This post is more than 5 years old
3 Posts
0
135612
Upgrading a Dimension 3100
This has come up beofre but not all elements of my question.
I want to upgrade a dimension 3100 (given as a gift)
so far I have bumbed the RAm up from teh supplied 512 to 2GB but I also want to add a graphics card - the MoBo has 2 x PCI slots and on PCI-E (x1) slot.
the card I have been recommended is a Geforce 6200 256Mb which fits the PCI-E x1 slot, however I have also seen a Geforce 8400GS 512mb which would fit the PCi slot - however like other similar cards it requires external power at 400W and the 3100 only came with on board PSU at 230W so I also need to upgrade my PSU from the looks of things -
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100115193805AAhwY3h
Having done some research it looks like the 3100 is one of those Dells with a proprietary wiring layout meaning a standard PSU will not work - my question therefore is where can I source a compatible PSU for my comp? or can anyone recommend a better Graphics card [PCI or PCI-E (x1)] that does not require additional power.
many thanks
shesagordie
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
2
January 11th, 2011 08:00
zougathefist
The Dimension 3100 does not use a Dell proprietary power supply.
The 3100/E310 has an open back panel, you can install most standard generic stock ATX power supplies, with either a 24-pin or 20+4-pin motherboard main connector, with or without the on/off switch and two SATA power connectors.
You should be able to buy this from a local computer store.
The instructions for replacing the power supply are HERE.
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Bev.
rdunnill
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
8.8K Posts
2
January 11th, 2011 18:00
My AMD quad-core is equipped with a 5770, and it works fine on a 380-watt power supply. It's baloney that light-duty cards like the 4350 and 8400GS need 400-watt units.
zougathefist
3 Posts
0
January 12th, 2011 03:00
Hi RDunnill and Bev - thanks for both your answers, very helpful - I will go with the 8400GS and see what happens.
shesagordie
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
January 12th, 2011 07:00
zougathefist
Happy to have helped. :emotion-2:
Bev.
bensdad1
1 Message
0
June 24th, 2011 06:00
Hi zougathefist,
How did you get on with the GeForce 8400 card, did it work, did you have to upgrade the Power Supply?
Do you know if it is compatible with Windows 7 ultimate?
rdunnill
6 Professor
6 Professor
•
8.8K Posts
0
June 25th, 2011 01:00
The 8400GS is DX9-compatible and thus will accelerate Windows 7 Aero. My 2350 is set up with Windows 7 and will play back Blu-ray discs, a very demanding task for a 2Ghz Celeron.