Dell Inspiron 530

Tucker · 05-17-2008, 06:30 PM

I've been thinking about buying a new desktop computer and the Dell Inspiron caught my eye. Here are the specs/hardware of the one I built:

Intel Core 2 Processor 2.4 GHz With Quad-Core Technology (8 MB Cache)
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT- DDR3
500GB Serial ATA II Hard Drive(7200RPM)
Dell 19-in-1 Media Card Reader
48X CDRW/DVD COMBO and 16X DVD+/-RW Drive
Sound Blaster Audigy MB Audio
Internal PCI 802.11g wireless network card (Full Height)
Hauppage Multimedia TV TUNER

The thing that worried me, is that the stock computer comes with only a 300W power supply, when now, I'm running on 350W with an even worse computer, with way less hardware. Does a 300W power supply sound right for this much stuff, or would I have to buy a new power supply? I really have no clue, but it would help to find out before I buy it and have the power supply capsize.

-Tucker

Flar0n · 05-18-2008, 01:19 AM

Chances are, they know what they are doing, after all if there wasn't a big enough power supply, no one would buy the computer. Call someone from Dell if you aren't sure though. So, I'd say it's good.

diduknowthat · 05-18-2008, 01:23 AM

That PSU produces more than enough power for that system. One thing about Dell PSU's are that they're generally under-rated. So that PSU can run at 300watt output 24/7 without any issues, not that that computer uses 300 watts..

SIMP · 05-18-2008, 03:03 AM

I agree, Dell knows what they're doing. Besides, if you add components down the road, you can always throw a bigger one in later if need be.

Interested · 05-18-2008, 03:55 AM

thats a pretty nice setup. very similar to mine. i got a 500w PSU just in case, but im sure that if dell sells it to you, it will work.

g25racer · 05-18-2008, 04:40 AM

300watt should do. I disagree though, Dell doesnt know what they are doing. LOL

CPTMuller · 05-18-2008, 05:24 AM

They obviously are doing something right, they are the #2 seller of computers or something? They have their own issues but I dare you to show me a computer company without any.

Tucker · 05-19-2008, 07:05 PM

The power supply doesn't matter? The computer can't run at all without a powerful enough PSU.. The computer isn't custom made, but I just would rather be safe than sorry.
Thanks everyone.

SirKenin · 05-19-2008, 09:08 PM

Many 600W PSUs out there can't output 600W. The crap you see in most people's signatures here, even though they say "600W" or whatever, the reality is that it's only maybe half that continuous power, with an efficiency around the 70% range and so much dirty power that the DC output on a scope looks strikingly similar to the mating call of a humpback whale.

In other words, Dell's 300w will blow away these guys' crappy 600W units.

The same thing goes for stereos. There's crap watts (Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, RCA, etc).. Those units are measured in PDP (Peak Distortion Power). Then there's real watts. Arcam, Nakamichi, Rotel, etc. The difference? RMS vs. peak.. and current, current, and more current. In PSUs, output voltage regulation is another key factor.. Something $30 PSUs skimp on to save a few bucks.

Some goof is sitting there with a multimeter, going "holy crap, you see that??? It just hit 600W".. right before the PSU melts... and 600W gets stamped on the unit. These kids in here that spent $30 on a 600W PSU.. They aren't 600W. That's "crap power" or "the max power I can possibly make for 10 seconds before I blow up and fry half your computer" power.

g25racer · 05-19-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirKenin

Many 600W PSUs out there can't output 600W. The crap you see in most people's signatures here, even though they say "600W" or whatever, the reality is that it's only maybe half that continuous power, with an efficiency around the 70% range and so much dirty power that the DC output on a scope looks strikingly similar to the mating call of a humpback whale.

In other words, Dell's 300w will blow away these guys' crappy 600W units.

The same thing goes for stereos. There's crap watts (Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, RCA, etc).. Those units are measure in PDP (Peak Distortion Power). Then there's real watts. Arcam, Nakamichi, Rotel, etc.

Some goof is sitting there with a multimeter, going "holy crap, you see that??? It just hit 600W".. right before the PSU melts... and 600W gets stamped on the unit. These kids in here that spent $30 on a 600W PSU.. They aren't 600W. That's "crap power" or "the max power I can possibly make before I blow up and fry half your computer" power.

