Installing a PSU in an older Dell Dimension

I have an older Dell Dimension and want to put in the recommended Silencer 360 ATX Dell PSU. What steps should I take to install it properly? I know a new system would be optimal but I need this one to last another year before I can afford to purchase a new one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

What is the model and more important the date of your Dell?
Around 1998 - 2002 Dell used non standard wiring which causes blue smoke and fireworks if connected to the rest of the world.

Studio T

 

It is a Dell Dimension L700CXE. PC Power and Cooling states this one will work. It is a Silencer 360 ATX Dell.

 

The Dimension L700cxe started shipping in March 2001. I know from the tech specs that it uses a 145 watt power supply, but not the specific type (standard or otherwise). It does show a 3.3V power connection (6pin) as well as the standard ATX power connection (both located just to the right of the memory on the board). I'm checking into whether or not it used the non-standard PSU connections (I wasn't working for Dell at the time it came out, and never took a call on one since I've worked here).

I will post back as soon as I find out for sure.

[edit]
I did some checking, and found someone that used to work Dimension support way back when.

The L700cxe did use the non-standard PSU. While it does use a standard ATX power connection, two of the wires were reversed. I have not been able to find out which two, but I have confirmed that the Dell PSUs use the standard wire color coding. This means you can bring your original (failed) PSU with you and compare it with the replacement to ensure it will work. Absolute worst case scenario, you could take a standard PSU and modify the two wires to meet the Dell standard (which is, of course, not going to be supported by anyone, most likey).
[/edit]

The documentation for the system, if you needed it, is available on the Dell support website (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dmum/).

If you had any other questions for me about the system just let me know.


Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

 

Hah I thought so although my Dell Dimension dervice Cd does not list that far back. I do have the Dell proprietary pseudo ATX wiring though.

Viewed from the wire side the main 20 pin power connector

Colour signal pin pin signal Colour
grey PS_ON 11 1 +5v red
black GND 12 2 GND black
black GND 13 3 +5v red
black GND 14 4 GND black
white -5v 15 5 Power_good orange
red +5v 16 6 +5vstandby purple
red +5v 17 7 +12v yellow
red +5v 18 8 -12v blue
no connection 19 9 GND black
red +5v 20 10 GND black

The auxiliary connector

blue/white +3.3 4 1 GND black
blue/white +3.3 5 2 GND black
blue/white +3.3 6 3 GND black

Be warned
There is more cutting and splicing to do than DELLCA suggests.

Sorry about the spacing I thought I had laid out a good table but the stoopid MG system ignores my spaces. I do prefer computers that do what I tell them not what they want.

Studio T

 

I hope it works. PC Power and Cooling states the Silencer 360 Dell will work. Is there a different Silencer 360 Dell I'm not aware of? I tried to be very judicious and checked before I purchased it. I also want to put in a graphics card so I can play some games. Any recommendations?

 

I just got off the phone with pc power and cooling and they state I was wrong about the model. They state it is a Silencer 360 Dell and not an ATX. The reason I stated this was the model was printed on the label as Silencer 360 ATX Dell. the motherboard connector wires are as follows:

green 11 1 red
black 12 2 black
black 13 3 red
black 14 4 black
empty 15 5 grey
red 16 6 violet
red 17 7 yellow
red 18 8 blue
empty 19 9 black
red 20 10 black

The 6-pin connector:

black 1
black 2
black 3

orange 4
orange 5
orange 6

 

If you are contemplating psu replacement you must have looked inside.
Dell are very good at printing serive information on their kit in the form of part numbers. All these numbers are definitive.
So read the numbers of the back or bottom of your pc and also off the psu itself.
I take it that the old psu is dead and so you cant check the voltages?


Studio T

 

No....I am on it now. I wanted to upgrade this pc to play better games and all I have left to do is the PSU and the graphics card. I've been doing this piecemeal due to financial limits. I was given most of the upgrade parts.

