What is the best PCIe video - 1 slot that will fit in E521n?

[crystal]

Dell got a deal for Dimension E521 for 280. They offer ATI 1300 pro upgrade for $90. I assume this is a PCIe card. Any better PCIe card out there that will fit this machine or that is the best I could go for?

thx.

 

[mruffin75]

You should be able to fit any PCI-E video card in that machine, however the PC only has a 305W PSU.. so you probably won't be able to fit anything screaming in there (although any of the ATI X8x0 series or X1600 range should be fine)..

 

[f4phantom2500]

considering your psu restraints, i would go with nvidia. plus their cards tend to be smaller and produce less heat anyway. see if there psu has a pci-e 6 pin connector. if so, you can get a 7900gs for pretty close to $90; i got an msi one that supports hdcp off of ebay recently for $95 shipped. if you don't mind paying more you could go with a 7900gt or 7950gt, afaik those are the highest end single slot cards that nvidia makes (would consider ati, but your psu limitations...). if you don't have a pci-e connector on that psu and you don't want to replace it, consider the 7600gt.

 

[BernardP]

I suggest you don't take the 1300 Pro option (very weak card). You can run the computer on NVidia integrated graphics while you shop for a discrete video card. If the machine is running Vista, I would myself look into a 8600GT because of DX10. Prices are going to fall soon, as ATI releases its own mid-range HD2600 series

 

[Dazed and Confused]

ROFL, good one looking into it guys but I ran an X1800XT PE off of the stock 305w PSU in my old E521 ROFL.

Also ran an eVga 7900GT KO , 7900GTO and XFX 7600GT XxX using the stock 305 watter .

You could safely put an X1900XT in your E521 if u want, it uses less power than my X1800XT PE did

Tiny mod needed to fit X1800XT PE with stock cooler

X1800XT PE and stock Dell 305w PSU

X1800XT PE benched in my Dell E521 using stock 305w PSU OMFG SAUCE !! The 305w Dell PSU let me OC my 3800 x2 to 2455mhz, 16 hrs Orthos stable @ 2400mhz and the X1800XT PE @ 722/1692 @_@

Speaking from experience, things aren't always what they seem. Find me another 305w PSU that could run a system like that.

You can probably go as high as a 7900GTX or X1900XT, an X1900XTX or X1950XT might be pushing it but I have no clue. The X1900XTX and X1950XT might be on par with the power drawn by an X1800XT PE.

Get the card u want and just add a VF 700-Cu or better yet a VF 900-Cu ( which loves reverse ATX cases : ) and you won't have to worry about the card being single slot.

 

[M0RPH]

I just bought an E520. One thing to keep in mind is that there is no 6-pin PCI-E power connector. There is only one available 4-pin molex power plug. And most of the 6-pin adapters require two molex plugs (there's one at Newegg that only uses one but it's too short to reach). So you'll need a splitter/extension and then a 6-pin PCI-E adapter. The beauty of these Dell PCs is how quiet they are though, so I'm considering getting one of these: Silent 8600GT. According to one reviewer it fits in the e520/521.