Power Supply

liverpoolrdbest

Hi,

I'm in need of upgrading my graphics card and have decided on what card to buy.

But my computer only has 250w power supply, it advises that with this card you have a minimum of 300w.

I have a Dell Dimension 4550, can I buy any 400w replacement and do I really need it? Any advise on where to purchase one, ?scan.co.uk?

Thanks in advance for any help!

timread

What's the graphics card? And do you have a lot of other components in the system, e.g. 2xCDRW drives etc?

liverpoolrdbest

timread wrote:

What's the graphics card? And do you have a lot of other components in the system, e.g. 2xCDRW drives etc?

Many thanks for the fast response,

Its a AGP GeForce 6600GT card 128mb (but might upgrade to same card with 256mb if this makes a difference).

Just what it came with, haven't added any (Floppy, 1xCD-RW drive)

timread

You might squeeze by with the 6600GT. I've heard of others putting a 7600 into a Dimension 4550 who've not had problems.

How much RAM have you got in your 4550?

Also be careful putting standard PSUs into Dells. They used to use a non-standard PSU pin layout <edit> sry, this info applies to earlier Dells built from 1996 to 2000. Your system should be fine with a standard PSU. More info here for anyone interested... http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=31105&seqNum=4&rl=1

liverpoolrdbest

I've got 768mb (a 256 and 512 stick).

How would I go about buying dell compatible ones.

Cheers

Gib_Gib

You can buy add on power supplies for pci-e graphics cards, I am aware this is a agp graphics card, but I am wondering if anyone knows of a convertor to turn 6-pin PCI-Express plugs into molex plugs?

This might have just complicated maters.

This is what I am talking about
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1763.html

liverpoolrdbest

I see,

If you could get that for an AGP card that'll be perfect!

Thanks

timread

Er... not sure what Gib_Gib's on about (no offense GG!) - you're looking at getting an AGP graphics card for an older system. You're not running 2x PCIe cards in SLI mode in some uber-powerful games rig - which might need the kind of additional graphics card-dedicated power supply GG linked to.

Check what power arrangements your 6600GT requires - I'm talking whether it needs a floppy PSU feed. I don't think the 6600GT does - I think it just draws power from the AGP port. Give us a link to the card you've got/are getting, and we can take a look.

timread

Just to wrap up a couple of unanswered Q's - 768Mb RAM should be fine unless you're planning on playing more heavy-duty games.

It looks like at least some of the 6600GT cards need a spare molex connection to the PSU, to boost the power available from the AGP port. E.g. in the review of this AGP 6600GT from MSI http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1714

So, check that you have a spare molex connector on your PSU that will reach the graphics card. You'll probably have a spare connector on the PSU cable connected to your hard drive.

Gib_Gib

timread wrote:

Er... not sure what Gib_Gib's on about

I might have got a little excited

Its £30 and it gives your system 250watts of extra power and its simple to fit, thats all I meant.

a whole new psu is better, but it also costs more, but what I suggested is just not quite right for the system involved.

liverpoolrdbest

Here's the link to the card:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=150992