Bedangoid

I ned to upgrade my PSU to accomodate a new graphics card which requires "450W PCI Express-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current rating of 30A or more.". Someone suggested aThermalTake 750w unit but unfortunately it seems to be too large to fit into my tower. Can anyone suggest a reliable alternative that is roughly 12X14X10cm(the size of my current PSU)?

1 g0t 0wn3d

You could try a ocz gamextreme 700 watt

Bedangoid

Aha, I can't find any dimensions for the product, but is that within my current PSU dimensions?

EDIT: What I meant was the PSU is virtually touching the mobo on one side and I can't see whether it can expand sideways obviously but it seems to have some expansion space inbetween itself and my DVD drive.

mattlock

12X14X10cm(the size of my current PSU)?
That's a Micro ATX PSU and unfortunately I've never seen one over 400w.

What video card did you buy?

Bedangoid

My BIG mistake was to buy a whole computer from DELL. I have a geforce 7300 LE. Does this mean I cannot upgrade my PSU to anything decent then?

Bedangoid

Here's a pic I found of the PSU I have now, don't know if that will help in anyway but I'm desperate to find a way:

kodi

Some thing like this would work

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/produc...0099/w0099.asp

Bedangoid

Sorry Kodi, but that one has a lower wattage than my current D: and I stated I need 450w. My mate however said I could just buy a normal sized PSU and sit it on top of the tower or somewhere external, would that work? If it would work, what risks are involved?

G3tTeCh[help]%

you need a mid tower PSU get a 500w hi proficency PCU that will run you about 50.00 to 100.00 bucks get it from newegg.com .also if you feal up to it then you should get a mid tower case with power supply thats 100.00 and u can swich it out then.Best thing you can do is to get a new comp.Then you would only need a couple of things maybe 500.00

kodi

That 450w is TOTAL wattage,
You run that one as well as your current PSU
I used that one as an example do a google and find one with more wattage
What graphics card are you getting?

linderman

OK here is the bottom line as I see it >>>> most of the time


A) your Dell case is "small" thats why you have a micro atx power supply unit

B) a small case is not a good thing for a new kick butt video card >>>>> (the new video card makes too much heat for a mini case) , thats why you need a better PSU hmmmmm

C) do both; upgrade the PSU to a Thermaltake toughpower 750 watt AND buy a new cheap ATX mid tower case >>>>> never get the ones with a PSU in them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

depending on which card you are choosing you could compare prices with an Antec trio 650 watt PSU >>>>> those will run any 8800 GTS in SLI or they will run ONE 8800 GTX


coolermaster has several cheaper ATX computer cases available for around $50.00 U.S. dollars

Bedangoid

Ok, here are my updated 'specs' if you like : 8800GTS 640MB now needing 400w minimum, therefore a PSU or PSU with gaming-ma-bob PSU adding up to that. I can't afford a case right now, but would it be safe to run my computer with the PSU sitting on top of the tower? Then when I could afford to(and when I have time to learn how to remove the computer and re-assemble in a new tower) I could buy a larger tower to house the system properly. I really don't know how feasible what i just said is, today was the third time EVER I have opened up my tower to have a look around.

EDIT : I saw a coolermaster 300 or something, decent price and comes with 2 fans - one on each side, don't really know what a good deal is.

EDIT: And sorry Again Kodi, I don't really know that much about computers, the term PSU has only been in my vocab for about 2days

linderman

I like Kodi's suggestion too; (dedicated mini-psu for JUST the video card) but any reliance on a DELL PSU to run the rest of the system; which is going to run harder to feed a better video card; gives me goose bumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



yes you can mount the PSU external to the case, thats been done many times!

youi will need to cut an entrance hole in the side of the case or top of the case to route all the wires into the case, make sure you protect any sharp edges that may exist from making the hole.

it wont win any beauty contests but ????? so what


I have run systems with the PSU setting next to the computer with the side cover off and lived happily ever after

linderman

I would rather run my computer with the "guts" spilled out on a table; as long as I had a good high quality PSU >>>>>> I would drink vinegar before I used a DELL PSU

Bedangoid

Stop rubbing it in that I'm an idiot who got Dell... I hate myself too much already about it! I think I will in that case stick with a thermaltake750w with side panel off and do it that way, because the Card dedicated PSU Kodi suggested isn't realeased yet(I can't ind it if it is) and you are right, I should get rid of the Dell PSU because I don't trust thenm anymore.

linderman

Dell's are not bad computers! we use a fair number of them at work, they are just not upgrade friendly!

Bedangoid

Well I don't think I am ever 'Dell'ing again. A) Had to wait ages to recieve a replacemetn for a faulty drive they gave me B) Microphone socket on IO stoppped working for no reason C) Was given false information by dell tech D) My year old Dell has been virtually impossible to update with anything from a year after.

Anyway, thanks loads guys, you don't know how helpful all this has been to a computing idiot like myself.

linderman

keep us posted



we are here to help anytime, just give us a holler

mattlock

Don't be so hard on yourself. We all had to start somewhere and you've found a good site to learn the ropes. Stick around and ask all the questions you want. We are not only here to help, we are also here to help others learn as well.

Bedangoid

I should be purchasing PSU and card today for £300 altogether I'll keep you posted and hopefully I won't be posting that I just blew up something with my new components :/. Back to the PSU quickly, could I not just run the cables through the hole where the PSU will be normally?