Video Card

[jimcooper1]

[quote]Please, somebody.

[congo]

You can get all three items at once if you wish.

For ram, it's best in two sticks if you have a dual channel mainboard, so 2 x 512mb or better yet, 2 x 1024mb sticks of PC3200 or faster. You could use 4 x 512mbs if you want, I think, check your manual.

Some Dells have a physically small PSU, most of us use larger (standard size) PSU's, see if your's is the same size as the one you plan on buying, the new one needs to fit the case.

Remember, the system will be bottlenecked until you get some more ram.

You'll have to switch the bios from onboard video to PCIe as well, turning the onboard video off (disable).

[NDSP]

Well what do I buy to upgrade my PSU?

[jimcooper1]

Some Dells have a physically small PSU, most of us use larger (standard size) PSU's, see if your's is the same size as the one you plan on buying, the new one needs to fit the case.

A standard size PSU has a backplate size of 150x86mm
.

You'll have to switch the bios from onboard video to PCIe as well, turning the onboard video off (disable).

As you've already got an X300/X550 then on-board will already be disabled.

Regards

Jim

[jimcooper1]

Well what do I buy to upgrade my PSU?

What does it measure?

If its 150x86mm then I'd recommend
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817341010

(You can get cheaper if this is pushing your budget)

Regards

Jim

[freedomhays]

The NEW DimensionTM E510 features a new stylish BTX chassis enabling quiet operation and cooling efficiency

Intel

[NDSP]

Well what do I buy to upgrade my PSU?

What does it measure?

If its 150x86mm then I'd recommend
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817341010

(You can get cheaper if this is pushing your budget)

Regards

Jim

Cheaper would be nice...

[congo]

As you've already got an X300/X550 then on-board will already be disabled.

Current Video Card:

Radeon X300/X550 Series (Omega 3.8.360)

Chip Type: Radeon Graphics Processor (0x5B60)
DAC Type: Internal DAC (400MHz)
Memory Size: 128 MB
Adapter String: Radeon X300/X550 Series (Omega 3.8.360)
Bios Information: 113-A62801-106

I thought that was onboard.

The NEW DimensionTM E510 features a new stylish ..........

That's quite enough of that mate, I can see things have gone to the pack since I've been away

[jimcooper1]

Current Video Card:

Radeon X300/X550 Series (Omega 3.8.360)

Chip Type: Radeon Graphics Processor (0x5B60)
DAC Type: Internal DAC (400MHz)
Memory Size: 128 MB
Adapter String: Radeon X300/X550 Series (Omega 3.8.360)
Bios Information: 113-A62801-106

I thought that was onboard.

According to the manual:
Video Type
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (GMA950)

So I assumed that the Radeon must be a separate card???

Regards

Jim

[freedomhays]

The NEW DimensionTM E510 features a new stylish ..........

quote,   That's quite enough of that mate, I can see things have gone to the pack since I've been away

[NickN]

Sorry, I have not been able to forum surf as I usually do


You have to spend money past the video card/memory if you want to upgrade/run those parts and if you are going to grumble over a decent power supply price then you will get what you pay for out of the upgrade. I can suggest cheaper but cheap PSU's run systems hot and starve the video card for power.

Being a Dell and not having time to research the connections the cheapest I would ever consider would be something in the 80 dollar range as posted above.

If it were me personally and knowing how important the PSU is, I would not go any lower than this:

http://www.pcpower.com/products/viewpro ... how=S61EPS

which newegg sells for more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817703005


80 dollars for the amount of power you need for an ATI power sucker card is cheap.

[NDSP]

Alright. So ill buy the one Nick just suggested, then buy the ram, then buy the video card.  Together this will cost me around or more than $400... all I have is $350 to spend.  I guess I have to save more....

[jimcooper1]

[quote]Alright. So ill buy the one Nick just suggested, then buy the ram, then buy the video card.

[MWISimmer]

You could always buy this:



Somehow I think the price is slightly wrong...

[machineman9]

Could you suggest a 2 x 1 ram stick(s) for me to use? I'm having a little trouble finding them.  

go to www.crucial.com

run the 'system scanner'

it will tell you EXACTLY how much RAM you can use, what types work, and even lists the ones that work, ready for you to purchase from the site