Posted: 1/26/2012 8:49:18 AM EDT
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My current computer is a couple of years old but still runs well. I was thinking of upgrading my video card and noticed that many of the "better" ones have power supply requirements that are beyond my current system specs. I have a 300W PS in it now (factory Dell). Can I put a larger wattage PS in the computer without harming anything? I was thinking about going with a 500-600W which are relatively inexpensive nowadays. Are they all the same size?
Thanks 
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First thing is, "is it a standard ATX power supply?" It should say it on the side somewhere. Dell has in the past used non-atx compliant power supplies. As to the question of having more watts, no problem, the board will just have more power available is all. The Volts are the same.
I usually go with 750w or 800w in most of my builds unless I am running water, then I usually go 1000w or 1200w. |
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Computer power supply quality varies WILDLY. That quality is most evident when run near the rated wattage... i.e., try running a 300W power supply at a 270W draw, and see how long it lives. And since companies like high wattage numbers for marketing, most companies design supplies which can supply stated wattage... but won't survive long if you do it regularly.
I have yet to see in person a single-socket, air-cooled, single-graphics card machine that can't be run from a high-quality 400W power supply. Yes, parts exist where you could build such a beast....but very few people have them, and for good reasons. |
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The video card I put in when I bought my machine was a decent one at the time and it's served me fairly well. It had a fan on it to help with cooling which has since taken a crap and doesn't work anymore. It was rated for a 300W power supply. More of the PC games (MW3 and the like) have higher specs than what my card can handle w/o turning off or lowering the graphics features. I watch a lot of movies on my PC and would like to maybe get into watching Blu-ray as well. Most of the replacement cards that I'm looking at call for a 500-600W power supplies. I'll keep investigating and ask before I decide on any particular combo.
Thanks |
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I added a 750W Corsair to my Dell XPS800 along with a GeForce GTX560 just last month. It was a tight fit, but worked. The PS and new vid card run like a top and made the computer 80-90% quieter.
ETA- This was an upgrade from a GeForce 260 and stock 350W PSU. My graphics would black out from overheating playing Skyrim and iRacing. Now i have both that can run to max res 
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