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Upgrading a Dell

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0pium

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Mar 31, 2008
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I have a Dell Dimension 8400, and I want to upgrade it so that it can play some of the newer games. I will not want it to be expensive and powerful enough so it can play something like crysis on full resolution. All that I will want it to do is play games like Call of Duty 4 and Orange Box on medium settings at a reasonable fps.

I currently have a X300 SE video card.

First, I will upgrade my video card. I will probably get this 3870 video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127315 Is that a good video card? Will it be able to play COD4 on medium settings?

Then I looked at upgrading my power supply. I went to this site to have it calculate my needed power supply. Although this calculator cannot tell me what I will need on the rails, it told me how many watts I need. At 90% load it says I need 282w if I had a 3870 video card in there. At 100% (peak) load it says I need 314w with the 3870 in there. Here's a screenshot of the calculator: http://i25.tinypic.com/2zewccm.png
My current psu is either 305w or 350w (I can't remember, and am too lazy to open up my computer right now), Will the original Dell PSU provide the power on the rails that I need?
If it doesn't, then I will have to get a PC Power & Cooling PSU because they are the only company which makes psu's that can fit in the weird dell cases.
 
Drop that video card for this MSI N9600GT for better performance at a cheaper cost.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127333

On the PS, all you need is this Silverstone ST400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256032

or

Antec Earthwatts 380
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005

BTW, check and measure your case to make sure your video card will fit. If you measure more than 9" clearance from hitting the HD or the HDD cage, you should be ok.

What is the amperage rating on the +12V for that Dell PSU? I'm pretty sure its low like 20A or less. You might as well swap it because most brand name pcs come with weak underpowered PS.
 
look at my dell case: http://i30.tinypic.com/34r963b.png
the only replacement psu that will fit is that pc power & cooling one that I linked to

is there a way to check my amperage for the +12v without physically looking at the psu, or can some site or program check for me? because I've heard that the manufacturer's amperage ratings are not always correct, and im kind of too lazy to check at the moment lol

are you sure that video card is better? the one you suggested has 64 stream processors, the one I picked out has 320
 
That's just a standard ATX PS. Any standard ATX PS should fit. That PC Power & Cooling PS is no different in size compared to the Silverstone and Antec I just mentioned earlier. Also, on the video card, the Geforce 9600GT is faster than that HD 3870 in some areas despite the stream processors only being 64. Either card you go with you will be able to play COD4 easily on med settings. You can go high if you wanted to.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gainward-bliss9600gt-512gs.html
 
The cover on the back of the case is all one part. There is only a very tiny hole at the top, which means that the plug and switch for the psu need to be in that exact spot, or else it won't align with the back of the case. The size is not the problem, aligning with the back of the case is.

Also can you answer my question please:
Can a program or site calculate what my current psu's amps are on the 12v rail?

btw I saw in my computer's manual that it says I have a 350w psu
 
0pium said:
The cover on the back of the case is all one part. There is only a very tiny hole at the top, which means that the plug and switch for the psu need to be in that exact spot, or else it won't align with the back of the case. The size is not the problem, aligning with the back of the case is.
Click to expand...

Easy fix: Dremel.
 
Just out of curiosity, what processor are you running, and how much RAM?
 
Ask in the power supply section about your power supply. I'm sure some of the knowledgeable posters there would know what your supply is capable of. One review I saw said that a 3870 can potentially draw about 105watts.

I would actually look into a 9600gt. It will be faster, cheaper, and draw less power. Check out this review:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gainward-bliss9600gt-512gs.html

Also, be a little more specific in your thread titles from now on if you want good help.
 
I would get this Silverstone PS and all you need to do is chip away at that thin metal for the power switch. The power connector on the ps should be no problem as it's location is the same as that Dell PS and the PC Power & Cooling. You just need to cut down a little to allow room for the power switch. If you don't have a Dremal tool you can use a rough file and file it down. It's not that much to file down to allow the power switch to fit. Actually, if you look at the pics, you may not need to cut anything at all. The power switch on the Silverstone would fit in that tapered area below the power plug connection on your Dell case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...scription=SILVERSTONE+ST400+400W+Power+Supply

and your Dell case http://i30.tinypic.com/34r963b.png
 
If you can't borrow a dremel from anyone, then get some metal snips and just cut out what you need, and file down the rough edges.

You'll need at least 26A on the +12V rail(s)... and don't add up the individual +12v rails to get that total; you have to look at the total wattage available on the COMBINED +12V rails (if its a multi-rail unit).
 
Yup those metal snips do very well for chipping away at a computer case shell. Just that alone I enlarged the 80mm fan hole in the back of an Antec case and placed a 120mm exhaust fan. The Silverstone ST400 has 29 amps (348 watts) on the +12v. This should be enough for that P4 3.2ghz and 9600GT card. Though.. he might not need to chip anything at all.
 
Your Dell 350 watt PS, you stated it had 2 x 18A rails on it. What is the combined total amps on the +12V rails? 30A? 32A? 33? If so, you should be fine with that PS and all you need is the video card. The 9600GT will be 9" long. With the PCI-E power connector plugged in the card, this will give it 9.5 - 10" total length. You should be good.
 
HardwareGuru said:
Your Dell 350 watt PS, you stated it had 2 x 18A rails on it. What is the combined total amps on the +12V rails? 30A? 32A? 33? .
Click to expand...

Couldn't be more than 29A since 29A x 12V = 348W. But yes, the question still stands.
 
0pium said:
I don't have a dremel and buying one and a standard psu would cost more that buying just the PC Power & Cooling psu.
Click to expand...

If you have a Northern Tool closeby, they sell their brand of Dremel tool for about $20-25. Besides, you'll get far more use out of it than just hacking up your case.
 
Would I need "right cut" or could I get "left cut" or "straight cut"?
 
This quote tells me that my current power supply is strong enough, so I probably won't have to bother putting in a new power supply anyways.
THE INTERNET said:
The 9600GT needs 22amps of current from the 12V line of the power source. Power (Watts) = Voltage (Volts) x Current (Amps). [12V x 22A = 264W]. You need 264W just to run the card itself and you need 22amps coming from your 12volt source.
Click to expand...
I have 28 Amps (336W / 12V = 28 Amps) or two 18amp rails, the power supply has 336W on the 12V, 350W total power.
 
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