the 12V rails - are all of these amps usuable (if that's the right word) for the 40A required by the 280?
@Bony Maloney I read the customer reviews of the GTX 280 on OCUK and somebody is using your supply with no probs.

 

[rounddodger]

He did say "quad 12v rails @ 18a each"

~Ant

Lol. Ooops.

 

[Bony Maloney]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-280-review-test/11


GeForce GTX 260 | 280

A GeForce GTX 260 requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 38 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.
A GeForce GTX 280 requires you to have a 550 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 40 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.
GeForce GTX 260 | 280 SLI

A second GeForce GTX 260 requires you to have a 700 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 50 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.
A second GeForce GTX 280 requires you to have a 800 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 55 Amps available on the 12 volts rails.

Thanks for that. Although I'm not 100% certain it looks like my S12 600W only has 36A combined on the 12v rail, if so will this not cut the mustard?