Help Me Max Out Performance on this PC!

a better psu....300watts will not go far.....I don't know if your Dell case has a special/funky psu or not, or if it can be modified to take a standard atx psu

Ivan the SoSo said:

a better psu....300watts will not go far.....I don't know if your Dell case has a special/funky psu or not, or if it can be modified to take a standard atx psu

I am actually about to dust out the computer right now i will see if the psu can be changed. i was reading up on the situation on came across something like what you just mentioned... Hopefully your still on =)

At one time, Dell PCs had non-standard power supply connectors, but I am not sure if that is still true. You could check a Dell forum to confirm one way or another.

I wouldn't consider a new power supply unless I upgraded the graphics card, and even then I might not--it just depends on big of a jump you make.

If you decide to change power supplies, the default high quality brands are Seasonic and Corsair--and maybe some of the Antec brand. Most power supplies you see sold are just rebranded. In reality, there aren't many power supply manufacturers.

The modern tendency is to buy an 800 watt power supply when the PC doesn't use over 350 or 400 at full load, since even a child knows that 800 of anything is better than 400. Resist that if you are able.

Ivan the SoSo said:

a better psu....300watts will not go far.....I don't know if your Dell case has a special/funky psu or not, or if it can be modified to take a standard atx psu

OK so, I took off the panel that is meant to come off on the left side. The other panel has 2 screws in the back that i removed but still couldn't take it off. I'm thinking the motherboard is attached to it and i would have to remove that in order to upgrade the power supply because i seen something that looked like screws if I could just remove the other panel to see. Thats 4 screws i see. 2 in plain sight and 2 kind of hidden behind that panel. Seems about the right amount to remove a power supply, right? Is it worth the risk to remove the mother board and disconnect everything to remove and upgrade the power supply? Anyway...

I know motherboards are sensitive, one thing could go wrong and that's it. I'd of course use grounded straps and work on a glass table top. I just want your guys opinions in case you've done something like this.

And of course I am doing this as a learning experience. I want my first customer built computer to be built exactly how i like it.

Thanks for ALL responses.

ignatzatsonic said:

At one time, Dell PCs had non-standard power supply connectors, but I am not sure if that is still true. You could check a Dell forum to confirm one way or another.

I wouldn't consider a new power supply unless I upgraded the graphics card, and even then I might not--it just depends on big of a jump you make.

If you decide to change power supplies, the default high quality brands are Seasonic and Corsair--and maybe some of the Antec brand. Most power supplies you see sold are just rebranded. In reality, there aren't many power supply manufacturers.

The modern tendency is to buy an 800 watt power supply when the PC doesn't use over 350 or 400 at full load, since even a child knows that 800 of anything is better than 400. Resist that if you are able.

I agree with everything you said. I do indeed plan on upgrading the graphics card very soon, and i want to upgrade the power supply at the same time. Craigslist shows that Corsair has mostly 5 star reviews, haven't checked Seasonic or Antec.

I have 1 DVD Reader, a DVD Writer, 1 sata HDD (might add another in the future) and will have the best graphics card i can get for about $110, which doing my research i should be able to get a pretty decent one. So i plan on getting about a 500w power supply. Do you think that is enough?

Thanks for ya reply, information is the ****

In all likelihood, 500 is more than enough.

Look here for info on power consumption by video cards. Very few draw 200 watts.


http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/8/t1...umption-tests/

The rest of your stuff is ordinary. Look at my system specs. All of that, including a monitor, uses 165 running wide open. I have a minimum graphics card. Add a couple hundred watts for a high end one and you are at 365.

This will help you also--a thread at Silent PC regarding what can be run on 300 watts. The "you gotta have 700 watts" crowd will avert their eyes:


SPCR • View topic - How much will a 300w power supply run?

Seasonic makes most of Corsair's power supplies. You are better off with a good 450 than a no-name 650.

I doubt if you will have to remove the motherboard to change the power supply.

ignatzatsonic said:

In all likelihood, 500 is more than enough.

Look here for info on power consumption by video cards. Very few draw 200 watts.


Video Card Power Consumption Tests - Video Cards and Monitors - Neoseeker Forums

The rest of your stuff is ordinary. Look at my system specs. All of that, including a monitor, uses 165 running wide open. I have a minimum graphics card. Add a couple hundred watts for a high end one and you are at 365.

This will help you also--a thread at Silent PC regarding what can be run on 300 watts. The "you gotta have 700 watts" crowd will avert their eyes:


SPCR • View topic - How much will a 300w power supply run?

Seasonic makes most of Corsair's power supplies. You are better off with a good 450 than a no-name 650.

LoL @ "700 Watts Crowd". Like i said if I gotta try and remove the motherboard to upgrade the power supply because of my graphics card thats fine. This is practice before i get serious and build my own.

Whats that best graphics card i could get for about $120 on newegg? As long as a powersupply states its ATX and my tower is ATX will it fit %100 of the time?

This is what i have been thinking about upgrading with so far from newegg.com:

Graphics Card
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100284L Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Power Supply
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
RAM
Newegg.com - PNY 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model MD1024SD2-667-V2

I figure i'd go with the 550Watt in case i wanna replace my DVD Reader with a Bluray or something ...

I have in the past modified a HP case to take a ATX power supply....some tin snips and time....but that doesn't really apply to a Dell case. No law saying you have to stick with a Dell case though....be warned that the motherboard may not be ATX and may have non-standard power/restart/led connectors...also save the side with the Windows key!
Have a look at the Rosewill Power supplies on new egg/I have had no problems with them....Most likely from the same plant in China.