Question about replacing Dell PSU, please help!

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 3:37pm #1

Hi everyone -
I own a Dell XPS 420 desktop tower. Recently, the fan in the PSU started making a lot of noise (it's intermittent; if it starts from cold it always happens; two restarts and it stops).

I read that it's probably dust in the casing, and after consulting with an IT repair shop, they recommended that I get the whole tower cleaned out (which cost 100 euros), but the problem remains.

So I presume I need to get a replacement PSU, and I'm finding it very difficult to get any consensus opinions on what to get. I've been told that I need to get a Dell-approved one specifically for the XPS, but that can't be right, can it??

This PSU database website gives the following details for a PSU on an XPS 420:
http://www.power-on.com/ea460u.html
(except mine is a 425W, here is a photo of the specs sticker on it)

The one I was going to buy to replace it is this:
http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/power_supplies/20088025/corsair_builder_cx430_v2_430_watt/details.aspx

All the dimensions etc look the same, so I presume that it's standard. I know that there's a protocol in swapping them, I'll get someone more knowledgeable to do it, but are they swappable? Is it a problem that there is a slight difference in the wattage etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Shaun

Monotype · 12-09-2012 4:33pm

€100 to blow out a case! Holy ****!!!

Looks like you can fit standard ones in.
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/xps/f/3681/p/19358754/19797776.aspx

I suggest getting a good one like the XFX 550W:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-P1-550S-XXB9-PRO550W-Edition-Supply/dp/B004RJ8EKI/

Select amazon as your seller on the right hand side for free delivery. It should last you a while and you could carry it into another build.

spix · 12-09-2012 4:45pm

What's inside the pc? cpu/graphics card etc

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 5:14pm

That's great, thanks for the answer.

This is probably a very basic question, but there's no problem in moving up in the wattage, is there? (even if it's 5w or 50)?

Yeah, 100 euros to get the innards of the tower cleaned. It was initially 80, and at the time they had told me that the problem with the fan was almost certainly a dust issue (which I had also read in various forums) and then that I needed to get the rest of it done thoroughly, just to be sure. It seems expensive, but I need the problem sorted, I say ok.

Then I got a phonecall off them saying that they had had to remove the motherboard and clean it separately, another 20 euros. Also, they only told me when I went back that they can't actually open the PSU to check the fan properly because it retains a dangerous electrical charge. So all they did was blow it out with compressed air, which I'm fairly sure I could have done myself.

I get the PC home, start it up, fan as bad as ever. I ring them up, they say, ok, that didn't work, you'll need a new PSU from Dell, which will cost you 130 euros...

spix · 12-09-2012 5:17pm

shaunoc1 wrote: »

That's great, thanks for the answer.

This is probably a very basic question, but there's no problem in moving up in the wattage, is there? (even if it's 5w or 50)?

Yeah, 100 euros to get the innards of the tower cleaned. It was initially 80, and at the time they had told me that the problem with the fan was almost certainly a dust issue (which I had also read in various forums) and then that I needed to get the rest of it done thoroughly, just to be sure. It seems expensive, but I need the problem sorted, I say ok.

Then I got a phonecall off them saying that they had had to remove the motherboard and clean it separately, another 20 euros. Also, they only told me when I went back that they can't actually open the PSU to check the fan properly because it retains a dangerous electrical charge. So all they did was blow it out with compressed air, which I'm fairly sure I could have done myself.

I get the PC home, start it up, fan as bad as ever. I ring them up, they say, ok, that didn't work, you'll need a new PSU from Dell, which will cost you 130 euros...

What a scam... all you'd have needed to clean the dust out was a can of compressed air for 5 euro (like you already mentioned) You'd think being an IT repair shop they'd know how to open a PSU without killing themselves.

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 5:20pm

From DxDiag:

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs)

Using Vista 32bit

6 gigs RAM (although DxDiag is saying Memory: 3070MB RAM, System Properties says 6. Want to put in 8 if possible)

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX

spix · 12-09-2012 5:23pm

shaunoc1 wrote: »

From DxDiag:

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs)

Using Vista 32bit

6 gigs RAM (although DxDiag is saying Memory: 3070MB RAM, System Properties says 6. Want to put in 8 if possible)

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX

You cant use more than 4gb ram on a 32bit operating system. Anymore is a waste so no need to upgrade to 8.

