Power Supply Unit

chalky · 24-10-2005 5:49pm #1

I just bought a new graphics card. Much to my dismay, when I brought it home, I realised my PSU doesn't have enough power to run it. Rather than return it, I have decided to get a new PSU. I'm not too sure about the details though (what will work in my system/what will fit in the computer). Some help would be very much appreciated. I have a Dell Dimension 4600. I you need the specs let me know.

Dinner · 24-10-2005 6:48pm

Strange. I'm running a 6800GT on a 4600 PSU. Dell PSU's have a peak output of about 345w.

What card did you get? Have you a shedload of extra HDD's attached to it?

EL WOG · 24-10-2005 6:53pm

I was told before that dell use different power connectors on their power supplys and mainboard, you will need to check this out first, but normally, any ATX power supply will fit, because this is the standard.

chalky · 24-10-2005 7:07pm

Arabel wrote:

Strange. I'm running a 6800GT on a 4600 PSU. Dell PSU's have a peak output of about 345w.

What card did you get? Have you a shedload of extra HDD's attached to it?

I got a 6600GT. The PSU in it is only 250w, the card's box says min PSU with 300w. since I got the PC I have added a DVD-RW and more RAM.

towger · 24-10-2005 7:31pm

An off the shelf PSU won't fit in a Dell unless you cut a hole in the back of the PC case. Standard PSUs have an on/off switch at the back. Dell PSUs don't and therefore don't have a gap in the case to let it through. If you call Dell to order one you'll be directed to "Upgrade Options Ltd" in the UK. It will not be cheap plus you'll have P&P on top.

K.O.Kiki · 24-10-2005 7:50pm

Maybe you can: get a new PSU, a new case, and then rip (not literally!) all the rest out of the Dell?
And then vow to never buy from a company that doesn't let you upgrade without hassle, ever again.

aidan_dunne · 24-10-2005 8:05pm

May not work either, K.O.Kiki. A lot of Dell motherboards aren't of a standard size which means they won't fit in a standard ATX case either (the screw holes are located differently, for example). Don't know for sure what the story is with the motherboards in the 4600 series but I suspect this might be the case, I'm afraid.

Looks like you won't have much choice but to contact Dell and try get an uprated PSU from them at your own expense. Unless you want to try the whole "cutting a Dell case to fit a standard power supply into it and then rewiring the connection to work with a Dell motherboard" trick. Seems more trouble than it's worth though, to be honest.

chalky · 24-10-2005 8:24pm

Nuts. Thanks. I'll try out Dell, see how expensive they are.

Dinner · 24-10-2005 9:52pm

chalky wrote:

I got a 6600GT. The PSU in it is only 250w, the card's box says min PSU with 300w. since I got the PC I have added a DVD-RW and more RAM.

Should still work. Dell say they PSU's are 250w but they peak at 345w. There should still be enough power for it. What happedn when you tried it?

If it doesnt work then the 4600 takes the standard ATX PSU (one of the few Dells that do) or if you really want to go on the safe side then www.pcpowerandcooling.com stock dell psu's.

chalky · 24-10-2005 11:05pm

When I tried it I got a warning msg saying that there wasn't enough power for it and it switched itself to lower settings to manage. I'll try a standard ATX PSU. if that doesn't work I suppose I'll have to go Dell. Thanks all for your help.

Capt'n Midnight · 25-10-2005 12:34am

EL WOG wrote:

I was told before that dell use different power connectors on their power supplys and mainboard, you will need to check this out first, but normally, any ATX power supply will fit, because this is the standard.

on Pentium II's / III's it was different

http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/- great site for Dell upgrade compatability on older machines

http://www.roberthancock.com/dell/other.htm

Motherboards on Dimension machines prior to the Pentium 4 use a nonstandard power supply connector, so just any ATX power supply will not work. If you attempt to plug one into the ATX-looking connector on the motherboard, it will probably damage the motherboard, power supply, or both

The Dimension 8100 uses a nonstandard connector as well (which is not the same as the connector used on older systems). However, Dell's other Pentium 4 machines seem to be using standard connectors, so you could presumably use a standard ATX supply if you wanted. (My comments above about not needing a bigger power supply unless your machine is unusually loaded are valid for the Pentium 4 systems too, however.) The motherboards and power supplies use the ATX12V connector which was recently added to the ATX specification in order to provide more 12-volt power to newer motherboards. If you replace the power supply, the replacement should have the ATX12V connector as well. If this connector is not connected, the system may not work properly.

astrofool · 25-10-2005 10:39am

just to make sure, you did connect the other power supply cable to the card? (i.e. the hard drive type power cable (molex), is also connected to it?).

chalky · 25-10-2005 12:06pm

Eh? I didn't connect any power supply cable to the card. There was nothing in the instructions about it nor was there a cable coming from the old card.

Khannie · 25-10-2005 12:34pm

Old cards didn't need an extra PSU cable. New ones generally do. Check your card, and connect up a molex if there's a place for it.

astrofool · 25-10-2005 12:37pm

in the top right corner of the card there should be a power connector, like the one connected to a hard drive.

It HAS to be connected, or you get the error message you stated above. New high end cards need this power connector connected. The 6800 ultra for example, had 2 of them (tho the second was mainly for overclocking).

Power Supply Unit

Comments