The effects of being a cheap Dell Buyer and expecting to get away with it

[sspikey]

Yes i shake my head in shame. I who grew up overclocking such classics as a Celeron 300A and running my own water cooling using an aquarium have been reduced to buying my first PC in 8 years being a DELL!

I needed something cheap for work that would let me run some dual screen love and a few games when i decide to take time off work.

Now I find myself with a powersupply that wont give out anything but SATA connection and need to connect my 8800GS so i can work tomorrow with the new setup. Here are pics of what i have got.

Someone told me i could chop the wires and get it to all work. I personally dont mind cutting up stuff at all as long as i understand what im doing.

Anyone care to help to get me to understand what needs to be done? Either the CHOP method or the order some adapters method.


Random connector i found at home
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...sspikey/Cardmod001.jpg

6 Pin to Molex connector that came in the 8800GS box
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...sspikey/Cardmod002.jpg

Dell Sata Connector
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...sspikey/Cardmod003.jpg

8800GS card and connector (6 pin)
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...sspikey/Cardmod004.jpg

Dell Sata Connector
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...sspikey/Cardmod005.jpg

Dell Sata Connector
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...sspikey/Cardmod006.jpg

At least when im desperate i do it right

 

[Cuular]

Buy some SATA to Molex converters from your favorite online or local store, and fire it up.

 

[Quiksilver]

What are the dell specs? It may just be easier just to swap out the PSU (it's probably a 300W unit anyway) rather than having to get a crap load of adapters.

 

[sspikey]

Any chance of just splicing the wires?? Would save me some time.

 

[sspikey]

Oh and here is what i found till now
so im guessing i will need TWO of these correct?

http://www.performance-pcs.com...info&products_id=20580

 

[SlowSpyder]

I think this would work for you. You can convert your SATA to molex, then use the molext to 6-pin adapter.

If you can return your 8800GS, if that is an option depending on where you bought it from, you can get a Radeon 4670 card. I believe that is comprable to the 8800GS, but requires no external power, just uses the power from the PCIE slot.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
If you can return your 8800GS, if that is an option depending on where you bought it from, you can get a Radeon 4670 card. I believe that is comprable to the 8800GS, but requires no external power, just uses the power from the PCIE slot.

+1

Actually, the 4670 beats the 8800GS and does it while using less power & running cooler. Highly recommended mid-level gaming card for those low power Dell/HP boxes.

EDIT: That's a much better option than daisy-chaining three adapters together to provide enough power for the 8800GS.

 

[sspikey]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/P...el-_-Content-_-text-_-

Here is what i used for those interested in this
Worked like a charm!

 

[Jessica69]

Just remember, sspikey, when you use the SATA/Molex to PCIe adapters, you have now added the load from graphics card(s) onto the rail that's also supplying power to all of your hard drives, optical drives, fans, CCFL's, water pump.. you name it. Suddenly, during heavy gaming, you may find PC shuts down completely.

 

[kmmatney]

Damn! A computer without any spare Molex connectors - wow! I thought even a cheap Dell would have a spare Molex!

 

[Zap]

The Dell PSU has exactly enough SATA power plugs for you to populate all the drive bays in the case. I once had a Vostro 200 and not only were there enough for two optical and two HDD, the cables were pre-routed to the drive bays. Dell offers higher end rigs that have PCIe plugs.