Upgrading power supply on a Dell?

I'm wanting to get a 512mb AGP card for my Dell Dimension 8300, and most of these cards seem to require at least a 300 watt power supply. I have a few questions.

If a card indicates that it requires at LEAST a 300 watt supply, can I assume that I might run into problems when using it with a 300 watt PS along with other normal devices in my computer, e.g. Soundblaster card & other gaming devices. In other words, does "minimum 300 watt power supply" mean "expect trouble when using only a 300 watt power supply?"

Additionally, I am pretty clueless about hardware and many other subjects; how would I tell if it is safe to put a larger power supply in my computer without frying some of its components?

 

Never go with just the minimum! Later on you may add a DVD drive or another hard drive and then you can get some strange and hard to figure out problems. I would get a good 500-600W PSU. If you get a good one, you should be able to use it in your next computer.

Don't worry about putting a powerfull PSU in your computer. It won't fry anything. Dell used to put proprietary(sp) PSU's in their computers. Make sure yours takes a regular power supply before you buy one.

E

 

Thank you very much, Fred. But how can I tell whether my model of Dell uses one of these proprietary PSU's or if it is safe to use any old PSU off of the web?

 

See if your PSU plug looks like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...ription=Thermaltake+W0093RU+500W+Power+Supply

Unplug your PC and pull out the main power plug off the mobo and see if you can tell. If it is a proproetary one, it should be very different.

E