I got Stiffed by Dell and I want a better Video card

[resinmage]

I got a pc from dell i ordered online by choosing wich parts i wanted in it. The best choice they gave me for a video card was GTS 240 by Nvidia. Now I know its garbage can barely run new games and Ive only had the pc for 4 months...anyways I want to buy a new video card and I want to know if I could buy one at the store and put it in myself.

my specs are:



Studio Mini-Tower, Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9400 (2.66GHz, 1333MHz FSB), w/ 6MBcache $938.00
4GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHZ- 4X1GB DIM M $0.00
Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard $0.00
Dell USB 6-Button Laser Mouse $0.00
Video ready option w/o monitor $0.00
Nvidia GeForce GTS 240 $0.00
500GB NCQ Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) w/ 16MB DataBurst Cache $
Integrated Media Card Reader $0.00
Dell Connect 2.1 $0.00
Dell Support Center 2.0 64bit $0.00
Dell Dock Consumer $0.00
Download Store Links $0.00
1 420-6576 DELL WELCOME,Software Dimension/Inspiron $0.00
1 420-9691 DataSafe Local BackUp 2.0 Basic $0.00
1 420-6436 PC-Restore, Dim/Insp $0.00
1 421-0323 Windows Live Search,Multiple User Interface $0.00
1 330-6097 You have chosen a Windows 7 System $0.00
1 421-2041 Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English $0.00
1 310-5678 Mouse included with Keyboard purchase $0.00
1 430-3322 Integrated 10/1000 Ethernet $0.00

[zburns]

The size of your power supply will more than likely be the limiting factor in your choice of video cards. Can you open up your unit and get all the "nameplate" data off the psu (they may or may not provide that data since the psu is prob proprietary). If they provided you with a user manual or something with a full specification sheet, that might also be a source. But you need to know the output of the PSU to determine how much leeway in available power left for a much better video card.

A more powerful video card will cost "more wattage" in exchange for the increased performance of the video card.

[resinmage]

Thermal and Power Specs:
Maximum GPU Temperature (in C) 105 C
Maximum Graphics Card Power (W) 120 W
Minimum Recommended System Power (W) 450 W
Supplementary Power Connectors 6-pin

[resinmage]

thwe power supply is labeled 350w

[zburns]

We need to get all the cards on the table. I am not a gamer but there are some forum members with excellent "build" experience who are gamers -- so there is help from that end.

Your psu being labeled 350 watts is not a good indication for gaming, which begs the question, did Dell advertise your machine as an "excellent choice for games, ...etc." -- anything like this?

Please look at your PSU label once more. Does the label say anything else. For example what I am looking for is a table with four or five output voltages such as 3.3 volts, 5 volts, +12 volts, -12 volts. Along with each "output voltage" that is named there would hopefully be the "amps" available from each of the voltage outputs. If there is such a "table" of the "electrical outputs" write them all down and tell us what they are.

The 350 watt output tells a story, not a good one for gaming, but it is a start; the "output volts and amps" - above para - may help some, not sure.

Give us also, the Dell Model number and serial number of the computer. You should have that on your shipping ticket, your order confirmation, stuff like that. What I am interested in here is whether Dell allows "overclocking at all" and if in particular your machine.

From any documentation you have, is there some specific name for your motherboard such as Asus, MCI, Gigayte or is just a Dell part # .

Also, please tell us which games you are really interested in playing!

If you were interested in gaming, Dell must have said something in an advertisement that encouraged you to buy what you did. If so, what did they tell you, advert, phone call or what?

[resinmage]

OK I got the dell pc because my wife has an account so we can make payments, thats the ONLY reason.
I dont want a gaming rig i just want to get a better video card than my GTS 240 wich is an overclocked renamed Nvidia 9800 gt wich is also rehashed 8800gt.
I want to be able to play todays games and get good FPS and trun most settings on high wich im not getting on my GTS 240

OK so...my power supply says 350wats, Input 100-127v/10A 50-60hz 200-240v-/5a 50-60hz
OUTPUT +5v==18a max +12 va== 12a max or somthing

model number ps-6351-2

[resinmage]

Also Dell wasnt saying this is a gaming rig, i just wanted a decent pc that can play games on high settings alot better than consoles and what I got for 1100 was a 3 year old graphics card marketed as being greta for HD gaming when it cant handle todays games on high settings at all.

my PSU says its 350watts man. So im out of luck if there is no better card for graphics that can run off my power supply? Im novice and not sure if its possible to get a stronger PSU? ths thing is my pc is in a tower and I dont know if i can replace the PSU or card.


serial # on psu 00120161

[RickyTick]

Let me jump in here and clarify things a little.