 

Your table is definitely wired to the proprietary Dell standard, albeit with some of the wires more like the conventional colours, BUT NOT THE CONVENTIONAL POSITIONS.

Have your supplier confirm that whatever the colours on their wires the voltages that appear on the pins are as I listed, except the -5 volts on pin 15. It won't matter to you whether it is present or not, but won't do any harm.

If they can confirm this I'm sure any psu with a greater wattage than 150 will be OK. Also make sure the fixings, cutouts and handedness of the fan position are the same.

Studio T

 

What do you mean by the conventional positions? I will verify the voltages as per yours. My fingers are crossed. Any advice on a graphics card? I don't need to play the most current but would like to be able to play ones a few years older. Thanks

 

I mean that the conventional (standard) power supply generates the sam voltages as the Dell but connects them to different pins on the connector. Thus pins 2 and 12 are +3.3volts and -12volts conventional but both these pins are grounded on the Dell. Smell that blue smoke man.
The actual wire colours are useful if conventional but not mandatory.

For graphics cards make sure that the version of AGP for the graphics card is the same as the motherboard. There are voltage incompatibilities here as well which can destroy motherboard and or card if the wrong one is fitted. PCI cards are all OK though.
Don't get a card with too much memory as it will detract from the system memory.

Studio T

 

I checked the voltages listed and they are the same. the wire at pin 11 is green. my pin 15 is empty but pin 5 is greyand listed as PG. I believe these are as you say just color differences. Thanks

 

Glad to be helpful. Make sure you can get a driver for the graphics card, some obscure makes can be a bitch to source.

Let us know how you make out.

Studio T

 

One last question. How do I tell what version my PCI slots are? I was looking at a couple of PCI graphics cards and one said 2.0 compliant and the other said 2.1 compliant. I'm sorry to be bugging you with such trivial stuff.

 

Both should be OK, the difference is not about potentially destructive voltages.
If you are considering a PCI card it should go into the slot nearest the processor.

Good night from zumerzet

Studio T

 

When you come to get your Dell running it will be underpowered for WinXP but would zip along happily with win2000. I am typing this on a Dell optiplex GX150 with a 700Mhz P3 and Win2000. It's almost as fast as my Dell 2.8Ghz Dimensiion with XP2 SP2! You won't get IE7 woes with W2k either as it won't run on W2k.

studio T

 

Not sure why, but the link to the documentation in my last post doesn't work (even though it is correct). The link directly to the tech specs is: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dmum/specs.htm

I double checked and there is no AGP port on the board. By default, Dell will have installed:

PCI Slot 1 - Open
PCI Slot 2 - Audio
PCI Slot 3 - NIC
PCI Slot 4 - Modem

As for the worst case scenario of changing the wiring on the PSU, StudioT is correct that it is not a simple rearranging of the wires. I did not mean to imply it would be easy, just that it was a last ditch option.


Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

 

After talking with pc power, I learned I did in fact have the right PSU. I verified the voltages with them and it was exact to what studiot suggested. So with a deep breath I installed the new and so far no blue smoke. What graphics upgrade would you recommend?

 

The new power supply seems to be working fine. Is the new one underpowered for WinXP? I do not have a hard copy of Win2000 to run but XP seems to run fine. What do I know. No blue smoke is a good thing yes.

 

Glad you are mechanically sorted.
Good luck with the XP, you will need to trim a lot of fat to make it run well, particularly after adding antivirus. If you set user passwords, don't forget to create a password floppy for when you forget them. Also creating a boot floppy now is a very good idea, as is loading the repair console to hard drive.

Studio T

 

Thanks for all your help. It appears that my pc is running faster now. Could the increase in power help that much? I do have McAfee running through my ISP in the background. Will be getting a graphics card soon and will keep you in mind should I need advice.

 

I sent you a private message. Did not know if you reply to them. Just thought I would you a card question.