Adding to my Dell 8250, concerns on specs with Radeon 9700 pro

[Rally1]

I got a Dell dimension 8250 last year, and I need to add a better video card for the release of Raven Shield (well maybe need is not the right word).

8250 specs

I got the 2.4 with 533 bus.
256MB RAM soon to go upto 512 or 768.

I was looking to get the Radeon 9700 pro:
the 8250 MB has 4X AGP the Radeon can do 8X. Am i missing out by using it in 4X, or are most MB still 4X too?
the Radeon wants 300W power supply the 8250 has a 250W, a concern?

I just dont want to drop $300 on a card if i can't even get full benefit out of it.

Thanks.

 

[bgeh]

currently, AGP 8x over AGP 4x performance advantage is non-existent

 

[Rally1]

thanks, i just found that by searchin' the video forum, i should have done that before!

4x vs 8x thread

 

[ScrapSilicon]

I believe your only stumbling block would be

the Radeon wants 300W power supply the 8250 has a 250W, a concern?

but as not having any newer Dells around I'm not sure if that's enough or worse ..a proprietary Dell specific psu..gl Rally1

 

[Jennerstein]

I'm planning on doing the same to my Dell 8250 (gotta love the Hot Deals forum). I've done some research on the Dell Support Forums, and it seems that upgrading to a Radeon 9700 Pro isn't a problem. Dell claims that their PSUs are rated on mean average, not peak output (which supposedly is 350W). Most power supply units are rated by their peak, not mean average.

Anyway, I have no idea if the Radeon 9700 Pro will work, but I'm willing to trust some of the posters on the Dell forums who've tried it. I'm waiting until the 9700 Pro hits around $250 before I buy the card though.

 

[bacillus]

I think that you will find the dell psu will supply more than enough juice for the 9700 even though it's only rated at 250W!

 

[Jugernot]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon
I believe your only stumbling block would be

the Radeon wants 300W power supply the 8250 has a 250W, a concern?

but as not having any newer Dells around I'm not sure if that's enough or worse ..a proprietary Dell specific psu..gl Rally1

Dell doesn't use proprietary power supplies anymore... I have a Dimension 4500 that I have switched out with a Antec 300 watt unit, I've also done switch out on Dim. 4300, 4400, 8200, Optiplex 240, and a few other models. After comparing wires on the PS units, they all use standard PS units...

 

[ElFenix]

probably won't. the reason ATi asks people to use a 300 watt PS is that theres people out there who will see a $15 PS with the words "300 watt" on it somewhere and buy that, thinking that 300 watts is 300 watts, right? if you had a well-built power supply you'd probably be able to get away with a 200 with a 9700 pro and all that. heck, don't people run ti4600s in those little shuttle computers? anyway, the dell power supply is a damn good unit, otherwise its a tech support nightmare.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Jennerstein
I'm planning on doing the same to my Dell 8250 (gotta love the Hot Deals forum). I've done some research on the Dell Support Forums, and it seems that upgrading to a Radeon 9700 Pro isn't a problem. Dell claims that their PSUs are rated on mean average, not peak output (which supposedly is 350W). Most power supply units are rated by their peak, not mean average.

Anyway, I have no idea if the Radeon 9700 Pro will work, but I'm willing to trust some of the posters on the Dell forums who've tried it. I'm waiting until the 9700 Pro hits around $250 before I buy the card though.

a lot of those guys on the dell user forums know more about the inside of dell's systems than dell's product gurus who answer technical questions for the sales reps

 

[Rally1]

I dont really have anything else in that box so it should be fine.

thanks

 

[StraightPipe]

I've got a 4550

It came with 256 RAM, but the extra 512 card I added was sweet for $80 after shipping.

I've got the Radeon 9700 plain, dell offered it for $120 more than the integrated when i bought the system. I jumped. If you paid 200 for the 9700 the $100 for an extra 5-10% increase with the pro performance is still not worth it.