Nvidia only makes one GTS video card and that the GTS250, not 240. There is a GT240 though, and it's not great card for graphic intensive games that are out now unless you turn down the eye-candy a little bit. So let's be sure we're talking about the same things. The GTS250 is a redesigned 9800GTX+.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2731

I have a clanmate that games with the GTS250 on Call of Duty 4, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and Battlefield Bad Company 2, and he ROCKS!! Sure there are much faster cards out there, but the GTS250 holds it's own very well.

Also, Dell is well known for under-rating their power supplies. If they offered the GTS250 as an option for that system, then I'm sure the psu can handle it quite well. If however, you plan to upgrade to a more powerful gpu, then you might need to upgrade the psu too. I'm currently running an overclocked 9600GT in a Dell XPS410 with a 375 watt psu with no problems. Most of the Dell system have a proprietary motherboard and a locked BIOS so overclocking is not possible. But usually the psu is a standard ATX psu and can be upgraded. I would suggest searching the Dell Community Forums for help there.

[resinmage]

ok they gave me 3 options the most expensive being the GTS 240

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_gts_240_us.html



ok , so now I have this pc quad core proccess with a 350 watt PSU. I know I need a stronger video card because I cannot max out any of my games.

all i want to know is with my pc 350 watt PSU and quad core proccess can I get a stronger card to work in my pc withought changing the PSU?


im a noob man I dont know all this tech jargain your spitting in my face.


I just want a better graphics card to max my games bro.

[resinmage]

my pc is a dell studio desktop 540 500 gb 4gb ram with quad core Q9400 or somthing bro

[RickyTick]

ok they gave me 3 options the most expensive being the GTS 240

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_gts_240_us.html


whoops, I stand corrected. They did make a GTS240 OEM version, but it's not available retail. Only in pre-built systems like Dell, HP, etc. My bad. From what I can tell the GTS240 is a rebranded 9800GTX and the GTS250 is a rebranded 9800GTX+.

With that said, it looks like if you want a better video card, you'll probably need to upgrade the psu too. I'll check around on the DCF and see if anyone else has done this.

*EDIT* Just out of curiosity, what size monitor are you using?

[zburns]

Ricky, here is some PSU data I found via google and a 2008 dell forum. Model numbers are the same, big coincidence:

Lite-On PS-6351-2
350W Dual 12V Rail
5V @ 18A
12VA @ 12A
12VB @ 18A
3.3V @ 17A
3.3V & 5V Combined Load Max of 160W
12VA & 12VB Combined Load Max of 300W

According to resinmage, his model number is "ps-6351-2". What he calls 350 watts may be the wattage of two 12 volt rails. Note the last two load limits to all four voltages.

[zburns]

Resinmage, your model number of the power supply is "ps-6351-2". That coincides with a similar part number, I found on a forum for a computer similar to yours.

Would you please go back to your power supply label and give me the data off the label again but make it complete. A new video card would be based on that data.

The data I am looking for is identical or similar to the data in the above post to Ricky Tick.

You may really have a power supply rated at 460 watts, but your data will tell us that. It has to be complete and accurate.

[resinmage]

PS-6351-2-D1-ROHS- Dc output 350 W
Input 100-127V-/10A 50-60 Hz
200-240V-15A 50-60 Hz

Output +5V==/18a Max +3.3v /17a Max -12V /0.8a max

Maximum continuous DC output not exceed 350 w
Max continuous combined power 5v & 3.3 excluding
the 5v aux output is 160 w
The max contin. combined output power (12va&12vb) is 300w

serial # 00120161

[resinmage]

im using a 22 inch 720 p hdtv with a native res of 1680x 1050

[resinmage]

http://www.discountelectronics.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4652'

im not sure what it takes to replace a vid card in the 540 desktop.