Did you get a refund from the IT shop? They didn't clean the psu properly so they didn't do what they said they would.

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 5:29pm

They also said they added a thermal compound to the CPU to prevent overheating, etc etc. Which to be honest, would have been fine if the actual fan problem had been solved. But it wasn't, and it seems like they just did a whole load of other stuff to add to the cost, without being able to address the actual problem (opening up the PSU and fixing the fan). And worse, they didn't tell me til afterwards that they were unable to address the problem.

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 5:35pm

Ah, I didn't know that about 32-bit systems...
If four is the maximum and I have 6 installed, why would it be showing up as 3070MB RAM in DxDiag? Also, the lad in the shop recommended upgrading to 8 gigs aswell. Though to be fair, maybe there's no way of him knowing it was a 32-bit system without switching it on and checking it via Windows.

Edit: Didn't go back to the shop yet, wanted to double-check that cleaning the tower properly isn't such an expensive operation first (I'd never had it done before). So it's not a rule that you can't open up a PSU and check it? The guy said that there was a chance it was a bearing out of place on the fan or something, but that he couldn't check it anyways because of the retained charge, all he could do was blow it out with compressed air.

Thanks for all the help / advice, by the way.

spix · 12-09-2012 5:38pm

Press the windows key and pause/break at the same time.. how much ram does it report there?

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 5:44pm

It says 6.00 GB

spix · 12-09-2012 5:47pm

Does it say anything beside it in brackets? I'm using windows 7 though and it says 8.00GB (7.89 GB useable) I guess vista doesn't.

If your on 32bit os then your definitely limited to 4. It allocates some of the ram to other things though which might be why the dxdiag reports 3gb. I remember when I had xp 32 bit and 4gb it used to say 3.2gb or something.

Monotype · 12-09-2012 5:49pm

Vista will tell you how much you have even if you can't use it. They patched it in to stop the phone calls about RAM missing!

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 6:02pm

No, it doesn't say anything after that, but I guess that's explained by Monotype's answer... Ok, I'll get the new PSU, see if I can get any cash back from the repair crowd, and forget about upgrading the RAM any further.

Thanks again for all the help, it's much appreciated.

spix · 12-09-2012 6:05pm

The XFX psu's are prone to fan ticking if you google it (I know because I have one, its not bad at all and mightn't happen to one you get but I'd hate to go from one fan problem to another

)

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 6:15pm

It's less of a tick than a *very* loud whining noise, you can even hear it over headphones. The fan itself is still going, there's air coming from the vent, but it sounds like there's something loose in it. Strangely though, if the computer is warmed up and you restart it, it doesn't occur at all, fan runs as smooth as ever. So at the moment, I'm doing at least two restarts before I use the PC for any extended period.

Monotype · 12-09-2012 6:17pm

Well the only other PSUs around that mark would be OCZ's. They're solid enough but people say the fans are kind of loud.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCZ-OCZ-ZT550W-UK-Series-550W-modular/dp/B0068OCX8O/

A system like that should have low load, so the noise shouldn't be much of an issue.

Unfortunately, you'll nearly always end up with some slight fan issues with many PSUs unless you're investing in very high end ones.

shaunoc1 wrote: »

It's less of a tick than a *very* loud whining noise, you can even hear it over headphones. The fan itself is still going, there's air coming from the vent, but it sounds like there's something loose in it. Strangely though, if the computer is warmed up and you restart it, it doesn't occur at all, fan runs as smooth as ever. So at the moment, I'm doing at least two restarts before I use the PC for any extended period.

It could be an electrical whining noise? You get it from old PSUs. Not really anything you can do about it.

spix · 12-09-2012 6:24pm

Yeah I was going to say the ocz zt 550, should do the trick. It's a small bit cheaper on dabs as well

http://www.dabs.ie/products/ocz-technology-550w-zt-series-fully-modular-power-supply-7TLZ.html?src=3

Argh... just saw your comment about the loud fan.

