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nub lost trying to install a video card

B

biffbacon

Golden Member
ok, thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer. Basically, i bought a video card, and it came with a REALLY crappy manual. its a 9800 gtx+, and i have it in the slot, but i have a few concerns before i power things up.

do i need to hook any extra power up to it anywhere? it has 2 slots on the back (that i assume are for SLI, but that stuffs over my head).
link to the 2 slots

or am i totally reading too much into this, and just need to plug it into the slot and power up the comp?
 
I believe the 9800gtx+ uses 2 pci-e 6 pin power connectors. Your power supply should have them. If not your card should have came with a molex adapter.
 
ok, so next dumb move.... i jsut realize my power supply is too small. i havent powered anything up yet, but the card says it requires a 400 watt power supply minimum, and mines only 375w.....

i have a dell xps 420, and ive heard the power supplies arent upgradeable, is this true? should i scrap this whole idea?




edit: now i find this on another forum:
"Dell makes this more confusing than it needs to be.

First, Dell rates their power supplies differently than everyone else.
The industry uses peak output, so a 450W power supply can sustain that
only for a short period of time.
Dell rates theirs using sustained power output, so the 375W power supply
is closer to a 500 or 600W peak power supply.

Also, the 420 is available with two different power supplies. I can't
remember how to get the better one, but I think it is to start with one
of the more expensive configurations.

I've run incredible amounts of power hogs in my 410 (including an 8600
and 6 hard drives) with no problems."
 
Does the power supply have how many amps are on the 12 volt+ rail?
It should be written on the power supply. It might have 2.
12v+1 and 12v+2

Edit: It might be ok but I think your taking a chance.
 
where do i find that? im looking at the stuff on the power supply, but not see it.

its a l375p-00


edit: stole this from another post:
Dell Model L375P-00 w/ DC output 375W
Combined power on +3.3V and +5V Rails not exceed 150W
Combined power on +12VA and -12VB Rails not exceed 350W
Max continuous total DC power shall not exceed 375W
12VA = 18A max & 12VB = 18A max
 
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
ive heard the power supplies arent upgradeable, is this true?
Click to expand...

Lol, who told you that?

NewEgg has a Corsair 750 watt for $82 shipped after rebate. Use the code: "esave15". It is an excellent PSU with 4 x 6+2 pin PCI-E adaptors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139006

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/362">How to change PSU.</a>[
Click to expand...

i had read the older dell xps have some odd mobo and power supply made only for them, and they were hard to upgrade
 
Originally posted by: biffbacon
Originally posted by: WaitingForNehalem
ive heard the power supplies arent upgradeable, is this true?
Click to expand...

Lol, who told you that?

NewEgg has a Corsair 750 watt for $82 shipped after rebate. Use the code: "esave15". It is an excellent PSU with 4 x 6+2 pin PCI-E adaptors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139006

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/362">How to change PSU.</a>[
Click to expand...

i had read the older dell xps have some odd mobo and power supply made only for them, and they were hard to upgrade
Click to expand...

Last time I upgraded a Dell I had to use a pc power and cooling psu.

 
Originally posted by: biffbacon
whats the worst that could happen? fry the vid card? or would things jsut shut down?
Click to expand...

Worst that can happen? ... The power supply blows up under load and kills every component it is attached to; so everything but the computer case.

A well designed psu would prevent that.

As far as where the amps are located on the psu, there should be a little sticker on one of the sides of the psu that lists the amps and breaks down the total wattage amongst the rails.

As far as whether you can upgrade it or not, sure you could as long as it's a newe dell machine (which it is) older ones used proprietary connectors, but IIRC that was when socket 478 was new.
 
ok, buying a new power supply tonight. im just buying one from the local best buy b/c i really dont want to wait for something to be shipped again.

anyone know if the following video card would fit in xps 420?:
link


 
Dell motherboards are sometimes not pin compatible with other power supplies. They switch the power supply pins sometimes.

Call dell before you put a non dell power supply into a dell motherboard.
 
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