power supply

Ok I'm getting a graphics card in a fews weeks and the one i'm thinking of getting says i need at lest a 350W and i was wondering which power supply i should get as my computer only has a 250W I have a Dell Inspiron 530S

Thanks

 

The first thing to realize is that you can't use a 250w PSU when the recommended minimum is 350w, and you've done that. You'd be surprised how many people figure "it will be OK, what's the big deal anyway?". The 2nd thing is to know that the 'minimum' is really not ideal. I'd go with 450w or even 550w if the budget allows it. Here's a few PSUs with good ratings at Newegg. I checked the specs and IMO any one of these should be fine:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104954
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817342010
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817301005 (I've never heard of this brand but it has good specs)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817174038

I could list good units forever.... just keep in mind that with a power supply, you really do get what you pay for. A 400w unit for $60 will give you much better performance (higher efficiency, better internal components, etc) than a 550w unit for $25.... If you have a particular make/model in mind, feel free to post it and we'll try to advise....
:cool

 

I had to add that was spot on. I have an older 400w Antec PSU that goes above and beyond my computer's 'reccomended' needs simply because it is an Antec! My vid card alone (an HD3850) reccomends 430w, but I have no issues. Quality and reputable name brand is important when it comes to one of the most overlooked components, the PSU. As the wise man already stated, don't go the big wattage/cheapo price route!

 

It is a simple task to see what PSU is needed for a PC.
Just fill in the details on this page and it will tell you the minimum required.

http://www.antec.outervision.com/

 

The better quality power supplies are more expensive for a reason, definitely go with a 400 to 500w quality brand depending on your PC specs.
Suggestions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121024
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159080
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

 

The game of specmanship is rampant when the customers do not have technical knowledge. A 350 watt supply in a Dell is the same power sold to computer assemblers as 500 watts. And neither has lied. When selling to computer assemblers, use a different measurement to hype it as larger.

Your Dell 250 watt supply is equivalent to the 350 watt supply promoted to computer assemblers.

But the shortage of technical knowledge continues. Overall wattage says nothing useful. Important is current for each voltage. Since that gets too complicated for layman, well, they hype an overall watts number.

How to determine if your supply is sufficient? Nobody can answer that - except you. Put the video card in. Power up the machine. If the machine boots, a power supply can still be undersized. So multitask to all peripherals. For example play complex graphics (ie a movie) while downloading from the internet, while play sound loudly, while interfacing to a USB device, while searching hard drive, etc. Now make measurements on any purple, red, orange, and yellow wire where power supply connects to motherboard.

Those numbers must exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7. If yes, then your existing supply is more than sufficient.

Meters are only sold to geniuses - which is why it even sells in Home Depot and K-mart. One sells in Wal-mart for less than $18. And even if you do replace that supply, the same procedure is necessary to confirm the supply will not fail just after the warranty expires.

Appreciate the difference. One who actually does this stuff at the design level says what the wattage number really means - how they play specmanship with the numbers. Only way anyone could answer your question accurately means numbers from that meter. Appreciate that a 250 watt supply from Dell is equivalent to the 350 watt supply marketed to computer assembler. But important numbers are current for each voltage - wattage for each voltage - not overall watts.

 

all of the PSU you guys showed me wont fit in my tower I have a Slim tower it is about the same height as a normal tower but it almost half as thin as a normal tower

This is a pic of the PSU i have now, i need my new PSU to be the same size
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/kickphat/PSU.jpg

 

hmm it seems you will have to get a new case then, I think the older computers produced by Dell use different sized power supplies so you can't upgrade them these days.

 

before i go buy a new case i was wondering if there some kinda external power supply

 

Or you simply put the new video card in the existing system, take measurements with the meter, and then know if the supply (that may be more than sufficient) is sufficient.

Greatest risk to hardware damage is moving and disconnecting things. Least dangerous task to hardware is to only install that video controller, then power up and measure those voltages.

Don't forget to disable the old video controller in Device Manager before shutting down to install a new one. In most cased this is not a problem. In some cases, an old controller not first removed in Device manager may cause complication.

I cannot think of anything more dangerous to hardware than moving everyting to another case.

 

I don't have my video yet and i don't want to buy it unless i know my power supply has enough watts for it. and hot do i measure the voltages with having that tool you are talking about and for plodr my Dell model is inspiron 530S

 

Unfortunately, nobody can tell you how much power you are consuming and therefore how much power is available. All those fancy power calculators - you would be just as accurate by adding one and two digit numbers in your head.

They may say, for example, "Requires 350 watt supply". It is a ballpark number that is also easily distorted by how power supplies are rated (depending on its source). For example, a Dell supply rated at 350 watts is also a supply marketed to computer assemblers as 500 watts.

Generally, computers are sold in two forms. First is the standard model with components, connectors, and power supply that is designed for an upgrade. Second is the computer optimized for price - no provision for upgrade.

Some will claim all Dell power supplies are customized and not ATX compatible. IOW they were buying only on price and got what they paid for.

Does that video controller require a dedicated power supply cable connection? And does that supply have that dedicated video card power cable? If not, your video card probably will not work.

Either specs and underlying theory says it should work. But in the game of specmanship, none of that is 'known'. Experimental evidence can confirm it will work. Nobody can say whether that supply is sufficient because what you have and need is unknown. The only way to get a useful answer is measuring what you have with the video controller actually drawing a load.

Finally, many power supplies have been upgraded in latter systems. The next version of your same computer may use the same supply with a larger power rating. That supply, used, may be available from a chopped up system via eBay or other source.

 

hi ya try this link and see what power you need http://www.antec.outervision.com/index.jsp

 

Thats cool! I thought I needed far more that I actually need.