Im upgrading my video card and...

Z

ZerOGoD

New Member
I have a dell dimension 8400 with a 3.0 ghz p4, 1 gb corsair ddr2 twinx xms2 ram, and 512 of the stock ram. I recently purchased a new graphics card because the stock ati radeon 300x se just isnt cutting it for battlefield and the like. I jumped on a buy it now auction on ebay and got an ati radeon x850xl pci-e for $200 dollars. I believe i got quite a deal seeing as how i have been seeing these retail for $400+, but I realized after the auction that it is a "OEM" package meaning its still brand new but only comes with the card and the neccesary power hookups. My questions are:
1. Am I going to need a bigger power supply than the stock 350w that came in my dell?
2. If I do need a bigger power supply, are there any others compatible with pc other than the pc power and cooling ultra quiet dell 470 silencer, and possibly cheaper too seeing as that one is $165+ shipping?
3. Am I going to need any additional fans to prevent overheating from the video card and/or larger power supply?
4. How do I find out what kind of fan(s) or cooling systems I need if indeed I do need them?
5. Am I going to need anything extra besides the power hookup in order to play with this card? i.e. drivers, setup discs?

I know this is a large post and im asking for a lot of input but im just a little overwhelmed and i just want everything to smoothly. Thanks a lot people.
 
aftrer doing some more research... im kind of leaning towards just getting a new case all together with a sufficent power supply and fans included in it... so now my new question is if i do that, how do i figure out if my mobo will fit and how do all my input device plugs on the back and my usb ports get installed into the new case?
 
Most Mobos are ATX format, and I am pretty sure the one you have is ATX. Most cases will probably fit your mobo, when you look at the specs, look for ATX. Most cases have lots of different drop pin configurations so you should be fine. Give me a price range and ill help you find one.
 
i want to go no higher than 200 seeing as how i just dropped that much on the video card already... but ive never switched cases and dont know how to switch over things like my ethernet connection and other connections on the back of my pc... do cases come with these built in? i see some with only 2 usb connections and i use a lot more than that, and most of the cases i have been seeing have large enough power supplies but they are from obscure, no-name brands and im worried about quality...
 
LukeD said:
Most Mobos are ATX format, and I am pretty sure the one you have is ATX. Most cases will probably fit your mobo, when you look at the specs, look for ATX. Most cases have lots of different drop pin configurations so you should be fine. Give me a price range and ill help you find one.
Click to expand...
Most Dell motherboards are custom fitted for their own cases, and they may not fir properly in a different case.
 
ZerOGoD said:
1. Am I going to need a bigger power supply than the stock 350w that came in my dell?
Click to expand...

When I first bought my x850pro, I had a 300 watt psu and it held up. A 350watt might cut it. How much amps does it have on each rail?

ZerOGoD said:
2. If I do need a bigger power supply, are there any others compatible with pc other than the pc power and cooling ultra quiet dell 470 silencer, and possibly cheaper too seeing as that one is $165+ shipping?
Click to expand...

yes, Dell uses special powersupplies. You need to get a dell replacement one.

ZerOGoD said:
3. Am I going to need any additional fans to prevent overheating from the video card and/or larger power supply?
Click to expand...
How many fans do you have in your case right now? I'd highly doubt you have a place in your case to add another fan.

ZerOGoD said:
4. How do I find out what kind of fan(s) or cooling systems I need if indeed I do need them?
Click to expand...
once again, you probably can't add fans to the case unless you modd it.

5.
ZerOGoD said:
Am I going to need anything extra besides the power hookup in order to play with this card? i.e. drivers, setup discs?
Click to expand...
yes, you can download the drivers from ATI's website.
 
Probably. Makes you think about how annoying manufacturers can be to make sure you keep buying from them.
 
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