Upgrading a Dell Studio Video Card

HooblaDan · 08-24-2009, 01:46 PM

Hello everybody, and thanks for reading.

I'm looking into upgrading the video card on a Dell Studio computer. There are a few questions that I have about this for anybody with experience enough to know the answers:

1. The Dell Studio 540s has a tinier case. Is it possible to even fit a better video card in there? The current one is an ATI HD3450, which I found out after purchase was extremely lame. I'm looking into: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130434 but I'm not sure that it would fit in the case. If it wouldn't fit in the case, is it possible and manageable to run a video card externally? Seems odd, but a new comp isn't coming for two months, and the family is in desperate need of an upgrade asap, so whatever I can do to up this card I will.

2. What sort of power supply would you suggest? I'm assuming that the one inside of the Dell Studio would be insufficient for any graphics card upgrade. If there isn't space inside of the case, can you run these externally?

Thank you for your help. Any advice pertaining to upgrading that card would be appreciated! I'm not sure if I'm being stupid to even think of upgrading a dell studio's card >_>

EDIT ADDED:

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/.../19407025.aspx

According to that I need a 'slim' card, but all of the ones they have linked there seem to be discontinued. Anybody know where I might find a good one and which ones would be good for a Studio 540S?

**wrench97** · 08-24-2009, 03:20 PM

The Studio "S" is a slim line PC so you will need a low profile card which is what you have, low profile cards are not very powerful, the second issue in order to put a powerful video card in you would need a more powerful Power Supply again since it's a Slimline case the normal ATX size supply will not fit and they simply don't make a more powerful PSU that would fit in your case, I'm sorry to say.

**emosun** · 08-24-2009, 10:23 PM

It is odd that they don't make any aftermarket slimline power supplies but it's true.

08-24-2009, 01:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
HooblaDan Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 7 OS: Vista 32	Upgrading a Dell Studio 540S Video Card Hello everybody, and thanks for reading. I'm looking into upgrading the video card on a Dell Studio computer. There are a few questions that I have about this for anybody with experience enough to know the answers: 1. The Dell Studio 540s has a tinier case. Is it possible to even fit a better video card in there? The current one is an ATI HD3450, which I found out after purchase was extremely lame. I'm looking into: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130434 but I'm not sure that it would fit in the case. If it wouldn't fit in the case, is it possible and manageable to run a video card externally? Seems odd, but a new comp isn't coming for two months, and the family is in desperate need of an upgrade asap, so whatever I can do to up this card I will. 2. What sort of power supply would you suggest? I'm assuming that the one inside of the Dell Studio would be insufficient for any graphics card upgrade. If there isn't space inside of the case, can you run these externally? Thank you for your help. Any advice pertaining to upgrading that card would be appreciated! I'm not sure if I'm being stupid to even think of upgrading a dell studio's card >_> EDIT ADDED: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/.../19407025.aspx According to that I need a 'slim' card, but all of the ones they have linked there seem to be discontinued. Anybody know where I might find a good one and which ones would be good for a Studio 540S? Last edited by HooblaDan; 08-24-2009 at 01:55 PM.

08-24-2009, 03:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,605 OS: Win7	Re: Upgrading a Dell Studio Video Card The Studio "S" is a slim line PC so you will need a low profile card which is what you have, low profile cards are not very powerful, the second issue in order to put a powerful video card in you would need a more powerful Power Supply again since it's a Slimline case the normal ATX size supply will not fit and they simply don't make a more powerful PSU that would fit in your case, I'm sorry to say. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-24-2009, 10:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,982 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Upgrading a Dell Studio Video Card It is odd that they don't make any aftermarket slimline power supplies but it's true. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list