What about the trusty corsair cx500 ?

http://www.dabs.ie/products/corsair-500-watt-cx500-v2-builder-series-80-plus-power-supply-7K9H.html?src=3

Monotype · 12-09-2012 6:33pm

It's not cheaper when you get free delivery from amazon!

I'd say the ZT would be fine. You'd be at low load and you get a modular PSU for fairly cheap. Maybe the XFX ticking doesn't come into play except on high loads either. I have one in a box for a spare there but I haven't tested it much but it sounded silent when it was going.

spix · 12-09-2012 6:35pm

Ah you're right. I thought dabs did free delivery on everything. What about this?

http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/power_supplies/80005361/cooler_master_gx_lite_500w/details.aspx

Monotype · 12-09-2012 6:36pm

They do when you spend ~€100.
It's some price like €80*1.23 for VAT. Their delivery charges page is nearly always inaccurate too, so don't consult that!

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 6:39pm

Just comparing the Corsair specs with the standard specs from a listing here, which shows a standard replacement XPS 420 PSU.

Apparently I need five 4-pin peripheral connectors, and the Corsair ones only have four. The OCZ one looks like it has six though, would that be the one to go for? Is it a reliable brand?

spix · 12-09-2012 6:40pm

Do you use all 5 of the 4 pin connectors ? I don't use any in my pc.

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 6:58pm

Sorry, my bad, I just opened it up and there's at least one of the 4-pins hanging loose (are those 'peripheral power connectors'?) and few of the SATA ones and a floppy drive connector too.

On that site where it lists the PSU Specs for the XPS420, it says:
(1) 20+4 ATX connector, (1) CPU power connector, (1) ATX12V connector, (1) PCIe 6-pin connector, (2) Serial ATA connector, (5) peripheral power connectors, (1) floppy drive connector.

spix · 12-09-2012 7:00pm

peripheral power connectors are molex connectors

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 7:16pm

Ok, I can only see one coming out of my own PSU, are there others connected elsewhere that I can't see? (please bear in mind that I'm not used to poking around inside the computer...)

Or am I picking this up wrong completely, because I'm looking at the diagram and details here:
http://www.power-on.com/ea460u.html

which are saying that a standard replacement PSU for the XPS 420 has 5 peripheral power connectors.... Is that just overkill for that model of PSU?

spix · 12-09-2012 7:24pm

They could be connected elsewhere... or unconnected. If you can't see how many you need then probably best to get a psu with a couple more. The only thing I can think of needing them is fans... I don't use any of those 4 pin connectors in my pc as all my fans are connected to motherboard. The amount of them isn't really relevant to the power supply's power. If you can see one unconnected though.. you should be okay with a psu which has only 4.

Monotype · 12-09-2012 7:35pm

Incidentally, the power rating on a PSU like "550W" means that it's capable of up to 550W. It doesn't consume more power.

shaunoc1 · 12-09-2012 7:40pm

Ah, hang on a minute:
I just found this posting on Ebay:

... which is the exact model of PSU that's in the computer, and it says:

1 x 24-pin ATX Connector
1 x 4-pin P4 Connector
1 x Molex IDE Connector
1 x Floppy Connector
6 x SATA Connector
2 x 6-pin PCI Express Connector

... Would I be right in saying that the previous Corsair / OCZ suggestions cover those requirements?

http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/power_supplies/80005361/cooler_master_gx_lite_500w/details.aspx
http://www.dabs.ie/products/ocz-technology-550w-zt-series-fully-modular-power-supply-7TLZ.html?src=3
http://www.dabs.ie/products/corsair-500-watt-cx500-v2-builder-series-80-plus-power-supply-7K9H.html?src=3

Also, would I be better off buying that one from Ebay or just getting a new one??

spix · 12-09-2012 7:43pm

Apart from the floppy drive connector the ocz/corsair psu's have everything you need and are much better quality than that dell one. Do you use the floppy drive connector?

spix · 12-09-2012 7:49pm

Just been checking some pictures of the dell xps 420 and I'm not 100 percent sure if you will be able to put one of the other psu's in there. The hole mounting on the back of the case to screw in the power supply looks like it might be different spacing than typical.

Question about replacing Dell PSU, please help!

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