Dell PSU Concern re Graphics

Firespark

Firespark

Firespark

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Dell PSU and Graphics Upgrade - E520

OK just got a call from my cousin who assumes I am font of all knowledge as I work in IT :rolleyes:

He has via works discount scheme got a Dimension E520

Relevant Components
Intel® Viiv™ Technology™ Core® 2 Duo® E6300 Processor (1.86GHz, 1066MHz, 2MB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Incl Operating System Re-installation CD)
2048MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x1024] Memory
250GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro graphics card
Dell™ 19" UltraSharp™ Digital/Analogue Flat Panel (1907FP)

But wants to let his son use it for gaming also. Now I think the 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro may struggle with the likes of Oblivion / Half Life 2 or future games but I dug a bit and found the Dell PSU is just 305 Watt DC Power Supply.

Is this man enough for newer cards?
and which would you guys recommend.?
 
Dell are weird... I mean even the backing plate is weird... and I thought that they have a custom power supply connector on the motherboard??

Stelly
 
OK just got a call from my cousin who assumes I am font of all knowledge as I work in IT :rolleyes: He has via works discount scheme got a Dimension E520

Basic Components
Intel® Viiv™ Technology™ Core® 2 Duo® E6300 ProcessorGenuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
2048MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz
250GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro graphics card
Dell™ 19" UltraSharp™ Digital/Analogue Flat Panel (1907FP)

But wants to let his son use it for gaming also. Now I think the 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro may struggle with the likes of Oblivion / Half Life 2 or future games but I dug a bit and found the Dell PSU is just 305 Watt DC Power Supply.

Is this man enough for newer cards?
 
Firespark said:
...but I dug a bit and found the Dell PSU is just 305 Watt DC Power Supply.

Is this man enough for newer cards?
Click to expand...

I would say no, I may be wrong, but personally I'd of said 400w minimum nowadays. Especially looking at the power requirements of the new cards coming out end of this year, start of next. 300w just won't cut it imo.
 
My thoughts though im no expert these days.

Ive told him that much and suggested that any card needing its own power connection would probably be a no no.

However would something like a 7600GT be Ok and offer a significant boot over the installed card.

Digging on Dell they seem to put 7300LE in US Models as an option to X1300.
 
Firespark said:
My thoughts though im no expert these days.

Ive told him that much and suggested that any card needing its own power connection would probably be a no no.

However would something like a 7600GT be Ok and offer a significant boot over the installed card.

Digging on Dell they seem to put 7300LE in US Models as an option to X1300.
Click to expand...


I was reading around for a mate the other day, he has an ATi 9600 card in his PC, and I was seeing what card could offer a nice improvement in games. The X1600 Pro looks like an ok card, don't know how it compares to the 7600GT though.
 
But that 305w PSU makes me nervous.

However I am going to dig around and recommend he trys to exist on the X1300 and if pushed to goes to an upgrade.

Question is what upgrade that isnt to power hungry. Fun one sigh...
 
Firespark said:
OK just got a call from my cousin who assumes I am font of all knowledge as I work in IT :rolleyes:

He has via works discount scheme got a Dimension E520

Relevant Components
Intel® Viiv™ Technology™ Core® 2 Duo® E6300 Processor (1.86GHz, 1066MHz, 2MB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Incl Operating System Re-installation CD)
2048MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x1024] Memory
250GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro graphics card
Dell™ 19" UltraSharp™ Digital/Analogue Flat Panel (1907FP)

But wants to let his son use it for gaming also. Now I think the 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro may struggle with the likes of Oblivion / Half Life 2 or future games but I dug a bit and found the Dell PSU is just 305 Watt DC Power Supply.

Is this man enough for newer cards?
and which would you guys recommend.?
Click to expand...


okay, basically, to play any modern games, you will NEED to replace the graphics card. Whilst doing this, you will need to replace the power supply in order to make sure that there is enough power going to the new graphics cars. Your current dell supply is too weak. The X1300Pro is also very weak and a new card, around the £150 mark, will allow you to play the games you desire.
 
Stelly said:
Dell are weird... I mean even the backing plate is weird... and I thought that they have a custom power supply connector on the motherboard??

Stelly
Click to expand...
They ended their non-compliant PSU connector practices a while back. A new one should be ATX/BTX standard.
 
Those Dell PSUs have been quite powerful with the ones I've seen, you may be able to use say, a 7600 GT without any issues.
 
BillytheImpaler said:
They ended their non-compliant PSU connector practices a while back. A new one should be ATX/BTX standard.
Click to expand...

fair enough... have not used a Dell in a while!

Stelly
 
Cheers guys thoughts passed on.

Also had a look at Dell Manual/Specs despite being 305W the PSU has a dedicated power connection for PCI cards requiring over 75W.
 
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