Good way to put it! Hey I spent $70 on my 600watt. LOL

05-17-2008, 06:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tucker New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Iowa Age: 14 Posts: 7	Dell Inspiron 530 I've been thinking about buying a new desktop computer and the Dell Inspiron caught my eye. Here are the specs/hardware of the one I built: Intel Core 2 Processor 2.4 GHz With Quad-Core Technology (8 MB Cache) Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT- DDR3 500GB Serial ATA II Hard Drive(7200RPM) Dell 19-in-1 Media Card Reader 48X CDRW/DVD COMBO and 16X DVD+/-RW Drive Sound Blaster Audigy MB Audio Internal PCI 802.11g wireless network card (Full Height) Hauppage Multimedia TV TUNER The thing that worried me, is that the stock computer comes with only a 300W power supply, when now, I'm running on 350W with an even worse computer, with way less hardware. Does a 300W power supply sound right for this much stuff, or would I have to buy a new power supply? I really have no clue, but it would help to find out before I buy it and have the power supply capsize. -Tucker

05-18-2008, 01:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
diduknowthat formerly liuliuboy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Massachusetts Age: 17 Posts: 6,162	That PSU produces more than enough power for that system. One thing about Dell PSU's are that they're generally under-rated. So that PSU can run at 300watt output 24/7 without any issues, not that that computer uses 300 watts.. __________________ Silent Tuned \| 3D Marks 06: 11566 Q6600 2.4ghz CPU \| Gigabyte GA-P35 LGA 775 MB EVGA 8800gt 512mb Video Card G.Skill 4GB Ram \| Western Digital 400GB HD X-Fi Xtrememusic Sound Card Antec P180B Case \| Scythe Ninja HSF CM Real Power Pro 650watt PSU

05-18-2008, 03:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
SIMP Silver Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 221	I agree, Dell knows what they're doing. Besides, if you add components down the road, you can always throw a bigger one in later if need be. __________________ Main PC (Custom Build): E2160 @ 2.8GHz / MSI Neo2-FR / 7800 GTX / 4GB DDR2-800 / Vista Ultimate x64 Guest PC (Compaq Presario): AMD 64 3800+ / Stock Mobo / 6150SE / 2GB DDR2-667 / Vista Home Basic

05-18-2008, 03:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Interested Platinum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PA Age: 13 Posts: 737	thats a pretty nice setup. very similar to mine. i got a 500w PSU just in case, but im sure that if dell sells it to you, it will work. __________________ Main: \| On The Go Device: Q6600 \| 620MHz ARM 1176 4GB DDR2 800 \| 128MB DRAM P35-DS3L \| 16GB Samsung NAND 250GB seagate disk X2 \| PowerVR MBX 3D 8600GT

05-18-2008, 04:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
g25racer Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,583	300watt should do. I disagree though, Dell doesnt know what they are doing. LOL __________________ CPU - AMD Athlon 64x2 5200+ @ 2.6ghz Ram - 2GB Stock clock HD - 320gb seagate & Samsung 750gb 32mb cache GPU - XFX 8600GT XXX Zalman @ 680 or 700mhz PSU - Ultra X-finity 600watt OS - Vista Home Premium(32) & XP Pro and Vista Audio - JVC 460watts Control - Logitech G25 Wheel & Logitech Rumblepad 2 Games - GTR2 and LFS -- Race Sim's for Life --

05-18-2008, 01:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Flar0n Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 89	Chances are, they know what they are doing, after all if there wasn't a big enough power supply, no one would buy the computer. Call someone from Dell if you aren't sure though. So, I'd say it's good.

05-18-2008, 05:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
CPTMuller Platinum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Not there. Posts: 731	They obviously are doing something right, they are the #2 seller of computers or something? They have their own issues but I dare you to show me a computer company without any. __________________ Specs of my main PC:Laptop (Thinkpad X61) C2D e6320, NVIDIA 7950GT (Factory OC) : C2D T7100, Intel GMA 965 Express 2gb ram 533mhz DDR2, 320GB 7200RPM : 1gb ra, 80gb 5400RPM Soundblaster X-FI Xtreme Audio, Linksys 10/100 Ethernet Card : on board Audio, on board Ethernet

05-19-2008, 07:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tucker New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Iowa Age: 14 Posts: 7	The power supply doesn't matter? The computer can't run at all without a powerful enough PSU.. The computer isn't custom made, but I just would rather be safe than sorry. Thanks everyone.

05-19-2008, 09:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	Many 600W PSUs out there can't output 600W. The crap you see in most people's signatures here, even though they say "600W" or whatever, the reality is that it's only maybe half that continuous power, with an efficiency around the 70% range and so much dirty power that the DC output on a scope looks strikingly similar to the mating call of a humpback whale. In other words, Dell's 300w will blow away these guys' crappy 600W units. The same thing goes for stereos. There's crap watts (Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, RCA, etc).. Those units are measured in PDP (Peak Distortion Power). Then there's real watts. Arcam, Nakamichi, Rotel, etc. The difference? RMS vs. peak.. and current, current, and more current. In PSUs, output voltage regulation is another key factor.. Something $30 PSUs skimp on to save a few bucks. Some goof is sitting there with a multimeter, going "holy crap, you see that??? It just hit 600W".. right before the PSU melts... and 600W gets stamped on the unit. These kids in here that spent $30 on a 600W PSU.. They aren't 600W. That's "crap power" or "the max power I can possibly make for 10 seconds before I blow up and fry half your computer" power. Last edited by SirKenin; 05-19-2008 at 09:16 PM.

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