dividebyzero
Posts: 4,840 +1,271
Rage's suggestion has a great deal of merit-and you will be upgrading at some stage.
However, if your happy to upgrade the Dell in the meantime in order to wait until prices come down and the kinks ironed out of the new chipsets then I most definitely wouldn't be spending $400 on a Dell power supply -that sounds around $385 too much in my opinion.
First step in replacing the Power supply would be seeing if you can fit an ATX standard PSU into the case: The ATX standard dimensions are 150mm width x 86mm high. Length is variable to an extent but budget for 200-250mm to allow for cables. Airflow is of paramount importance so if the case has limited vents then some cutting is going to be required to ensure the bottom/top mounted fan is aligned with a vent if the psu has such an intake fan. If the PSU has a rear fan (or passively cooled) only then you will have more options in how to get adequate airflow into the chassis if it doesn't already. You may also need to have to drill screwholes to secure the PSU. The ATX standard layout is here http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...V0f7b1&sig=AHIEtbSvw6oyypku1-qhj1ZFjxpsTlynCA
As for connectors: Your present PSU has connectors for 1 x 24pin Mobo 12V, 1 x 8pin EPS 12v, 1 x Floppy, 4 x SATA, 2 x Molex, 1 x 6 pin PCIe . The 650watt version is also pretty dire in the connection department as it has the same connections but adds a second 6 pin PCIe.
Any reasonable PSU in the 600watt range will have all these connectors and increased numbers of SATA and peripheral (Molex) and most likely 6+2pin PCIe for for graphics cards that feature 8pin power.
If the power supply would fit in the alloted space then get the best that you can afford as the PSU would likely outlast the system and you could use it as the core of a new build later.
If the PSU won't fit, then it comes down to your modding skills (hint: if you dont already own a rotary tool like a Dremel I wouldn't be trying it) or moving the system into an ATX standard chassis (which would most likely require drilling new motherboard standoff holes) or selling off the present system as Rage suggested and putting the proceeds into a new build.
However, if your happy to upgrade the Dell in the meantime in order to wait until prices come down and the kinks ironed out of the new chipsets then I most definitely wouldn't be spending $400 on a Dell power supply -that sounds around $385 too much in my opinion.
First step in replacing the Power supply would be seeing if you can fit an ATX standard PSU into the case: The ATX standard dimensions are 150mm width x 86mm high. Length is variable to an extent but budget for 200-250mm to allow for cables. Airflow is of paramount importance so if the case has limited vents then some cutting is going to be required to ensure the bottom/top mounted fan is aligned with a vent if the psu has such an intake fan. If the PSU has a rear fan (or passively cooled) only then you will have more options in how to get adequate airflow into the chassis if it doesn't already. You may also need to have to drill screwholes to secure the PSU. The ATX standard layout is here http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...V0f7b1&sig=AHIEtbSvw6oyypku1-qhj1ZFjxpsTlynCA
As for connectors: Your present PSU has connectors for 1 x 24pin Mobo 12V, 1 x 8pin EPS 12v, 1 x Floppy, 4 x SATA, 2 x Molex, 1 x 6 pin PCIe . The 650watt version is also pretty dire in the connection department as it has the same connections but adds a second 6 pin PCIe.
Any reasonable PSU in the 600watt range will have all these connectors and increased numbers of SATA and peripheral (Molex) and most likely 6+2pin PCIe for for graphics cards that feature 8pin power.
If the power supply would fit in the alloted space then get the best that you can afford as the PSU would likely outlast the system and you could use it as the core of a new build later.
If the PSU won't fit, then it comes down to your modding skills (hint: if you dont already own a rotary tool like a Dremel I wouldn't be trying it) or moving the system into an ATX standard chassis (which would most likely require drilling new motherboard standoff holes) or selling off the present system as Rage suggested and putting the proceeds into a new build.
