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audsnends

12 Posts

11577

January 20th, 2008 04:00

Dell Dimension 4400 DC compatible power supply

I wish to increase it from the existing 250W to 400W. The only information I can locate are as follows: Specs in manual: Wattage: 250W Heat Dissipation: 534 BTU (fully loaded computer without monitor) Voltage: 90 to 135V at 50/60 Hz; 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz; 100 V at 50/60 for Japanese comutper Numbers on power supply itself: DSN -T4-04G 456.....etc. DP/N 04G4561CU....etc. What I've found online through various distributors including eBay all detail so much more information and I'm unsure whether I need to know more. I have to buy online as the few service shops in my small northern community in Canada don't carry any compatible with Dell. Nor does Dell Canada invite communication unless your machine is still under warranty with a service tag. The purpose for the increase in power is for HD video, which entails having to get a more powerful video card.

SR45

12.1K Posts

January 20th, 2008 14:00

If your system has a 64 mb video card now you should be able to edit HD video already at of course a lower resolution, but to improve things more read on.
 
This link will show you a site that tells you what you need for HD video at different resolutions you want.  One side is for the Mac and the right side is for the PC.  Look at the right side system requirements.  It appears that you will also need a CPU upgrade as well, and I do not think its wise to invest so much for that older system. 
 
 
The highest video card you and I can install on our Dim 4400 system without a power supply upgrade would be the nVidia  7600 GT AGP slot card.  Nice card for your needs.  Though the link above says 1 GB is really all you need, more memory will improve things but your system can only go up to 1 GB
 
Something you should know about the 250 watt power supply you have.  It has a peak power of about 345 watts.
 
 
 
Spending too much for the upgrades on a 5 1/2 year old system, you might as well get a Inspiron 530 with all the newer technology and you can upgrade this to some really nice video cards without a power supply upgrade.
 
 
Power Supply Most Often Asked Question......

In many cases, not all, recommendations by card manufacturers and some computer mag's, on how big a power supply should be, is normally based on the maximum possible load of the systems components plus some added head room. Other words over loading one's system to the hills. This will confuse some first timers of this unrealistic high power supply requirements, than buying more than they need, and in some cases buying a power supply upgrade that was not needed in the first place. Read in a mag that the power supply rating is almost like double than what is really seen in real-life applications

Dell's power supply is normally underrated, to read the mean average. Reason for this is that Dell wants to be on the conservative side for those that may over do things with their systems. The peak is much higher, and a Dell system can handle many cards that the card manufactures suggest a higher required power supply. Card manufactures list a higher wattage number than is really necessary for their cards, to be more liberal for those individuals that overload their systems with additional hard drives, optical drives, pci slots filled up. This is normally not for those that have a stock system.


This has been an ongoing topic for many years, with the same answer on this forum. Your systems stock power supply will handle many cards just fine. Others have this same system, same power supply and upgraded their cards without issues. Some members may weigh in with their experiences to prove this point. I had a stock 250 watt power supply that handled very well a video card that suggested a 300 and one 350 watter. No issues to report. Many other members have the same experience. You will notice on this forum that this question has been asked on a daily basis.
 
With a better video card, lets say the 7800 GS or 7950 GT AGP slot, which I really do not think you need for what you have in mind, will need a power supply upgrade and the below link will take you to a power supply vendor that deals with Dell systems, and the one I have.
 
 

http://www.pcpower.com/products/power_supplies/dell/ 

Some Dell power supply offerings



Message Edited by SR45 on 01-20-2008 11:27 AM

audsnends

12 Posts

January 20th, 2008 23:00

I really appreciate your input specific to my pc and needs. The video card you recommended nVidia 7600 GT AGP I take it is the same as a e-GeForce 7600 GT AGP graphics by nVIDIA? Which I had purchased but of course having read the recommendation of 350W minimum. I have been reading the forums regarding the power however Q & A's appeared geared towards gaming, which are totally foreign to myself. The last game I played was frogger in my 20's eons ago and if I recollect that was on a Commodore. Again my thanks from an old old lady

SR45

12.1K Posts

January 21st, 2008 08:00

Yes audsnends, the video card I suggested is the same and many have this installed in systems with the same power supply wattage you have.  However, the 7600 GT AGP card is not considered a real gaming card anymore since time has passed this card by and others more powerful are available.  The card however will meet your needs, or even the 7600 GS AGP card that cost less.
 
Good luck

audsnends

12 Posts

January 24th, 2008 21:00

Thanks again...to continue, it doesn't appear that my PC can accommodate the eGeForce 7600 GT AGP graphics split plug as the power supply is encased in the metal casing. Am I understanding the directions correctly, the single female plug end goes into the graphics/video card itself and the two female split plugs, plug directly into the power supply? If this is correct, is there anything I can add to or a way to access the power supply to plug these in without negative consequences to my pc?

Message Edited by audsnends on 01-24-2008 03:23 PM

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