[RESOLVED] Dell Dimension E520 Power Supply Upgrade

[Crvtte65]

Hello all,

I recently got a xfx nVidia GeForce 9800GT GPU (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...042&CatId=3670 [though mine came with Far Cry 2]) to upgrade from my stock nVidia GeForce 7300 LE (http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce_7300.html).

After reading on TigerDirect about power supply and connections etc, I also bought a PC Power and Cooling PSU (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&Sku=P227-1003) as it had the correct MB connector (P4) and it also had enough juice to satisfy my computer and then a lot more!

Well, after hooking it up, the computer failed to power on but there was juice going as my "diagnostic lights" were flashing amber (according to the User Manual, it means an issue with the PSU). So I take out all the connections and just leave the MB connectors and the HDD. Still doesn't power on.

So this makes me go to the PC Power and Cooling website FAQ (http://www.pcpower.com/support/faqs.htm) the 2nd FAQ is about Dell computers needing special PSU's and aren't standard ATX compliant or something. Dell won't be much of any help explaining this and I am waiting on the Support Ticket from the manufacturer but in the mean time I am returning the unit.

My question is, what PSU can I use with my computer? PC Power has Dell specific ones but I guess I am just erked that this information wasn't available on the TigerDirect website, or really anywhere else.

This one (http://www.pcpower.com/products/desc...ell/index.html) is about the only one that has enough connectors for my system. Not too worries about extra PCI-E connectors as the MB doesn't have another slot for a SLI connection. I bought a big PSU with tons of connections because I was planning on making my next one. Though if I am limited to a Dell only PSU.... we'll see.



System:

Dell Dimension E520
250Gb HDD SATA (internal)
500Gb HDD SATA (internal)
Video Card (new one requires 6 pin PCI-E)
TV Tuner
Wireless Card
FireWire Card
DVD Burner SATA (stock)
DVD DL Burner SATA (add)
2Gb Ram (2Gb more on order)

[Steve R Jones]

Dell stopped using propriatary power supplies several years ago. Any psu that fits the case/wiring should work better then the 300 or so watt that you have,.

[Train]

9800 GT-116W

Get a 500 Watt ps. Give your ps a little breathing room.

7300 LE - 10W

[Crvtte65]

Checking, I see the type of PSU I bought it is listed as a EPS12V, and these Dell specific ones are listed as ATX12V / EPS12V. Does that make any difference? I am new to the PSU language and compatibility or proprietary connectors.

[Train]

May have to return it for the right item.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX

[Crvtte65]

Yea already have the Return Authorization.

I'll post again when I get the new one to advise if it was resolved.

[Train]

Let us know PLEASE!

[Crvtte65]

I got a response from PC Power and Cooling saying the original PSU should have worked (S75CF) and had me test it by sticking a paper clip in to see if the fan started. If it did not, that meant it was DOA. Well it was DOA. So no matter what I had to send it back.

In the meantime... I had already ordered the S75QB thinking originally it was the ATX12V thing that was messing me up so that came in the mail yesterday and before I unplugged everything I checked to see if the fan came on by using the paper clip method. It turned on and I threw it in. Everything works!

I then went ahead and installed the xfx nVidia 9800GT!

So, issue resolved, and according to PC Power either would have worked if the original wasn't DOA.

Thanks!

[Train]

You are Welcome and THANKS for posting what the fix was.