Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU

**RavenMind** · 08-19-2009, 05:34 PM

Hello. I have a Dell Dimension E520 and am upgrading the graphics card & PSU. I got a BFG 650W PSU, but according to this I may need a converter. Does anyone know if this is true? I've not been able to find anything else on the net about it.

Thanks in advance!

Phædrus2401 · 08-19-2009, 05:52 PM

The Dell E520 has a standard ATX motherboard: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1053578

That article is true for some Dells, but mainly the older ones. Most modern Dells use ATX.

**RavenMind** · 08-20-2009, 01:24 AM

Thanks for the reply Phaedrus! I went with a BFG 650W PSU I found on E-Bay. Do you think I'll be okay putting it in & turning it on without checking with Dell? I'm having horrible flashbacks to when I fried another motherboard with a snapped mouse cord!

**wrench97** · 08-20-2009, 01:36 AM

The 20 pin nonstandard Dell PSU's were all Pentium III and older, Since the Pentium 4 they have used standard wiring on the 20/24 pin connector.

**RavenMind** · 08-20-2009, 01:46 AM

Sweet! Thank you very much!!

**Tyree** · 08-20-2009, 07:24 AM

If you have any doubt, look at the color of the wires in the PSU to Mobo harness. Be certain they are in the same order on both PSU's.

**wrench97** · 08-20-2009, 12:22 PM

Dell uses striped wires on a lot of the PSU's for the different rails so disregard the stripes.

**RavenMind** · 08-23-2009, 03:54 AM

Okay, thanks!! Just waiting for the new PSU to arrive in the mail. :)

08-19-2009, 05:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
RavenMind Lazy Bum Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 1,015 OS: XP Home SP3/Vista	Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU Hello. I have a Dell Dimension E520 and am upgrading the graphics card & PSU. I got a BFG 650W PSU, but according to this I may need a converter. Does anyone know if this is true? I've not been able to find anything else on the net about it. Thanks in advance!

08-19-2009, 05:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,834 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU The Dell E520 has a standard ATX motherboard: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1053578 That article is true for some Dells, but mainly the older ones. Most modern Dells use ATX. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

08-20-2009, 01:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
RavenMind Lazy Bum Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 1,015 OS: XP Home SP3/Vista	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU Thanks for the reply Phaedrus! I went with a BFG 650W PSU I found on E-Bay. Do you think I'll be okay putting it in & turning it on without checking with Dell? I'm having horrible flashbacks to when I fried another motherboard with a snapped mouse cord!

08-20-2009, 01:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,664 OS: Win7	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU The 20 pin nonstandard Dell PSU's were all Pentium III and older, Since the Pentium 4 they have used standard wiring on the 20/24 pin connector. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-20-2009, 01:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
RavenMind Lazy Bum Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 1,015 OS: XP Home SP3/Vista	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU Sweet! Thank you very much!!

08-20-2009, 07:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,702 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU If you have any doubt, look at the color of the wires in the PSU to Mobo harness. Be certain they are in the same order on both PSU's. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

08-20-2009, 12:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,664 OS: Win7	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU Dell uses striped wires on a lot of the PSU's for the different rails so disregard the stripes. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-23-2009, 03:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
RavenMind Lazy Bum Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 1,015 OS: XP Home SP3/Vista	Re: Upgrading a Dell E520 PSU Okay, thanks!! Just waiting for the new PSU to arrive in the mail. :)