dell dimension 8200 power supply

Hi Astroboy,

See if this thread provides the information you need.

Since this is an older system, chances are you can find an answer easily by searching the forums. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Osprey,

That helped.  The 8200 has a dell custom power supply.  BAD FORM DELL!

The 2400 has a standard power supply.  So I can't use it.

But I can't find any details on the workstation 410 power supply.  I have 2 of these and don't use one of them, so I am hoping it is also custom.

I am planning to build a new PC, so I don't want to spend any money fixing my current 8200.  But I need it because it is my main PC and everything is on it!  The disk is mirrored, and backed up.  :)

I have a Dell dimension 8200.  The power supply has failed.  I need to know if this power supply is standard, or Dell specific. I ask because I know Dell has made non-standard power supplies for some computers, but I don't know which. I have 2 other systems I can scavenge from.  Are their power supplies compatible with the above? Dell precision workstation 410 Dell dimension 2400  Thanks

AstroBoy

The 8200 supports most standard generic ATX power supplies with either a 20-pin or 20+4-pin main motherboard power connector and no on/off switch, if you use a PSU with the switch, you would need to modify the back panel of the case, by cutting a hole for it.

The Dimension 2400 was shipped with either a 200w, or 250w power supply, if your 2400 was shipped with the 250w PSU, it should be compatible with the Dimension 8200, providing the wiring harness is the right lenght for the Dimension case.

Bev.

Ok, my 2400 has a 200 watt power supply.  Since my 8200 has 3 hard disks and all card slots are full, I assume 200 won't be enough.  So, any idea if the workstation 410 power supply is compatible?

Maybe I could break the mirror and remove the DVD drives, floppy drive, 2 RAM sticks and some of the cards?  That might put the usage below 200 watts.  My baby is sick...  :(

Odd thing, about 3 days ago I destroyed a workstation 410 power supply trying to remove a ferite core.  I broke the core, too much glue holding it in. :(  But I still have 1 more I can use.  :)  The way my luck is going, I bet it won't fit.  The good news is the 8200 power supply has 2 ferite cores.  :)

Thanks.

AstroBoy

You assume right, the 200w is not compatible, you need a 250w, or larger power supply for the Dimension 8200.

Bev.

I figured the cards, DVD and disk drives use at least 50 watts, so I tried the 200 watt power supply with only the motherboard and RAM.  I get yellow, yellow, green, green.  Memory problems.  I tried 1 bank of RAM, then the other, same results.  I also got the beep code 5 1 2 3.  I could not find this code.  Maybe they are 4 different codes?  If so, 1, 2 and 3 are RAM related, but 5 is not listed.

The bad power supply did allow the computer to give a beep code, but I did not note the code or think to look at the lights.  I did open the power supply and saw 2 popped caps.  So, it should be bad, but might have only lost 1 of many voltages.  Normally popped caps short out, but maybe not always?

Well, maybe 200 watts is not really enough for the motherboard.  Maybe the motherboard has failed in the memory area?  Maybe the bad power supply fried the motherboard and/or RAM.  The RAM cost a fortune, I will not be replacing any RAM because a new system might cost less!

My son has a normal PC with a good power supply.  :)  He does not use it, I think I will try that power supply.  It is 350 watts or more.  I know because I had to replace it once.

This little net book I am using is making my eyes hurt.  Going from a 27 inch screen to 10 inch is a major adjustment.  I have never really used it for much more than checking email and some minor web browsing.  But today I have 3 browsers and about 20 total tabs open.

I need sleep.  Thanks for the help so far.  But don't quit on me yet!  :)

Thanks.