power supply upgrade/damage/eventually?

Aumadyan · 02-28-2009, 07:05 PM

Hi, so Dell told me that if i upgrade my power supply, then I will damage my motherboard or some other components...I told them that i thought the computer only takes what it needs, and he said it does, but eventually it will damage something, is this true, or how long would this "eventually" be? you see i play games such as GTA IV, and i need an upgrade to get a better graphics card , but need a better power supply first, my current computer is....Dell, Studio XPS 435MT Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz, 6.00GB tri-channel memory, 64-bit windows vista operating system, and i do not know what the motherboard type is.

Tumbleweed36 · 02-28-2009, 08:25 PM

Dell needs to retrain their help. What this person who works for them is telling you a bunch of baloney. A power supply only draws what it needs and a larger power supply will not harm computer components.

Aumadyan · 03-01-2009, 06:17 AM

ok thank you, where would he even be getting this idea from, and may i ask what qualifies you more than him (not being rude, i see other people trust you) just wondering what background in computers you have

thank you again, and would you know what type of motherboard i have or how to find out?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 06:42 AM

Dell uses proprietary motherboards made for them to their design by other companies so the answer is you have a Dell motherboard the model number of the board in on the post screen under the Dell logo when you boot.
I like Tumbleweeds have changed plenty of power supplies in Dells to more powerful units, they do have some proprietary PSU's in PIII era pcs and XPS Gen 2,3,4,5& 600 computers.

What model Dell do you have?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 06:54 AM

Ahh I see the model the Studio XPS uses a standard PSU but you will void the warranty by changing the PSU and the Video card.
Which card do you have now the HD3850 or the HD4850?

Aumadyan · 03-01-2009, 11:11 AM

Hd 4670

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 12:41 PM

What wattage Power Supply is in it?

Aumadyan · 03-01-2009, 02:26 PM

only 360 watts

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 02:41 PM

Probably the same model they used in the XPS400-420 series

Aumadyan · 03-01-2009, 02:48 PM

so does that change things, should i not upgrade my power supply?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 02:55 PM

No change they were ok in stock form but couldn't handle much of an upgrade, replaced a few under powered video cards hooked to them.

Aumadyan · 03-01-2009, 03:04 PM

what do you mean "couldn't handle much of an upgrade"?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 03:13 PM

They came stock with a X300Se video card and a 7600GT would run poorly on them and eventually fail I changed 3 in my sisters before finally talking her into a bigger PSU, EVGA warrantied all and the last one was replaced with a 8600GTS under warranty and a PC Power & Cooling 500w unit still running no issues 2 years later.

02-28-2009, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Aumadyan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 OS: windows vista 64-bit OS service pack 1	power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? Hi, so Dell told me that if i upgrade my power supply, then I will damage my motherboard or some other components...I told them that i thought the computer only takes what it needs, and he said it does, but eventually it will damage something, is this true, or how long would this "eventually" be? you see i play games such as GTA IV, and i need an upgrade to get a better graphics card , but need a better power supply first, my current computer is....Dell, Studio XPS 435MT Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz, 6.00GB tri-channel memory, 64-bit windows vista operating system, and i do not know what the motherboard type is.

02-28-2009, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,631 OS: XP Professional	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? Dell needs to retrain their help. What this person who works for them is telling you a bunch of baloney. A power supply only draws what it needs and a larger power supply will not harm computer components. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

03-01-2009, 06:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Aumadyan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 OS: windows vista 64-bit OS service pack 1	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? ok thank you, where would he even be getting this idea from, and may i ask what qualifies you more than him (not being rude, i see other people trust you) just wondering what background in computers you have thank you again, and would you know what type of motherboard i have or how to find out?

03-01-2009, 06:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? Dell uses proprietary motherboards made for them to their design by other companies so the answer is you have a Dell motherboard the model number of the board in on the post screen under the Dell logo when you boot. I like Tumbleweeds have changed plenty of power supplies in Dells to more powerful units, they do have some proprietary PSU's in PIII era pcs and XPS Gen 2,3,4,5& 600 computers. What model Dell do you have? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 06:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? Ahh I see the model the Studio XPS uses a standard PSU but you will void the warranty by changing the PSU and the Video card. Which card do you have now the HD3850 or the HD4850? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 11:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Aumadyan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 OS: windows vista 64-bit OS service pack 1	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? Hd 4670

03-01-2009, 12:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? What wattage Power Supply is in it? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 02:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Aumadyan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 OS: windows vista 64-bit OS service pack 1	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? only 360 watts

03-01-2009, 02:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? Probably the same model they used in the XPS400-420 series __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 02:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Aumadyan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 OS: windows vista 64-bit OS service pack 1	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? so does that change things, should i not upgrade my power supply?

03-01-2009, 02:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? No change they were ok in stock form but couldn't handle much of an upgrade, replaced a few under powered video cards hooked to them. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 03:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
Aumadyan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 OS: windows vista 64-bit OS service pack 1	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? what do you mean "couldn't handle much of an upgrade"?

03-01-2009, 03:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: power supply upgrade/damage/eventually? They came stock with a X300Se video card and a 7600GT would run poorly on them and eventually fail I changed 3 in my sisters before finally talking her into a bigger PSU, EVGA warrantied all and the last one was replaced with a 8600GTS under warranty and a PC Power & Cooling 500w unit still running no issues 2 years later. __________________ Power Supply and Selection