Upgrading my Dell Dimension 9200 PSU-need help

[Bukakke]

Ive been googling for a while now and it seems the more i read the more tihngs seem to be confusing. Ive read that some dells require special/custom PSUs that cost a ton more and are hard to find, on the other hand ive also read that if it will fit in your case, any standard ATX PSU can be used.

My only reason for upgrading my PSU is a new GPU i just bought (260GTX 216 Cores) that claims to require a 500W min PSU and my current PSU is 375W.

So my question is do i even have to upgrade my PSU? If so can anyone tell me a good/decent model that won't break the bank.

Thanks

[JLK03F150]

Dell dropped the proprietary PSUs many years ago - thankfully.

Looks like you have a BTX case & a standard PSU should fit & work.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9200/en/SM_EN/techov.htm#wp1053345

[Old Thrashbarg]

Yeah any standard PSU should work in yours, though I don't know how your case is designed, I know on some Dell cases, you could fit a standard PSU but you had to cut out a fan grill in the back of the case to do so. Even if that is necessary, it's pretty easy to do.

The contradicting information you're finding is partially because of the SFF machines, which do use a different size PSU, and it's also partially due to the old PII and PIII beige-cased Dells. Those would fit a standard ATX PSU, but it was wired differently, so plugging in a standard power supply would kill your machine. They stopped that practice years ago, but a lot of people apparently never got the memo.

[JLK03F150]

I forgot about the case grill. I have an Optiplex 260 at work, had to cut the back grill to make room for the replacement PSU's On/Off switch.

but a lot of people apparently never got the memo
lol, so true. :)

[Old Thrashbarg]

I have an Optiplex 260 at work, had to cut the back grill to make room for the replacement PSU's On/Off switch.

Heh, that's exactly the one I was thinking of.. I've had to chop about 20 of those things, the stock PSUs were some of the most unreliable crap ever.

I know some of the newer Optiplexes (755, etc.) just have an open space back there, so it may not even be neccesary on OP's machine, I just don't know what the back of a 9200 looks like. Either way though, it only takes about 5 minutes with a nibbler to remedy, worst case.

[Bukakke]

Alright thanks guys, any recomendations for an affordable/reliable PSU?

[SuperMotarded]

Alright thanks guys, any recomendations for an affordable/reliable PSU?

I'd grab one of the Corsair units. I actually powered my rig (which is similar to the one in your sig) with a Corsair 450 for awhile, but it wasn't super stable. Picked up an 850 and fell in love with the single 70a 12v rail. Make sure you have room behind the current PSU though, because alot of the aftermarket ones are slightly longer (the Corsair 850 is by half an inch or so).

[wingman99]

Did you try just putting the card in it will just shut down if it draws to much load. video card company's over rate power supplies do to the old ATX 1.0 standard you have the new ATX 2.0

DEll oem PSU are safe.

[Bukakke]

Wing ill try that out right now then, it all else fails ill go pick up a corsair then.

[grndragon57]

Pick up a new PSU, I the same Dell and the PSU couldn't power up an 8800 GT.

[Old Thrashbarg]

I the same Dell

Are you sure you didn't just accidentally your graphics card? ;)

[Bukakke]

I tryed to power it up and to no anvil, ill go with a new PSU then