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What are the consequences of insufficient powersupply for a videocard?

B

Bronxkid

Senior member
I just purchased radeon x850xt for my aging computer which only came w/ 250w power supply (though it is a dell). I know the recommendation is 350w or more. But, I've read that changing a dell power supply can kill the motherboard. I currently have 2 harddrives, a dvd burner, and dvd rom inside. But, I'm replacing my dvdburner w/ an external one which will connect to it's own power source. Also, one of my harddrives is old so I'll take that out and be left w/ video card, one harddrive and dvdrom inside with an external dvd burner. Just wondering if it's ok to at least try connecting the videocard (nothing should happen to it right?). And other than system lockups/crashes, is there any other thing I should look for to know my powersupply ain't cutting it? Also, doesn't dell have pretty good powersupply units that are better than they advertise? Thanks.
 
who told you it could kill the mobo? that shouldnt be logical, at least i think. Changing the psu would only provide equal and if not more stable power to the components, which couldnt possibly cause a mobo to die...its not like dells motherboards are proprietary to only their psu's, but who knows.🙂 The reports youve heard probably was from an unstable generic pos power supply that might have crapped out on its first run and overvolted, or most likely the use probably didnt ground themselves properly during installation and shocked the mobo by touching it. Or theirs the obvious, forgetting to plug everything in right, or not tight enough. You might be able to handle the x850xt with ur current psu, but it might not take overclocking too kindly, some people get away with OC's on high end cards on low end power, but usually its those with quality psu's, which im not sure dell has.
 
I've read (and this may be wrong) that there is an extra connection between mobo and powersupply in dell computers that most power supplys don't come with. I haven't confirmed this myself yet. If you only make the standard connection but not the other one, the mobo will be fried. Again, this is only what I read. Is there any harm to trying to use an underpowered psu w/ a video card?
 
A 250 watt Dell OEM PSU is very likely going to be a problem with an X850XT, symptoms can include lockups, crashing to desktop during games etc, all the way to failing to even load Windows correctly.. I've even heard of people having their motherboards get fried when their weak PSU's quit on them, so if I were you I'd look into getiing somthing better, even if it seems to work at first.
Dell does use a different pin-out on the plug for their PSU's, so don't just run out to Comp-USA & grab one off the shelf, you'll need to order it... Antec makes a "Dell" model & so does PC Power & cooling, but it'll be more expensive.
 
Originally posted by: Nextman916
is there an adapter of some sort out there? it would save him a great deal of money
Click to expand...

Maybe... I've never looked, its certainly worth a shot... could also try going directly through Dell.
 
Thanks that sounds like a good idea. I'll call dell to see if they can sell a powersupply so that I know it will work. The ones at pc power and cooling are over 100, but i'll have to wait to find out how much dell sells them for. I would hate to install an expensive video card in my current system only to have it damaged because of my power supply. It stinks though i will end up spending money on a video card and power supply when I should have saved up a little more for a new dell.
 
OR maybe built your own.
You might look into getting a barebones systems and just moving your parts in to it might be reasonable. Not sure your Processor speed, but I seen good deals on babebones, so complete assembly might not be necessary.
 
I swapped the PSU in my Dell Dimension 8300 for an Antec 450W PSU without problems. Research the make of your Dell computer and see whether the PSU is proprietary or not.
 
I called dell and they have a 375watt for 61 plus shipping. They recommended I don't get it because my dimension specs are supposed to be only 250watt max. Is it possible that an older mobo can't handle higher wattage? I was about to purchase it but I'm still debating whether to just fork over money for a new dual core pentium which I could get for a little over 600. I mean first 200 for video card, now 60-70 for psu....
 
every company does that, they dont recommend you swapping hardware around even though nothing will go wrong. But when your power supply actually does crap out, then there quick to sell you a new one.
 
Personally, I would just upgrade the whole thing. If it currently runs on 250w, it can't be that powerful.

Alternatively, you could just try the video card. With regards to underpowed PSUs, I've only heard of lockups/crashes not physical damage. Of course, if the power supply fails (rather than just not providing enough juice) you may get damage.
 
Id bite the bullet and upgrade the whole system if i were you. Thats what im doing next time around. I got the nice video card, then came the psu, then the memory......it gets expensive! lol, i shouldve just bit the bullet and upgraded to dual core or 64 or something, in the long run it costs less and you get more bang for your buck.
 
I could have sworn Antec made a few PSU's for Dell PC's ... you might want to give them a call too... also the "tech" (& I use the term loosly!) who told you the 375 watt PSU could damage your system is incorrect.
 
Originally posted by: Captante
I could have sworn Antec made a few PSU's for Dell PC's ... you might want to give them a call too... also the "tech" (& I use the term loosly!) who told you the 375 watt PSU could damage your system is incorrect.
Click to expand...

My guess is the system has bad cooling and cant kick out the heat a 375 watt system would produce compared to a 250W system? This could be why they dont advise it.
 
Originally posted by: krotchy
Originally posted by: Captante
I could have sworn Antec made a few PSU's for Dell PC's ... you might want to give them a call too... also the "tech" (& I use the term loosly!) who told you the 375 watt PSU could damage your system is incorrect.
Click to expand...

My guess is the system has bad cooling and cant kick out the heat a 375 watt system would produce compared to a 250W system? This could be why they dont advise it.
Click to expand...

I think they're just afraid to tell people to upgrade their own systems in genral because the PS has a fan built in that will take care of any extra heat generated.

 
Not enough power can cause freezing, artifacting, general system slowdowns, instablility, etc. Basically everything bad. And if it's a no name el piece of junk, you risk frying your computer 🙂
 
Originally posted by: wizboy11
Not enough power can cause freezing, artifacting, general system slowdowns, instablility, etc. Basically everything bad...
Click to expand...

I get all of that even now so won't be too different. 🙂

I think if I can get a few months to one year of enjoyment w/ the new video card I'll be happy. Hopefully by then I'll be able to afford a new system. Anyways, the next upgrade will be to pci-e anyways so this card will be useless (unless I sell it on ebay or something)
 
Thanks, I had checked that site out before, the cost of the psu is 110 so I don't think I want to spend that much. PSU from dell is only 60. I also emailed antec to see if they recommended a psu that they thought would work in dell systems.
 
$60 is reasonable for that Dell as long as they don't soak you too badly for the shipping... maybe give Antec a day to get back to you, otherwise I'd go for it.
 
Thought this was interesting:
PSU calculator

With my current system: p4, 2x ddr sdram, 2 harddrives, dvdrom, dvdburner, x850xt, etc it says 286watts needed. Since dell underestimates their psu it would probably be ok? With my system after i change to ext dvdburner and remove one harddrive: drops to 250watts.
 
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